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Bean bag round

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For other uses, see Bean bag (disambiguation).

Two views of intact bean bag round and one view of the projectile

A bean bag round, also known by its trademarked name flexible baton round, is a type of baton round, fired from a shotgun, and used for less lethal apprehension of suspects.[1][2]

Description

The bean bag round consists of a small fabric "pillow" filled with #9 lead shot weighing about 40 grams (1.4 oz). It is fired from a normal 12-gauge shotgun. When fired, the bag is expelled at around 70 to 90 metres per second (230 to 300 ft/s); it spreads out in flight and distributes its impact over about 6 square centimetres (1 sq in) of the target. It is designed to deliver a blow that will cause minimum long-term trauma and no penetration but will result in a muscle spasm or other reaction to briefly render a violent suspect immobile. It still can cause serious injury and death. The shotgun round is inaccurate over about 6 metres (20 ft) and has a maximum range of around 20 metres (70 ft). Changes to the bean bag round since its inception in the early 1970s have included a velocity reduction from 120 to 90 meters per second (400 to 300 ft/s)[2] as well as a shift from a square shape to a more rounded sock-shaped projectile.[2]

Shotguns dedicated to being used for bean bag rounds are often visibly modified with either yellow or green markings, or bright orange stocks and stops, to reduce the possibility that a user might inadvertently load lethal munitions into the weapon.

Use

A RCMP officer in 2010 armed with a shotgun outfitted to fire beanbag rounds

Bean bag rounds are used when a person is a danger to themselves or others but is not a direct threat in such a manner that deadly force would be appropriate – typically a suicidal individual with a bladed weapon. The round is intended to disable the person without killing them.

Dangers

A bean bag round can severely injure or kill in a wide variety of ways. They have caused around one death a year since their introduction in the US.[3] A round can hit the chest, break the ribs and send the broken ribs into the heart. A shot to the head can break the nose, crush the larynx or break the neck or skull of the subject. This is why many officers are taught to aim for the extremities when using a bean bag round. A strike in the abdominal area can cause internal bleeding or strike the celiac plexus which can disrupt breathing or heartbeat, but such a hit is generally safer than most other areas as well as presenting a larger target than an extremity. Fatalities are occasionally the result of mistaking other shotgun rounds for bean bags.[3]

  • In 2006, during anti-corruption protests in Budapest (Hungary), protestors were shot by beanbag rounds to the head. At least 3 of them were permanently blinded. One of the victims committed suicide in 2013 due to psychological complications arising from his blindness. In addition, many people suffered minor injuries (nose and finger fractures, hemorrhagic bruises).Furthermore, a few victims suffered from long-term psychological trauma due to the shock.[4][5][6]
  • In 2013, in Park Forest, Illinois, an autopsy showed that a 95-year-old man had died from hemoperitoneum as a result of being shot by police with a bean bag gun.[7]
  • 11 August 2019, during the Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protests, a female First Aider was suspected to have been hit with a bean bag round, resulting in rupture of one of her eyeballs.[8][9][10]
  • In 23 November 2019, a bean bag round fired by the Colombian riot police hit student Dilan Cruz in the head, killing him.[11]
  • 31 May 2020, 20-year-old Justin Howell was shot in the head by the Austin PD, suffering a skull fracture leading to seizure and brain trauma.[12] The next day, 1 June 2020, 16-year-old Brad Levi Ayala also suffered a skull fracture after being shot in the head with a beanbag round by the Austin PD. [13]

See also

References

  1. ^ Fourkiller, Larkin (1 March 2002)."Less-Lethal: Bean-Bag Rounds." PoliceMag.com. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Ijames, Steve (29 August 2005). "In defense of the 12-gauge "bean bag" round". Policeone.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  3. ^ a b Hubbs, Ken; Klinger, David (October 2004). "Impact Munitions Use: Types, Targets, Effects" (PDF). National Institute of Justice, United States Department of Justice. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  4. ^ Gergő, Joób Sándor, Plankó (23 October 2011). "A gumilövedék helye megmarad". index.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 14 July 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Öngyilkos lett a 2006-ban kilőtt szemű Cs. Attila | Mandiner". mandiner.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  6. ^ Tamás, Bodoky (16 January 2009). "Négymillió forint egy kilőtt szemért". index.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  7. ^ Autopsy: Bean bag rounds fired by police killed Park Forest man, 95, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2013
  8. ^ "Hong Kong protests: Police in no mood for compromise now". Sky News. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Hong Kong protests: Clashes as police fire tear gas into rail station". BBC. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Protesters call for mass Hong Kong airport demonstration after woman shot in eye during extradition bill unrest in Tsim Sha Tsui. Bean bag round shown lodged in protester's goggle". SCMP. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  11. ^ Muerte de Dilan Cruz fue causada por un arma que utiliza el Esmad: Medicina Legal, El Tiempo, Retrieved 2019-11-28
  12. ^ https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-protester-police-struck-by-less-lethal-bean-bag-round/269-430f90a2-b6c1-4ee3-9d9c-639faf132100
  13. ^ https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/austin-teen-hospitalized-with-head-injury-after-police-shoot-him-with-bean-bags-at-protest

Further reading

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