We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Different Types of Law Enforcement Weapons?

By H. Terry
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,957
Share

Police and other law enforcement officials usually carry weapons. These might include clubs, knives, sprays, or guns. Almost all existent weapons have been used at some point in history in a law enforcement capacity. The types of weapons carried and used by police in specific contexts vary from place to place.

In most countries, certain weapons are assigned to police only in specific circumstances. There are many countries, for example, where guns are not carried by city police on a regular patrol but could be assigned to a SWAT team planning a raid on a group of potentially armed criminals. Other examples include weapons that are only used in riot control.

Clubs are among the most common law enforcement weapons. Several alternative names exist for this weapon, including cudgel, baton, truncheon, bludgeon, nightstick, and Billy club. A club is an impact weapon and one of the oldest and simplest of all law enforcement weapons. It is classified as a less-lethal or non-lethal weapon. The latter expression is not descriptive in terms of this weapon’s capability, since a person can be clubbed to death, but refers more to its sanctioned use in law enforcement.

Other typical less-lethal weapons include sprays such as mace or pepper spray, also called OC spray. These sprays are usually kept in small handheld canisters and sprayed into a criminal's eyes. A close relative, tear gas, can be released into a crowd. These sprays cause pain and inhibit vision. In many countries they can be bought in stores for self-defense purposes, but in some places they are illegal to use except as law enforcement weapons.

Electroshock law enforcement weapons are also normally classified as less lethal. Some of these weapons, such as an electric prod, are used in close proximity; others, such as stun belts that deliver shocks to the wearer by remote control and tasers that launch electrodes attached to wires, are used at a distance. The common feature of all electroshock weapons is that they aim to temporarily incapacitate the person they are used against. Other weapons designed to incapacitate someone in this way include bean bag or rubber bullet ammunition fired from a gun.

The availability of these common, and any other less common, weapons in law enforcement depends on jurisdiction. Likewise, what is considered appropriate use of law enforcement weapons also differs. When a legal system condemns an official for excessive use of force, that force frequently includes an unnecessary application of his or her weapons.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-different-types-of-law-enforcement-weapons.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.