'Nonlethal weapons' fired at protesters in Hong Kong, Chile and Iraq are having very dangerous

[mucifer]

— even deadly — effects:

The death toll in Iraq after weeks of protests is staggering: At least 340 dead — a number expected to be actually much higher because the government is repressing release of official information while security forces continue to fire live ammunition, among other tactics, to silence demonstrators.

In comparison, just two people have died after nearly six months of unrest in Hong Kong. Police there have primarily relied on nonlethal weapons, such as sponge-tipped bullets and tear gas, to try to control and disperse crowds.

Only that’s not where the story ends. Nonlethal weapons may sound like a relatively painless policing tactic — but the results can be incredibly destructive, dangerous and even deadly.

On the contrary: The weapons can be incredibly dangerous, especially when fired at close range or targeted toward the head and face. A 2017 study by U.S.-based researchers found that about 3 in 100 people injured by rubber bullets die as a result of the impact.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/11/23/non-lethal-weapons-fired-protesters-hong-kong-chile-iraq-are-having-very-dangerous-even-deadly-effects/

[alwaysinasnit]

1. K&R