Five Reasons to Ban Plastic Bullets
- Plastic Bullets are Lethal Weapons Causing Horrific Injury and Death
- The Rules Governing The Use of Plastic Bullets Are Not Adhered To
- Those Who Use Plastic Bullets Get Away With Murder
- Plastic Bullets Have Been Used as a Sectarian and Intimidatory Weapon
- Plastic Bullets Have not Furthered Peace, but Prolonged Conflict
Plastic bullets are made of rock-hard PVC, they are 3.5 inches long, they leave
the barrel at over 160 mph and according to US army research, they cause
`severe damage resulting in such injuries as skull fractures and fragmentation
of the liver'.
Seventeen deaths and thousands of injuries later,
those who argue that plastic bullets
don't kill or maim are either callously insensitive
or are afraid that they will lose a media-friendly
weapon of sectarian oppression. The European Parliament has
passed four separate motions calling for their banning.
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According to official rules, plastic bullets should only be fired:
- to disperse a crowd whenever it is judged to be the minimum and reasonable
force necessary
- if aimed so that they strike the lower half of the target's body directly
- at a range exceeding 20 metres except where the safety of soldiers or
others is seriously threatened
There has been documented wholesale abuse of
the rules governing the use of plastic bullets. Time after time they have been
used in non-riot situations, target victims have been struck in the upper body
and head, rounds have been struck in the upper body and head, rounds have been
fired from close range.
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Throughout the history of the misuse of rubber and plastic bullets, the 17
deaths, the thousands of maimings, disfigurations and blindings, no member of
the security forces has ever been convicted for any offence arising from their
use. In all but one case there has been a failure to even prosecute.
Families of victims who have pursued redress have been harassed and
intimidated.
In some cases, such as that of John Downes, the State refused
to hold an inquest.
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It is not insignificant that 16 of the 17 deaths caused by rubber and plastic
bullets were Catholics. These weapons are systematically used as a means of
intimidation in Nationalist areas.
These dangerous, lethal weapons should not be used against anyone, under any
circumstances, in any area. In Drumcree-related (Loyalist) disturbances, 662
plastic bullets were fired. Later riots in Nationalist areas saw 5,340 plastic
bullets fired. Nothing demonstrates the sectarian nature of this weapon more
clearly.
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The lethal and trigger-happy use of rubber and plastic bullets has only caused
further alienation of Nationalists and increased distrust of the security
forces. The flaunting of justice, the impunity with which police and army can
kill and disfigure its victims, the frustration of the families of the dead and
injured do nothing to further the cause of peace. Indeed, their continued use
is an obstacle on the road to peace.
The United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets have demanded the immediate banning
of these weapons.
The United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets,
c/o 92 Stewartstown Park, Belfast 11, Ireland.
Tel: +44 (0)1232 6222854
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