Connecticut Survivalist Alliance

 

Denver stocks up on pepper weapon
City orders guns that fire special plastic balls

Denver police are stocking up on guns that fire a pepper spray-like substance instead of bullets - a less-lethal weapon used to disperse crowds - in advance of the Democratic National Convention.

The department recently ordered 88 Mark IV launchers and projectiles at a cost "in the low six figures," the company that makes the weapons stated in a news release Monday.

The request was for delivery in advance of the DNC, according to Louisville- based Security With Advanced Technology Inc.

The convention, scheduled for Aug. 25 to 28 at the Pepsi Center, is expected to draw thousands of protesters to sites throughout Denver.

The city received a $50 million federal grant for security. A senior adviser to Mayor John Hickenlooper has said the city plans to spend up to half that amount on equipment, with the rest going to pay officers.

But the city has refused to disclose how it is spending the money, prompting the American Civil Liberties Union last month to file a civil lawsuit.

The court filing alleges the city is violating the Colorado Open Records Act.

City officials say releasing the information is "contrary to the public interest" because it could disclose important tactical information, potentially jeopardizing security.

A city spokesperson could not be reached for comment Monday. Meanwhile, speculation about what the city is buying has run rampant.

Some organizers of protest groups believe police are buying extended-range Tasers and weapons that incapacitate people with high-intensity sound.

The Mark IV weapons the city ordered recently fire plastic balls filled with powder that's "like a combination of cayenne pepper and baby powder," the manufacturer said.

It can be fired from up to 100 feet away, said Ben Cook, director of Veritas, a subsidiary of Security With Advanced Technology.

The balls burst open on impact. While the powder will incapacitate a person like pepper spray, it doesn't cause some of the more severe reactions, Cook said.

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PRESS RELEASE

Background Information

 

The MK-IV Less-Lethal system was developed from the ground up as a weapons grade platform, not a converted toy. The system breaks down for maintenance the same as the M4 and the tool kit is housed inside the launcher’s receiver. Indexing different rounds or clearing the weapon is done using the M4 style charging handle. With the precision barrel and modern ballistics, the MK-IV can allow the operator to start engaging point targets from a distance of 50 meters. In riot situations, multiple officers can engage the ground in front of the crowd from 100 meters, keeping the officers out of range of those throwing objects. At 400+ fps, the MK-IV has knockdown power to spare, but our projectile technology maintains a truly less-lethal weapons system. The MK-IV does not utilize a bulky external air tank. The air source is contained in the magazine. This significantly decreases the complexity of deployment logistics and makes reloading the weapon faster and easier for operators. Just like with standard weapons systems, all you need is loaded magazines.
.68 Caliber with a 15 Round Magazine






The VT-P8 operates in similar fashion to the MK-IV. When a reliable, less-lethal option is necessary, but a rifle is too much, the VT-P8 pistol platform is the ideal answer. While the VT-P8 is less in size, it is not less in performance. The air and 8 projectiles are still contained in an easy to load magazine. The knockdown power of the VT-P8 is still on par with the MK-IV at 400+ fps and utilizes the same projectiles for easy team deployment. While the VT-P8 does not have the range capabilities of the MK-IV, it does turn in impressive accuracy on point targets at 25 meters and area targets at 50 meters. Deploying with the VT-P8's thigh holster system, operators can carry the launcher and 2 spare magazines at all times.
8 Round Projectile Capacity.

The projectiles most likely to be used at the Democratic National Convention will be the "Live Round Projectiles".
These rounds contain PAVA powder (a.k.a. Capsaicin II) which the company proudly proclaims contain 3x more active agents than current projectiles.
Besides the pain of the impact of the hard frangible projectiles, is the dispersal of the powdered irritant: PAVA.
The resulting PAVA powder cloud envelops the eyes and enters the breathing passages.
 

No one has a quick and 100% effective neutralizing agent for Capsaicin.

Milk, baking soda paste and honey do a good job removing the sting from the fingers and face, but trace amounts of Capsaicin will remain on the fingers even after dozens of hand washings.

Advice from a Bio-Chemist at Michigan State University is to wash the hands in alcohol.
Please be aware that this will only help to a certain degree.

Capsaicin is not soluble in water, and even large volumes of water will have little to no effect.
It is, however, soluble in fats and oils, so milk or detergents can be used to blunt pepper spray effects and wash it off.
North American street medics use a non-toxic eyedrop solution of 1:1 water and aluminum hydroxide (Maalox) which helps neutralize pepper spray and relieve symptoms.

To protect yourself from being directly hit with pepper spray or PAVA projectiles, shields are a good idea.
When pepper spray is dispersed in an area, it can cause lung and throat difficulties to everyone surrounding it, even if they have not been directly sprayed.

For this, a large cloth soaked in vinegar works great.
Safety glasses are advisable and having painter masks available when the projectiles start flying is helpful.

These guns can also fire rubber projectiles which will be used when live rounds aren't a viable option.