The use of so-called “less-lethal” weapons have been questioned in the wake of major protests across the country led by the Black Lives Matter movement following the murder of George Floyd. These “less-lethal” weapons are a type of excessive force used by police to disperse large crowds, tear gas being one of the most often utilized.
While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies tear gas as a “riot control agent,” its use in warfare was banned internationally by the United Nations’ Chemical Weapons Convention of 1997. And while, unfortunately, the Chemical Weapons Convention excludes “law enforcement including domestic riot control purposes,” the hypocrisy that law enforcement can use these seemingly indiscriminately against large groups exercising their First Amendment rights to protest is clearly evident.
The Chemical Weapons Convention further states that riot control agents are “any chemical not listed in a Schedule, which can produce rapidly in humans sensory irritation or disabling physical effects which disappear within a short time following termination of exposure.” Now, that last part about short term effects is not entirely true. Large doses or long-lasting exposure to riot control agents, specifically tear gas, can cause blindness, glaucoma, severe chemical burns and respiratory failure. These effects are part of the reason why the use of tear gas was widely used during the Vietnam War. The fact that it was used commonly in the Vietnam War is a good enough reason for it not to be used against people. But if that does not convince, maybe, the fact that we have been going through a global pandemic and the effects of tear gas can make people more susceptible to getting COVID-19 due to the effects on the respiratory system will.
Now, maybe you think it is perfectly fine to use chemical weapons against protesters and put them at a higher risk for getting COVID-19, but what about the effects that tear gas has on the environment? When tear gas is used, the residue can linger on streets, dirt and even make its way into water systems. Following extensive use of tear gas in the last few months, the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services is testing for heavy metals, including zinc, chromium, copper and lead, which are pollutants found in crowd control agents. While environmental workers do not currently know what the effects will be, it is still a matter of concern.
Obviously, there are many reasons as to why law enforcement should not be able to use chemical warfare against protesters. So take your pick: international ban of chemical weaponry, health concerns or pollution.
