Soooo, if I'm understanding this correctly, officers will now have to carry TWO duty size handguns? Oh nooo, cops have "too much firepower" will be the next complaint.
Or if the bad guys decide they have time to over power the officer before he is able to switch back to regular ammo.
I think that you are not understanding the device. The duty weapon and ammo are as issued. This device merely attaches to the firearm and is launched when the gun is fired. Once the device is fired, the next round fired is a normal cartridge with bullet projectile.
The device rides on the first round fired but is designed to lesson the damage and act more like a bean bag.
Again, I am not advocating its design or use, merely trying to explain the design.
Actually, I see a possible flaw in the design. What if the officer pulls his weapon with device attached at an approaching suspect? The officer wishing to use less than lethal force as the suspect is not holding a weapon. However, as the suspect gets closer, he pulls out his own gun and points it at the officer. Now the officer has his bean bag and the suspect has a bullet.
Is the officer forced to fire twice in the same timeframe that the suspect fires once? Is the officer forced to fire the bean bag into the air to clear his weapon to then have a bullet available? I see potential issues that perhaps trade the officers safety for the suspects.
NOTE: I use the term bean bag for descriptive purposes only, I realize from reading the article that the device is actually something like a ping pong ball.
