den Otter wrote:
>
> ----------
> > From: Delvieron@aol.com
>
> > >--the "laser taser" that has been discussed earlier is a prime
> > >candidate, assuming that it works. That would be a really nice
> > >all-round weapon.
> >
> > What was the laser taser again? Would this be a taser with a laser
> > sighting mechanism?
>
> No (though those do in fact exist), it's a taser that uses two
> UV laser beams instead of metal wires to guide the current
> to and from the target. I don't think there's a working prototype
> yet, mainly due to a lack of funding ( wouldn't this be something
> for something like "idea futures", btw? -- I mean, this thing has
> *huge* market potential) The device has been mentioned at least
> twice before on this list, but I can't find the posts in the archives
> and I didn't have much luck with the web search either so far.
>
> Here's the "regular" taser's home page, btw. Has lots of info.
> http://www.airtaser.com/index2.htm
>
This sounds like a great way to make the taser more of a longer range device.
> [dart guns]
> > This talk of only the needle makes me think of the old sci-fi needler
> > concept. Actually, small high velocity needles in a shotgun pattern might
> > provide a pretty good delivery device for our chosen incapacitation agent.
>
> Yes, good idea. That should increase the chances of a successful
> toxin delivery quite a bit (assuming that every dart can knock out
> the attacker by itself, of course).
>
> > You point out the Achilles heel when you say the problem is which agent to
> > use. I'll need to look at some of my drug references more deeply to see if I
> > can't come up with a good one.
>
> I'm pretty sure there's something useful out there. Perhaps
> some animal toxin (http://www.uq.edu.au/~ddbfry/menu.html
> has quite a list). "Zombie powder" is made from some kind
> of fish poison, afaik. It would certainly take someone out,
> but perhaps there would be some, uh, brain damage (though
> it is also suggested that the brain damage is a result of
> oxigen deprivation in the coffin, and not the toxin itself).
>
> I bet the CIA / KGB & friends have done some research in
> this field, btw. Anyone got the appropriate conspiracy links?
>
> [lethal/nonlethal combo]
> > This might be a compromise option. Try the nonlethal feature first, and
> > if the attacker is still able to attack, switch over to deadly force. Not
> > the most elegant solution, but even with a purely lethal weapon you don't
> > always incapacitate with the first shot.
>
> Though ideally you'd design a new weapon around this concept,
> it might be more realistic to make a "taser/needle gun pod"
> that's attached to a standard gun.
I have an idea that is kind of the reverse:
Using nanotech, use normal firearms with normal bullets, but which contain medical nanites. Once you've shot your mag and the scene is secure, you can activate the nanites to repair the damage to the bodies while the crooks are in handcuffs.
Mike Lorrey