ABC: Listen Up (NYPD using LRAD-Sound Weapon-RNC)

[RamboLiberal]

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/SciTech/Vote2004/high_tech_sound_040825.html

As politicians at the Republican National Convention use microphones to make themselves heard from the podium, other sounds in and around the event will be emitted in cutting-edge audio technology.

Outside the convention hall, New York City police plan to control protesters using a device that directs sound for up to 1,500 feet in a spotlight-like beam. Meanwhile, a display of former Republican presidents inside the hall will feature campaign speeches that are funneled to listeners through highly focused audio beams.

<snip>

In fact, LRAD, which is 33 inches in diameter and looks like a giant spotlight, has been used by the U.S. military in Iraq and at sea as a non-lethal force. In these settings, operators can use the device not only to convey orders, but also as a weapon.

When in weapon mode, LRAD blasts a tightly controlled stream of caustic sound that can be turned up to high enough levels to trigger nausea or possibly fainting. The operators themselves remain unaffected since the noise is contained in its focused beam.

<snip>

The NYPD, however, has said they won't be using the $35,000 tool to make people's ears ring, but only as a communication device.

[swag]

1. shit, they could just pipe Brooks & Dunn into the street

and everybody would run screaming.

[susanna]

23. LOL...

And save some taxpayer money at the same time...

[Dover]

2. Hmmmm.....I wonder if it can be heard INSIDE the Convention?

If so, maybe protesters with ear plugs could create ample opportunities for the NYPD to use this device. I'm sure all the businesses and residences within earshot of Madison Square Gardens would really appreciate it too.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. but also as a weapon.

How surprising... whoda thunk it. Not here... not in the land of the "free". Say it ain't so Joe.... sick sick sick.

[Chico Man]

11. I guess ear plugs don't work (nt)

[realFedUp]

3. loud enough to wake up the dead.....

[Book Lover]

5. Communication device my ass

That is what the radios are for. What bullshit!

[merh]

38. NYC can't get the federal funds it needs to improve its

communication systems - that was a big problem during WTC crisis and it still is being addressed.

They are using "communication" as an excuse, of course, and will use it as a weapon when ordered, I mean if necessary.

[AZCat]

6. Great Idea!

I'm sure that's the ticket for handling a massive protest - use something that's guaranteed to create a panicked mob! Like that's going to be easier to handle than a peaceful pack of protesters, unless the NYPD is looking to create an excuse to invoke martial law.

</sarcasm>

[kskiska]

7. Sounds like it could result in hearing loss

And what about innocent bystanders? Lawsuits, anyone?

[KDLarsen]

34. Jesus..

.. if anyone is wearing an hearing aid and that thing makes a small squeal - that's 10x worse than the apparent "weapons function" of that thing.

[kskiska]

37. I know exactly what you mean, KD

Just the sound of ambulances screaming by is intolerable to someone with a hearing aid.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

8. So will the GOP Convention be a "Convention" or a recreation of the....

Nuremberg Rally?

:puke:

[screembloodymurder]

9. Make concave shields.

That will focus the sound right back at em.

[loudsue]

15. Would that really work?

If so, maybe this needs to be publicized to the protesters for self-defense.

This police weapon is hideous, and it certainly can break ear drums. 1500 feet....isn't that about 1/4 mile or so? That's a long distance to be blasting people who you don't even know are specifically doing anything you're telling them not to.

Oh, I forgot. The repukes are the biggest supporters of "collateral damage".

:kick::kick::kick:

[pfitz59]

29. It will work...

redirect sound back at police. Can also be used a shield, against sound waves and water cannons. Remember, air has liquid properties.

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

10. Welcome to the dawn of the "police state"

One can only hope that if violence does outbreak...this TORTURE WEAPON will be turned upon the very fascists willing to use it on LAWFULLY ORGANIZED PEOPLE PRACTICING THEIR RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.

What the fu*k is happening to our country?

JB

[Catfight]

12. Teach your children not to trust the police, they are the start of fascism.

The follow orders like this without questioning the lawfulness of it. They just 'do their job,' which was exactly what the Germans did as well. NY police protecting the organization that wants to pay them less, how American.

They'd fire on Gandhi if they could these days.

[Fovea]

13. "They told us all they wanted was a sound that

could kill someone at a distance, so we go ahead, and the needle's over in the red. It's a mistake in the making"

Kate Bush -- Experiment IV.

[WillyT]

14. I Wonder How A Sling-Shot Hit Would Effect Its Focus ???

Are these things built to withstand cans and bottles and such??? Or are they 'delicate' pieces of machinery???

:shrug:

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Radius]

21. Thats attempted murder on a police officer, and liable to get you shot(nt)

[Massacure]

25. Shooting a 150 decible noise machine is attempted murder?

What kind of fucked up world do I live in?

[kiahzero]

31. Didn't you get the memo?

The police can do whatever they want, including using military hardware on innocent civilians. Any attempt to defend oneself would of course be illegal.

:eyes:

[Radius]

40. Reality

If you fire a weapon, a handgun (its self restricted in nyc), in a crowd, at a police vehicle and are an expert shot and just hit the machine you are guilty of:

A felony firearms charge
Inciting a riot
Discharging a firearm in public
Depraved indifference homicide (murder 2) if anyone gets trampled to death because you shot a gun in a crowd. If you plan to do this and someone dies you are guilty of premeditated murder, a death penalty charge.


If a policeman is standing near or on the vehicle you will be charged with assault with a deadly on a police officer.

You may also be shot by police sharpshooters.

My point is at minimum you will spend 20 years in prison and at most have your live ended by a rifle bullet from a police sniper or be put to sleep like fido.

In short really bad idea..

[loudsue]

17. This, in itself, is a big 'BRING 'EM ON" if I've ever heard of one.

The police, the mayor's office, and the governor's office KNOW that this is doing nothing but challenging the protesters....which is irresponsible as hell, and they damn well know it.

Those phucking FASCISTS!!! OUR CONSTITUTION gives ALL OF US a right to protest. These people are making war on our Constitution, and this is all the proof anybody needs.

Let me get this straight: Robert Novak has the first amendment right to cover for a treasonous outing of a CIA agent, but Sid and Cindy Citizen don't have a first amendment right to gather and talk about what they don't like about our fascists in charge.

I'm glad we're all on the same page about "every man (woman) is created equal". Creation, according to the repukes, is where right to life and equality STOPS.

This, I'm afraid, is going to get ugly.

:kick::kick::kick:

[drdtroit]

18. As a musician,

that must give me the ability to sue the shit out of them if I happen to be passing by when they engage the machine and it blows out my eardrums. They will be guilty of depriving me of my livelihood, right?

[henslee]

19. yeah, try and collect $$ from NYC... Check out what happened to me once...

I parked my car in a lot right under the 59th street bridge. A worker dropped a crowbar right through the sunroof of my bobcat (remeber those?) Smashed the sunroof, dented the roof. 700 plus damage. Never saw a dime.

THIS NY ADMINISTATION IS DYING FOR A FIGHT. THEY WONT GET IT.
IT WILL BE BEAUTIUFL.

[Citizen Daryl]

20. "Experiment IV" n/t

[Carolina]

22. So they'll drown out our voices

and deafen us and our sounds?! Well, fuck 'em. Let's all wear gags and let our signs do the talking. Let's Ghandhi them ... Remember the effect of the Civil Rights March across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

I am so mad and so scared. Damn them, these fascists are making this gun-hating pacifist an ardent advocate of the second amendment.

[goforit]

24. Hmmmm........I guess this is WAR????

[wordout]

26. D.M.S.O

D. M. S. O.
Crypto Wonder Drug
In vogue
Some people say
It cures arthritis
Maybe that's why
It keeps getting banned
It's absorbed
Directly through the skin
Mix it with lemon juice
Touch your fingertips
You'll taste the lemon
The police
Started a riot
Down at the courthouse
Again
Running amok
Spilling blood
Bashing heads
I do my part
Behind the lines
Swabbing door handles of cop cars
With D.M.S.O.
Mixed with L.S.D.....

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

27. For $12, at your local marine store, you can buy a 125db whistle.

Product description
Environmentally-safe airhorn alternative. Produces 125 decibels by blowing it with your mouth! You won't believe how loud it is! Available in assorted colors only.
http://www.boatersworld.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&productId=307882&topCategory=249085&cat1=251425&cat2=343634

Just an idea for Whistle-Ass.

[Thor_MN]

28. I have seen whistles like these marketed for divers as a distress signal

The instructions say to make sure your ears are submerged when you blow it.

[daleo]

30. If they didn't plan to use it as a weapon, a loudspeaker would suffice

It is a weapon, and will probably be used as such. This may never get reported in the press. Even if they don't use it as a weapon, its intimidation value is there.

[DS1]

32. All this preperation, because they know it's coming

Much unlike the Boston Convention, where the local media was creaming their jeans over the idea of riots, the NYPD is taking a no-shit approach to cracking down on patriotic dissent. Sad, really, but what's even more disheartening is the fact that the amount of preperation the GOP has to do compared to the DNC is substantially different.

Shrub himself helicoptered in and out the same night
Broadway shows shut off for lack of interest
Central Park roped off
At 36,000 strong, the NYPD will be temporarily the world's tenth largest army.

Sad.

[skooooo]

39. Broadway shows have shut down??

Really? Hadn't heard that.

[dbt]

33. Kick for the morning crew.

I said, "KICK FOR THE MORNING CREW!" Damn, y'all all DEAF?

:evilgrin:
dbt

[G_j]

35. this looks like the same weapon

from the FTAA protests in Miami:

[Barkley]

36. Shock and Audio

Our tax-dollars hard at work ...


LRAD, has been used by the U.S. military in Iraq and at sea as a non-lethal force. In these settings, operators can use the device not only to convey orders, but also as a weapon.

[autorank]

41. Bloomberg Must Go

I was in Manhattan for John Lindsey, Abe Beam, and Ed Koch. None of the three, despite their human limitations, would act as crazy as Bloomberg has in the run-up to the convention. The idea of torturing people to 'give the instructions' insane. The idea that the south lawn grass in Central Park needs protection is laughable for anyone who went to just one of the gazillion concerts on that lawn.

Impeach Bloomberg ... right after the convention. Make a point to the rest of the country that New Yorkers are at the front of the war against Republican terror.