The Vancouver Police Department is adding a sound cannon to its armoury on the eve of the Olympics, and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association doesn’t like the sound of it.
In a news release, the BCCLA summarized the situation and demanded a clear policy for police use of this new technology:
A representative for the Vancouver Police Department confirmed to the BCCLA last week that the VPD has acquired an LRAD (Long Range Acoustical Device) crowd control weapon for the 2010 Olympics. He advised that the VPD would be using the device to ensure that police instructions were clearly heard.
The sonic gun fires a concentrated beam of sound at its targets that can cause hearing damage and temporarily disrupt vision.
BCCLA President Robert Holmes pointed out that even as the Taser inquiry has not yet reported back, police are acquiring another high tech device that could be used to cause grievous pain.
“This crowd control weapon was obtained without any public discussion and without any defined policy for its safe and proper use being set in advance. Tasers were also brought in through such an ill-considered and backwards approach.”
American Technology Corporation describes the LRAD in great detail on its website. Among other attributes:
Security measures that enhance public safety initiatives are a critical priority in today’s increased threat environment. In any operational scenario, public safety tools must be portable, ruggedized, easy to operate, and cost effective. LRAD provides immediate enhancement to this fundamental communication and force protection requirement. ...
LRAD products use directionality and high acoustic output to clearly transmit critical information, instructions, and warnings well from 100 to 3000 meters.
LRAD systems can also transmit powerful deterrent tones to influence behavior in hostile situations. LRAD significantly extends the standoff and perimeter in friendly or escalated environments.
In a report on protests at the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania late in September, the New York Times described on how the LRAD was deployed:
The police fired a sound cannon that emitted shrill beeps, causing demonstrators to cover their ears and back up, then threw tear gas canisters that released clouds of white smoke and stun grenades that exploded with sharp flashes of light.
City officials said they believed it was the first time the sound cannon had been used publicly. “Other law enforcement agencies will be watching to see how it was used,” said Nate Harper, the Pittsburgh police bureau chief. “It served its purpose well.”
The entry on the LRAD in Wikipedia quotes a former American Technology official on the effect of the device:
Carl Gruenler, former vice president of military and government operations for American Technology Corporation (and who now runs a company making a competing device), says that being within 90 metres (98 yd) of the device is extremely painful, but its use should be limited to 270 metres (300 yd) to be effectively used. He concedes that the device is powerful enough to cause permanent auditory damage, but that it is only meant to be used for a few seconds at a time.
Countermeasures may include the use of passive hearing protection (earplugs, headsets), which may bring the sound down to ineffective levels. In addition, sound could be reflected from a solid surface, and redirected back to the originator.
Crawford Kilian is a contributing editor of The Tyee.
Public Safety
'Security measures that enhance public safety initiatives are a critical priority in today’s increased threat environment.'
So how do we get our hands on one to protect ourselves from the police?
so which is it?
On the TV this evening the US showed its version, developed to stop and hurt potential infiltrators. They had an underwater equivalent as well, and see these units as a warning tool before more deadly force is used.
Not exactly what we hear on this side of the border?
It can also be used to INCITE crowds
Agents provocateurs anyone?
Security forces doing what they do best. Justifying their jobs. Nothing new. Completely predictable.
It is quite illogical to use these types of devices and is counter-productive. The so-called security forces have been transitioning from "high cognitive" persuasion methods "we do not cause trouble in civilized society" through to authoritarian methods "if you misbehave I will take you to the police station", down to the production of fear, "if you misbehave I will beat/night stick/tase/pepper spray you".
Each step deals with the citizen on a progressively baser, less cognitive way and pushes the citizen more to the fight-or-flight corner. So far, the methods preserve sufficient cognition to generally get an acquiescence response by the citizen.
The problem with LRAD and similar devices, is that reasoning and cognition is not involved in the process. A heightened sense of discomfort, bordering or crossing over to the fight-or-flight zone with the citizen, does not permit the citizen to rationalize at a core level what is going on. Therefore, the citizen, or more dangerously, the crowd, will respond irrationally. The crowd is now an irrational mob.
Perhaps, that is what is intended.
At any rate, it does show one thing though. THEY are afraid of US.
An counter-measure proposal
Everyone should carry a flat piece of structural cardboard about 60 cm by 60 cm so that it can be placed at head level to reflect the sound back to the point of origin.
One can paint the Olympic logo on the reflective side, or better yet, a picture of Sarah Palin with her favourite phrase written below.
"Right back at 'cha"
Or a picture of Gordon Campbell as he appears to be deaf to the real needs of British Columbians.
So Long, Sam Steele
Hallowed be thy name:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lab6gyWsMXo
Lead U.S. not into temptation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k5y3fBH9Og
But deliver U.S. from evil.
http://tinyurl.com/AmenHarper
A Corrupt Cowardly Bully State
Well done on reporting on this, Crawford Killian and The Tyee.
The corruption now dripping from every pore of the ugly regime now ruining this place is the only glue holding their ticky-tacky house of cards together.
How dare we exercise our right to congregate, to demonstrate....how dare we exercise our right to freedom of expression?
How dare the truth be spoken anywhere - when by doing so we threaten the flimsy nature of the fraudulent foundation the present regime and its shadow government have built their house of lies on.
How precariously it must all be balanced when even the mere whisper of truth would set it asunder.
It is almost as if telling the truth in BC has become a criminal act.
It is almost as if only lies are permitted here now.
It is almost as if we must preface the truth by "softening it" with the words "it is almost as if."
"As if" it may not be the actual dire state of things in this province.......
When clearly it is.
The bullying rule of the weak of character
You nailed it, Dr. Alexander.
Quote:
"At any rate, it does show one thing though. THEY are afraid of US."
The deafening opposition
"They don't like this boom box Sarge."
"I hear ya. Ya just can't win, even when you try and be nice and gentle. I guess we'll have to stick with our 38 specials."
realistically, Everyone
... has the Fundamental Freedom of peaceful assembly.
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/charter/1.html#anchorbo-ga:l_I-gb:s_2
Except when the police incite violence :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl3_4BTOavY
So along with the gas masks....
citizen demonstrators need to wear/bring ear protection (use the kind jet engine mechanics use when they run an engine test!).
Now if they would only use it to give politicians' an earful; that would be a different story!
At least....
At least a .38 special is more honest as to its intention.
Soooo....in order to exercise your right to freedom of assembly in BC, you have to wear a gas mask, high tech ear protection..... and hope you don't get electrocuted in the process.
That's the wretched state of democracy in BC.
Disgusting.
Perverted.
Despicable.
Funny thing how fascists never see them themselves as fascists.
Next piece of equipment
Next piece of equipment might be grenades. If crime is down as much as the fuzz says it is, why the hitech method of deafening people.? Sure hope the moderate mayor and council can explain the great need. Maybe an armoured personal carrier or a few old tanks to round out the equipment list.
And they wonder why voter turnout
is down!
DPL Just watch
for armoured personnel carriers coming to a neighbourhood near you.
It's on the shopping list.
Don't forget the heat-ray (no kidding).
The price we are going to pay for the Olympics
goes way beyond the financial burden we will carry.
The loss of innocence and transition to uber-security mindset will taint and stain the soul of Vancouver much beyond any possible redemption that might be possible by "putting Vancouver on the map".
I really wonder exactly what we are going to be on the map for? The problem with trying to artificially forge a reputation is that things can go very well, or very badly.
My take on this military assault weapon
http://powellriverpersuader.blogspot.com/2009/11/protestersprepare-to-meet-lradsonic.html
Great points Dr. A
And the rest of you...(Rman excluded)
Cheers-Eyes Wide Open
the vpd
is proving to be no better now than it was when ruled by that thug jamie graham.I`m sure the msm will dutifully downplay the significanse of this weapon and more scarily, the mindset that would think such a weapon is necessary."disgusting,perverted,despicable," just about sums up our "best place on earth"
the vpd
is proving to be no better now than it was when ruled by that thug jamie graham.I`m sure the msm will dutifully downplay the significanse of this weapon and more scarily, the mindset that would think such a weapon is necessary."disgusting,perverted,despicable," just about sums up our "best place on earth"
There's much more to come
and no advance public input. Who watches the watchers? Who approves the equipment the aim at citizens?
http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2009/11/gentler-milder-mold.html