Friendly reminder that American police used to be known for nonlethal tools, to the point they were symbols of the profession! Nightsticks! (Historically, saps!) A major change came after the Rodney King case, where a bunch of cops were videotaped whaling on a guy they had chased down! Unrest in LA and unsettlement elsewhere ensued! Efforts were made to reorient police practice away from blunt weapons, or to remove them (and heavy Maglite flashlights used similarly) from equipment kits!

Now the primary American police compliance tool and symbol of authority is the Glock G22! How’s that going?