It’s called the assault intervention device, and it is being tested in the Los Angeles County jail.
The device, developed by Raytheon, is controlled by a joystick and computer monitor and emits a beam about the size of a CD up to distances of about 100 feet.
The energy traveling at the speed of light penetrates the skin up to 1/64 of an inch deep. No one can stand being in the beam’s path for more than about three seconds, Mike Booen of Raytheon told the Daily News.
You must watch the video to see what this contraption looks like. The device is made by Raytheon, an arm of the state that supplies the warfare-homeland security-cybersecurity complex. Note the question to readers/commenters at the end of the story: “Do you think this is a controversial weapon with the potential for major misuse and abuse, or is it just another way to restore order in our prisons?” Oh certainly, no potential for abuse there… Thanks to Australian reader Joe Lee for the link.
