The Merits of Less Lethal Weapons - Case Study Example

Less Lethal Weapons Use Essay Plan Name: Course: Tutor: Institution: Date: Use of the Electronic Devices The use of the less lethal weapons by the police has been attributed with an increasing merit list. The research essay offers an evaluation of both the pros and cons of such weapons use. In this regard, the research will aim at developing a justified conclusion on their use applicability. Advantages of Less Lethal Weapons Use The research essay will roll out its discussion with an evaluation of the merits of less lethal weapons use. 1. The use of less lethal weapons reduces death rates and human rights respect. The use of less lethal arms enables the participants to uphold the concept of human rights. In this case, as Rizzolli and Saraceno (2013, p.396) noted, all individuals should be presume innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. Therefore, though the use of less lethal weapons, the law enforcers ensure that the suspects are offered the opportunity to plead their case in a court of law. Moreover, the research essay will base its argument on the global human rights principles of the right to life and protection of the suspect lives through infliction of minimal injuries or harm by the citizens or the law enforcers. Therefore based on () argument, the essay will evaluate how the less lethal weapons support respect for human rights and the rule of law. 2. Use of less lethal weapons increase citizen’s participation in law enforcement Great Britain (2010, p.55) in a case study of the UK security policies discussed on the role of community inclusion in security provision and security related matters. In this case, the evaluation noted that through increased citizens’ participation, security levels were relatively increased. Therefore, the study advocated for increased community based policing practices and policies development. In this regard, the research essay will evaluate the various approaches and ways in which the use and licensing of less lethal weapons such as sprays to the citizens increase their overall security maintenance participation. In this case, the research essay will develop a unique focus on the positive effects and implications for citizens policing practices inclusion. As such, the research essay will evaluate practical cases in the USA less lethal weapons use licensed Sates to evaluate the security level variances between the pre and post licensing periods. 3. Reduced emotional turmoil to the attackers Besides the direct implications of killing suspects such as legal prosecutions, both law enforcement officers and the public members face psychological implications. To this end, the research essay will apply and use a study developed by Mucchielli (2004, p.168) in a France, Paris case study. In this case, the evaluation study argued on the increasing emotional and psychological challenges facing law enforcement and public citizens involved in perceived murder or manslaughter incidences. As such, the study recommended the need for the respective government authorities to establish emotional counselling session for such law enforcement agencies. Thus, the research essay will focus on the findings and recommendations offered in the study to establish the extent and nature in which the use of less lethal weapons by the law enforcement agencies stimulate and enhance their emotional and psychological stability 4. The use of less lethal weapons increased the overall public security On the overall, research studies and security analysts argument such as that developed by the Small Arms Survey and the Graduate Institute of International Studies (2001) established the theoretical perception that the use and licensing of less lethal weapons in the market increases the overall general security levels. In this case, analysts argue that the realization that each and almost for the respective society members could be armed, reduces the likelihood and the probability of crime incidences as most of the criminals would fear apprehension and the consequent prosecution process. Therefore, the research essay will seek to evaluate the emotional and psychological role of the policy enactment and execution to achieve security. As such, the essay will be focused on evaluating the role of less lethal weapons in offering a security guarantee to the society. Disadvantages of Lethal weapons use 5. Use of less lethal weapons would encourage attackers may continue attacking Despite the merits of the use of the less lethal weapons in promoting security, arguments have been developed on its likelihood to increase crime rates. In this case, psychologists and security analysis such as Saxon and Schmitt (2013, p.290) argued that the knowledge that the possessed weapons are less lethal and cause little or no harm to the criminals could encourage them to increased criminal activities. In this regard, the research essay will focus on evaluating the extent to which the possession of such less lethal weapons could likely increase insecurity levels with reference to Saxon and Schmitt (2013, p.291) argument. In this case, the evaluation will seek to establish the psychological implications of such a less lethal weapons policy enactment. 6. Indirect effect on the third parties Although a good idea, Foster (2005, p.43) discussed against the implications of less lethal weapons use on the third parties. In this case, the evaluation adopted the spray example arguing that it could cause unnecessary effects on the indirect third parties. In particular, the evaluation cited effect such as tears and coughing effect that could implicate on the allergic and health sensitive third parties. As such, the research essay will seek to authenticate and expound on the developed arguments that the use of the less lethal weapons, although safeguarding the suspects’ rights, violate the third party rights and thus should be eliminated. The research will in particular focus on the evaluation on the likelihood of the third parties rights violation challenge. 7. Risk of getting close to the attackers Unlike the conventional lethal weapons in which the law enforcers and public in self defence can shoot and eliminate the attackers form a distance, a majority of the less lethal weapons require a close range between the attacker and defender. The research essay will adopt the evaluation developed by Bradley (2010, p.542) on the demerits of sprays and the stun gun varieties that require the defender to physically press them on the attacker’s body. In this regard, the research essay will develop on these ideas to evaluate the extent to which the application and use of the less lethal weapons expose the defendants to security threats and the risk of harm by the attackers. 8. The use of less lethal weapons exposes the defendants to increased risks as the attackers could be more armed The essay will apply the reference developed by Pech and Slade (2005, p.48). In this case, the evaluation argued that most of the criminal attackers are often psychologically and physically prepared for their own self defence. Therefore, in the event that they are attacked with less lethal weapons and face the risk of arrest, they often resulted to lethal weapons use. Therefore, in such instances, the defendants fell at the risk of harm by the attackers. In this respect, the research essay will specifically focus on statistical crime data to evaluate the common type of weapons used by the criminals in most of the criminal activities. The essay will as such evaluate the risk of lethal weapons possessions. 9. The use of less lethal weapons face the risk of citizens misuse The essay will base its reference on Hillier, Philson and Wood (2003, p.25) study on the possible violations of the policy use by the citizens. In this case, arguments have been developed on the likelihood that most of the citizens with licenses to posses such less lethal weapons could easily misuse the weapons. In this regard, the research essay will evaluate the instance and possible situations in which the policy could be abused and violated. Consequently, the research essay will focus on evaluating and developing a cost benefit analysis of the program evaluating likely use and misuse of the policy by the society members. Consequently, based on the established findings, the research essay will form a conclusion on if indeed the citizens abuse the allocated less lethal weapons. 10. Incriminates the application of the rule of law Finally, the essay will apply and use the respective security theories to evaluate the relationship between the use of the less lethal weapons and the rule of law application. In this case, the essay will adopt the ideas as developed by Teeple (2004, p.192) who argued that use of weapons and force is a total violation of human rights regardless of the measure and force magnitude. In this respect, the research essay will seek to evaluate the delicate balance between protecting and safeguarding the suspects’ bill of rights against the conventional role and responsibility by the law enforcement agencies to apply force in a bid to secure and guarantee public security. As such, conclusions will be developed evaluating the extent to which the use of the less lethal weapons and force upholds or violates the suspects’ rights and freedoms. References Bradley, A. T., 2010, Handbook to practical disaster preparedness for the family, Arthur T. Bradley, San Francisco. Foster, R. E., 2005, Police technology. Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ Great Britain, 2010, Equipment, support and technology for UK Defence and security: A consultation paper, TSO, Norwich Hillier, D., Philson, R., Wood, B., 2003, Shattered lives: The case for tough international arms control. Oxfam International, Oxford; London. Mucchielli, L. 2004, "Demographic and Social Characteristics of Murderers and their Victims: A Survey on a Department of the Paris Region in the 1990s", Population, vol. 59, no. 2, pp. 167-194. Pech, R.J. & Slade, B.W. 2005, "Imitative terrorism: a diagnostic framework for identifying catalysts and designing interventions", Foresight: the Journal of Futures Studies, Strategic Thinking and Policy, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 47-60. Rizzolli, M. & Saraceno, M. 2013, "Better that ten guilty persons escape: punishment costs explain the standard of evidence", Public Choice, vol. 155, no. 3-4, pp. 395-411. Saxon, D., & Schmitt, M. N., 2013, International humanitarian law and the changing technology of war, Nijhoff, Leiden Small Arms Survey. & Graduate Institute of International Studies, 2001, Small Arms Survey: [report], Oxford University Press, Oxford. Teeple, G., 2004, The riddle of human rights, Garamond Press, Aurora, Ont. Read More