When wars are fought in the future, and rest assured that they will be because that is the nature of man, will non lethal weapons be used? Many people ponder this question, especially since the US is developing a non lethal weapon arsenal. I personally think that some nations wouldn't want to give up the terror factor as I call it. They hope, that just as the tribes of old felt, that the fear of death and maybe even a horrible suffering death has a lot to offer in war. They is why the practice of cutting heads off and putting them on pikes in from of castles in the middle ages was carried out. Impaling was also used for the same reason, this was to put so much fear in your enemies, that they wouldn't dare to attack since they feared suffering the same fate. While this did work from time to time, generally it was a failure. There were still attacks. We are much more civilized today, we usually only kill you!

Microwave Tower

So why is the US developing non lethal weapons and are they all really more humane? Well I know of one that is particularly nasty. It is a microwave generator that sends out these wave that actually blind you. They don't kill you, but I bet many of those blind soldiers will be wishing that they were dead as they wander the fields of battle in terror banging into various trees and rocks and falling over dead bodies. So is this a humane weapon, I don't think so. But I will say this, if a weapon could be devised that induces temporary blindness for a long enough period of time, the army might have something. There are various flash weapons that do this job on a small scale.

There is a new type of weapon called a directed energy weapon, this too works on microwaves. The idea is that it heats the skin of enemy solders and gives them an unbearable burning sensation. It is said that it does no permanent damage. The weapon is going to be mounted on a vehicle. This weapon is nearing completion and will almost surely enter the US arsenal by 2009.

A goo is being tested that just holds you in place. It sort of looks like the stuff that the kids play with but it hardens when it gets on you, making it impossible for you to pull your legs and arms out.

Rubber Bullets

Have you ever tries to drive over sheer ice? It not easy is it? Well the US Marine Corps has taken this principle a step further with its invention of an anti traction material. This material is sprayrd and is almost impossible to travel on. Not only can't machines get across this stuff but you can't even walk over it without constantly falling down. Anything that requires a grip to operate becomes so slippery that you can't use it. The whole idea of this weapon is to pin down a unit. Hey if they can't move that may be good enough for your purpose.

One non lethal weapon that we have had for years is tear gas. We can add to this pepper spray. Most of the time they seem to work as planned. Tear gas has saved the lives of many people by driving them out of structures where they could be captured instead of killed. As for pepper spray that is something that may give you a momentary advantage.

A company is working on a weapon called a pulsed energy projectile. This futuristic weapon shoots a projectile that will stun anyone that it hits. It operates on the principle of superheating the moisture on the skin. The moisture gets so hot it explodes. This is what produces the stun effect. Other weapon are being developed that send current into the body. The current is transmitted along a beam. Flash Gordon would have loved these.

Net

Some old ideas, real old ideas, are taking shape again. The age old net is one example. Nets have been around for thousands of years. They must work or they would have gone out of use a long time ago, but they are impractical for modern warfare. All this might change however. A new type of net made of Kevlar can be deployed from a canister shot out of a unique gun. The range is limited though, it can only be shot about 30 feet right now which might be good enough for police use in subduing one person but it seems to be too limited yet for warfare.

New flashlight type weapons are beginning to hit the scene. Their light is so powerful that it blinds your opponent for a few seconds giving you time to act. This is not strictly a military weapon but is available to almost anyone.

Along with nets there are new spider web type weapons being developed. Spiderman would love these weapons. The web is used as a road block and can hold back a small truck traveling at over 45 mph. As they improve this weapon and it gets stronger it might be able to hold back larger vehicles.

Even stink is being used as a weapon. Yeah, I am not kidding. These weapons cause such a bad smell that no one can stay in an area. Scientists are busily testing the worst smells you can think of.

One weapon being discussed that is also powered by microwaves might allow one side to broadcast voices into the heads of soldiers on the opposite side. Can you imagine how disturbing this might be?

Machine Gun

The list of these weapons just goes on and on. We hear of magnetic weapons, chemical weapons, light weapons, electronic weapons, bean bags, and rubber bullets, just to mention a few. But let me ask you a question? Would you want to be on the battlefield armed with a non lethal weapon while the enemy was trying to blow your head off? He just migh feel that he has nothing to fear because even if you launch your weapon he won't be killed so he might attack in a situation that he normally wouldn't. If you are going to send me off to battle, I want a good, old fashioned, lethal weapon.