Weapons, Nonlethal

Nonlethal weapons are devices intended to incapacitate personnel while minimizing physical harm to the group or individual with relatively reversible effects. These weapons have been developed independently and in concert with lethal weapons. Some of the devices have unique capabilities that require specific training, while others are simple in design and employment. There are a range of effects that are gained by the employment of nonlethal weapons, ranging from irritating to incapacitating. Additionally, the development of nonlethal weapons has extended to disabling equipment without employing lethal means. While there has been debate over defining nonlethal weapons, there has also been debate over the term nonlethal because nonlethal weapons can have lethal effects. The military has defined nonlethal weapons in Joint Publication 1-02 as follows:

The development of nonlethal weapons has illuminated the need for policy in this area. As commanders identify the need to employ less lethal weapons, a strategy and ultimately a national policy regarding the use of the weapons are needed. Prior to the end of the Cold War, the enemy was easily identifiable, and engagements with the enemy were more clearly defined. Subsequent to the Cold War, the enemies the United States faced were not always uniformed, and engagements with the enemy were defined not by victory but by measures of success or stability. The employment of lethal weapons does not always result in stability—thus the need for a less lethal option.