Sublethal Camera Gun Examined
Sublethal is a South African company that manufactures a remotely-controlled, camera-enabled gun called the Boomslang, which is Afrikaans for tree snake. The company says it is non-lethal and is designed to deter intruders and protect lives.
The solution and its use case present interesting questions of legality, liability, and potential misuse.
In this note, based on our research and interview with Sublethal President Peter Rolfe, we examine:
- Company background
- Military vs. commercial use
- Solution information
- Designed for a specific setting
- Potential problems to International / US adoption
- Potential to do serious injury
- Industry legal expert opinion
Company **********
********* ** ***** ** ************, ***** Africa, * ***** ***** ******* ***** is ****** ****** *** *** ************ of ******* ***** *** ********* ** deter, ** ************ ************:
** **** ******* ****,********* *********:
***** ****** *** * ******* **** rate ** *******, ********, ***** *** other ******* ******, ******** ** **** countries.
Military ** ********** ***
******, ****** **** *** ******** *** like *** **************** ***** *** ******.
*******, ********** **** *** ****** ******** and **** ** *** ***** **** IPVM *** **** ******** ********.
Solution ********
********* *** ***** * ****-*** ****** that ******** * ******, ******* *********, off-the-shelf ********* *** **** *** ******, and ******-******-*****, ***-******-******* ********** **** ** on-board ****** ** *** ***** ***** demonstrates:
**** **** **** *** $*,*** ***, though ** ** **** **** ** a ******** *** ****** ** ***** Africa. *** *** ***** **** * Hikvision ****** ********, *** *** ********* can **** ** *** *** ****** any ****** **** ****, ********* ** Sublethal. *** ****** *** **** ** used ** *********** **** * *** with ********* ** * *** ** order ** ****** *** ****** ** intruders.
*** ******* **** * ***** **** similar ** ***** *** **** ** rubber **** ******* **** ** ***** Africa's ******:
*** ****** ***** **** *** ******* and *** *** ******** ***** ** to *** ******.
*** ****** ** ******** ** ** mounted ** ******* ** ********** ** order ** ******** ********:
On-Site *** ****
*** ****** ** ******** ** ** used **-**** ****, **** * ********* controller-to-gun ******** ***** ** ** ******. Rolfe ******** **** ** ** ***** for * ****-******* *****:
*** ****** ******* **** ** ****** 30 ****** ** *** *** ** uphold **** **** **** *** ****** in **** *** ***/*** ****.
***************, **-******* ****** ******* ** ********* possible. *******, *** ******* **** ** decided *** ** ** **** ***** out ** ********** ********:
** **** ** ***** * ****** gun **** ***** ********, **** * photo ** *** ********, **** ** to *** ****, *** **** ***** give * '*****' *******, **** *** gun ***** ************ ****** *** ******** and ***** ****. **** ****** *** considerably **** ******** **** *** ******* system *** *** ******* **** ** clear **** ** *** ******** ******* for ********* *** ***** ****** ** crippling **********.
** ****, *** *** **** *** this ****** ** ** ****** ******* against ********* ***** *** ** ** their ********.
Potential ** ** ******* ******
********* **** ***** *** ****** ** not ******** ** ** ******, ** can ****** *********** ********, ** ***** own ***** ***** *****:
*** ******* ********** ******* *** ****** ~18' ** ****** * ***** ***** of ********** ** ******** *** *********** of ******* ********* ** *** ****:
*** **** **** *** ** **** is ** ***** *** ****** *** 6m (******) ***** *** ******. **** a **** ********* *** ****** **** strike *** **** ******* ******* ** the ***. **** ** *** * perfect ******** *** ** ************ ******* the ****** ** ********* ****.
*******, ***** ****** *** *** ** very ******** *** **** ** ******:
*** *** ** **** ******** *** it ** ***** ******** ** ****** whether ** ***** *** ******** ** the **** *** ***** ** *** right *** *****, ** ** ** intruder ** **** ** *** ***, it ** ****** ** ** **********. A **** **** ************ ****** *** remote *** ** ***** ******** *** damage **** ** ******* ****** *** their *******.
International ***** **********
*** ********** ** **** ********* **** not **** *** ****** *** ******* of ***** ******. *******, **** **** sell * ***-********** ******* *** ***** the ******** ** *******, ********** *** buy *** ******** ********* *** *** gas ****** ** **** *** ****** operational:
*********** ** ** **** ******. ** would ****** *** ********* *** *** gas ****** *** **** ********** ****. On *** ** ****, *** ******** would **** ** ******* *** ********* gun *** *** ******, **** *** Boomslang ****** ***** ** ********.
Problems *** ************* / ** ********
*** **** ******* *** *** ** violating ****, ****** ******** ** ****. For ******* ** *** **,**** ****** ********** *************** *** ******** ** ***** **** controlled *******:
***** *** **** *********** ** ***** to **** *** *** ** ******** controlled ******* ** *********** ** **** excerpt **** ***** ***** ** * ****** *** set ** ****** ********** ***** ******** ***** **** ** his ****:
*** ***** *** **** **** ****** booby *****, ***** ************* ******* * weapon **** **** *** ********** ****, as**** ***** **** *******.*** *****:
*******, *** *** ***** **** ******** controlling ******* *** ********* **** ***** traps. *** **** ***** ** ** tethered ** *** *** ** * maximum ******** ** ** ****** *** the *** ** *** ***** ********* since ** ******** **** ******* ** a ***** ******** ****** *** ** real ****. ****, *** ********* ** not *** ** *** **** ** activate ** ****** ******* ***** **** the **********.
********* *** ********** ** *** **** on *** ** *** *** ****** within *** ***:
********** *** ******** ** ******** ** advisability *** **** ******** ***** ** be ******** ** ***'* *** ***** jurisdiction. ** ** ************ ******* ** not **** ** ****** ******** ******** will **** *** ********** ******* ** South ******'* *********** *************. *** *******, Sublethal **** *** ******** ***** ** easily ******** ** *** ***** **** like * **** ********* ********* ******:
*** ********* ****** *** *** ** changed **** * ****** ******* ****** sprinkler ** ********* *** ********* *** with * ****** **** *** ******** valve. ** ***** ** *** ******' most ****-********** *********, *** ** ***** be **** ** *** *** *** money ** ****.
**** ** ** **** ******* **** the ********* ******* **** ********* *** Boomslang's ***-****** ******** ** *********** ** actual *******?
Legal ******* - *********** ** ** **
**** ***** **** *** ******** ******** legal ******* *** **** ** *** possibly ***** ********* ** *** ** is ****.
*** **** [**** ** ****** *********] of **********-************ **** *** ** ***** ** self-defense ** **** ** **** ** the ***** ******** ** ****-******* ** not ******* **** *** ********* ******:
*** *** *** ****-******* ** **** as *** ****** *****’* ****** *** threat. ** ******* ** *** *************. If ** ****’* ********** ** * live ******, ***** ***** ** * problem. *******, ** **’* ********** ** a **** ****** ** **** ****, it’s *** * *********.
*** ************ [**** ** ****** *********] of *** ****-***************** & ************, *.*.****** *** ** ***** ** ***********. He **** **** **** ***** *** businesses **** ********* *****, **** ********** being ******* ** ******** *** *** requiring ******** ****** ******* **** **** in ****** *** **** **** *** not *** ***** **************** ** *** level ** ******:
*** *** ********* ** *** ****** force ** ******* ****** **** ****. There ***** ** ** **** ** establish **** *** *********** *** * lethal ****** ** **** *** **** in ******** ******. *** **** ***** be ********* ** * ********, ***** you ***** **** ** ********* **** you **** ** ****** *** **** you *** *** *** **************** ***** to ******* ********.
************ **** ********* *** *****-**** *****:
*** ******* **** ** **** *** cannot ****** * ****. *** *******, you ***'* *** ** * **** gun ** ** *** ** **** door ** ******.
Vote / ****
*** ******* '****' * ********* **** and *********** ******* ** **** *** internet?
*** ** ***** ******* ***** ***** makes ** ***** **** ** *** only ** ********** **********. ** ** not ***** **** *** ****** ******* what *** ********** ** ****** ************** protocol *** ********* ****** **, *** specific *** ** ***** ***** **, etc.
** ***** **** *** ****** **** not ****** ** ** ** *******, so ** ******** ******'* ** ****** from *** ********. ** ** ******** though **** *** ******** ******* ****** could ** ***** ****, **** ***** be * ********** **** *** ** the ******* ***** ** ******* ***** own ** ********* ***/** ********** **** (it ** ********* **** ** **** your *** ************ **** ******** ******** attacks). ** ******, ** **** **** off *** ***** **********, ********* ***** find ********** ** ***** ** ******* as ****.
*** **** ****** ******* ******** * would *** ***** ** ** ******** having * ****** **** ******** ** local ******* *** **** ****** *** all *** ****, ******* *** ******** more ********** ** ** ******. **** is *** **** **** ** ******* considering ******* ***** *** ******** ****, etc. ** ***** ** **** ****** to **** **** ** ** ****** that ******** *** ******* *** ******* of *** *****, ********* **** *******.
**** **, ** **, *** ** those **** ***** **** ***** **** for * ***** ****, *** **** has **** ** ******** *** ******* and ** *** ***-***-***** **** ** security ********* ***** ** **** **** to ******* ****. *** ********* ****** looks **** ** ***** ** ******** in * ****** ** **** (***** a **** **** ** ****** ** a ****** *****, **** **** *** top, **** * ***** ** *** mechanism, ***.).
*** *****, *'* *** ***% ******* of *** ****** ** **** ******** (I've ******* *** ********* ** *** for *************), *** ** ******* ** that *** ********** ** ****-***** ** the ******. ** ******** ******** *****, ** ***** **** ** ***** actually ** ******* ** * ***** of ****. ** ** *** *****, there ******* ** ** * ***** whip/cord ****** *** *** ******.
*'** ******* **** ***** **** * hear **** *********.
** *** ** *** ******* *********, I ***** ** ****** **** ** the **** ** ******** ********** **** a ***********, **** ** *****, *** person ** *** ***** *** ** the ********** ***** **** ******* ******** *** rounds **** ****. *'** ***** **** hit **** *** ** ***** ******, but **** ****** ******* ***** ***** like ** **** * ***** **** of * ***.
** ******, ** ***** ** ****** the ******** *******, *** ****** ***** would **** ** ** **** ** shoot *** ***. **** ***** **** if * *** *** ***** *** house *** **** **** *** ****** wasn't ****, **** ***** **** ***** time ********* *** ****** **** *** homeowner ****'* ****, **** **** **** later. ** **** *** ** **** right ****.
** **** ******, *** ******'* ** intruder ****** ***** ***** *** ********* gun **** ****** ********** *** **** blast **** ** *** ******, *********** blinding *** *********.
*********, **** *** *** **** **** you **** **** ********, ** ***** likely **** ** ******** ******** ***** be ****** *** ****** *******.
**** ********, *****. *** ****** ** it ****** *** ** *** *********. Here ** *********'* ********* ** ****:
** **** **** ******* ** ** controlled ****** **** *** * ***** and ** **** **** ** *** lab *** ** **** ******* *** to **** ** *** *** ** the *****. ****** **** *** * very *** ******* *** ** **** take **** *** ****** ** ****** comfortable **** *** **********. **** **** there ** * *** ** ***** and ********** **** ** ** ******* to ***** *** ********* **** ** IP ******. ** **** **** **** to ** **** ******* **** ** figuring *** * *** ** ******* hackers **** ****** ******* ** * remote *** ********** **** *** ********. That ** *** ** ******* ** make * **** ******, **-******** ****** gun **** ***** *** ***** ***** control, *** ********* ** **** ***** it.
**** ***** **********, ********** ***** *** porch ****** ********.
********* ******** ******, ***** ****** *** a **** *** *** ** ******* violent ***** *******.
**** ****** ******** *** "********" *****. I ***** ***** *** * **** and ***** *** ****** ********** ***.
*** **** **** ** **** ** ex-wives? ****** *** * ******.
** ********* **** **** *** ** defend **** ******, *** ***** ***** shows **** ***** ** ******* ******* trying ** ***** **** * ******* in *** ********?
**** *****. ******* *** ******* ***** argue **** ***** **** **** *** intruder ******* *** ******* *******, **'* head ****** ** ****** *** ******?
**** ***** **** **** ** * gas ***** ********* ***. ** ****, it ***** ** **** ** ***** pepper *****. **** *** ****** **** powered ********. *** **** *** ****.
@*****, ***'** *******. ** ****, ****** it ****'* ********* ** *** ***** Sublethal ******* ** *** ******* **** *** can *********** ****** *****:
*** *** ** **** ******** *** it ** ***** ******** ** ****** whether ** ***** *** ******** ** the **** *** ***** ** *** right *** *****, ** ** ** intruder ** **** ** *** ***, it ** ****** ** ** **********.
*** **** ** ** “***** ********” to ***** ****** *****, ** ** NOT ******** ** ***** **** ** the ***.
* ***'* *** *** **** ******* would **** ** *** *** **** the *** ********* ******. *'* ***** to ***** * ********* **** ** murder **** ****** *****. ** ** cameras, ******, *** ****** ***'* ***** a ********, **** * **** ** choice *** ** ****** *** ***** within ** ***** *** **********.
* **** ** *** ******** *** different ** ***** ******.
****** ******* *** **** **** *** considered "****-****-******" *** "***-******". **** *** still **** ****** *** **** ******** injuries ** *** ** *** ********* of ** ***** **** ****** ***** (perp **** ******* ******** *** ** falls, ******* *** **** ** * sharp ****)
* ******* ***** **** ***. **** with * ***-****** ****** *** ****** be **** **** **** ******* **** not ***** *****. ***** **** **** accidents ** *** **** **** **** a ****-****** *** ** *** **** was ****** ** * ***** ******* the ****** *** * ******* ********* before.
******* ******* **** * ***-****** ****** is ***** * ******. * ****** that ** *** **** ********* **** only *** **** ****** ** **** life ** ** ******.
* ***** ** *** ******* *****. The **** ***** **** ***** *****, but **** * *********** ********, ** it ***'* ** ******. *** **** comes **** ** ****** ** ***** and **** ********* **** *** ** not ****** **** ******* ** ***** be **** ********* ** ******** *** authorities **** *** **** ***** **********. Now, **** ** ** ***, *** US ***. ****, *** ******* **** is **** *** ****** ***** ***.
* ** *** **** * ***** be **** ** ******** ****** **** lighting ** **** *** ***** ** my ******** **** ****. ** **** makes ** * *** ****** **** so ** **.
* ** *** **** * ***** be **** ** ******** ****** **** lighting ** **** *** ***** ** my ******** **** ****.
******* #*,*** ** *** *** **** are ** ********* ** ***...
**#* **** ** * *********** ******** slingshot. *** ******* *** **** ** a **** ***. *** **** *** easiest *** ** *** *** ****? Don't ***** *** ***.
**#* ** *** **** ** **** an ****** *** ******* ****** (******* *** the ***** *****, *** **) ****** who *** *** *** * **** engage. *********, ***'* ***** *** ******* ink. ****, **** *********** **** ******* nothing.
...****** *** *** *** *** * will ******.
**, **’* * ****.
*** ***’* *** ***** *** ** backing ** **** ********* **** **** facts:
*** **** *** ******* *** ** not *** ****? ***'* ***** *** law.
** *** ***** **** **** ****** who *** **** *** ******** *** law?
**, * ******* **** ****** *** get **** *** *** ******* ** a *****. *** ** *** *** a ********. *** *** *** ****** to ***** **** **** *** **********?
**, * ******* **** ****** *** get **** *** *** ******* ** a *****.
** **** *** **** *** ******** law **** **** ****** *** *** shot?
*** *** *** ****** ** ***** race **** *** **********?
*’* ******* ** ******* ** *** a ****-**** ********, ***** ** **** I ******** **** ********* ** *****-********/********* actions ** **** **********
* ** *** **** * ***** be **** ** ******** ****** **** lighting ** **** *** ***** ** my ******** **** ****.
** **** ***** ** * *** person **** ** ** **.
*** **** *** ******* *** ** not *** ****? ***'* ***** *** law.
***** ***** *** ********** **** *** feel **** ******** ********** ** ********* for ****** ******** *** ***.
******** * ***** **** ***** *** the ******* ** *** *****, *** you *** ********* ******** (“** **** makes ** * *** ****** **** so ** **.”) **** **** ******* might **** ********** ** ** **** character, *** *********** **** **** *** unconcerning ** ***.
*** *’* ******* ** *** ** as **** ******** *******, ** ****’* how ** *** ********.
* **** *** **** *** **** of "******** ******* ** *** **** cheek ** ***** *****" ** ************* stated ** *** ******* ********* ** the ******** ***** **** ** ******* and *** ******* ** ******* ******* a ***** *** **** **** *** while ********** ** ***** **** ** was *****. * *** *** ******** the ************ ** ****** ****, **** was ** *********** *********. ******** ******* is ****.
** **** *** ********* ** **** **** motions ** * *** *** *** neighbors *** ***** **** ** ****** ** my ****, *'* **.
******** ************ ******:
*** *** ********* ** *** ****** force ** ******* ****** **** ****. There ***** ** ** **** ** establish **** *** *********** *** * lethal ****** ** **** *** **** in ******** ******.
**** ********* *** **** **** ***** out ** *******. (*** ******** ***...) I'm *** ** ******** (***** ***), but * ***** ******** ************ ** asserting **** ******* ********** *** *.*. Some ** ****** **** *** ****** Doctrine, *** **** **** *** **** to **** *** **** **** ** use ****** ***** (*** ***** ** after *** ****). **** ****** ***'* have *** ****** ********, *** ** a ****** ** ****** *** ******** have * **** ** *******. **'* a ********* ** **** *** ****'* even *****, * ********* ** ***********.
*****, ****. * ****** ** ***** you *** **** ******** *** ******* re: ***'* ****** ** *** *****. I *** ****** ***** *** ****** and *** ****** *** **** * did *** **** *** ***** *** of *** *******. * **** ********* Ken ** *** *** ** *******. Here ** *** ********:
****** ******** ** ***** **** ****** in *** *****. **** ****** ** require **** *** **** ********** ***** to **** *** **** ****, **** in **** ****. * ***'* ***** that's * **** **** *** **** you *** ********** ** **** **** in *** ****** ** *** *****. You ***'* **** ******, **** *********, lure **** **** *** ***** *** then **** ****. * ** **** that ********* ************* *** **** ********* consequences. ****** ****** ******** *** ***'** get **** **** **** *** ****. All * **** ** ** ******* comes **** ** *****, *** ** night, *'** ** ******** ** ********* to ******* ** ******.
**** ** *** ** ***** ***** where *** *** ***** ** "****** to ** ****** ** ** **** carried ** *" ***** *** ***. I'm *** ** ******** ** ******** anyone ** ****** *** ****, *** in ** ****, ** *****, *** you ***** **, *** *** *** willing ** **** ******* ***.
***** ** ** ***** ******* *** living ******** * *** ***** ********** the **** *** * ******* ****** like *** **** *****. **** ********** have *-*** *****, **** **** ******** fencing ** ***, *** **** **** not ***** *********, ******** ** ****** much *** ******** ********** *** ****** farmers *** **** **** ******** *** attacks **** **** **** ******. *** the ****** **** ** ****** ***** take **** ** *******.
** ** * ******** ******** ** 8 ** **** *** ****** ** clear, * ***** ***** *** ******** on *** *** *********** ** ******'* life. **** ** * **** **** lethal ******** ******** ** ******* **** was ******** ** * ****** ****** a ****** ***** **** ***** **********.
** ****** ********* ******* ********* *** required ** ******* ********** **** *** western ***** ***** ***** **********.
* *** **** ******* ** ******** and * ** *** * ****** of ****, *** *** ****** ********** to *** *** **** ***** ****** on **** ****** ******* **** ** is * ****** **** *** ********* in ***** ****** *** ***** ******* environments. ** * ***** * ****** that ** * ****** ** ***** so **** * ***** **** *** article *** ******* **** **** ******* as ** *** ******* ********* ** South ****** *** *** ***** ***** of ******* *** ********.
* *** **** ** #** ***** a ** ***** ******* *** ****** overseas.
* **** ***** **** ********** ** the ****** ******** ** ******** *** the ********* ****** ** * **** lost ******* *** ****** **** *** had ***** ******** ****** ** **** of ******* ***** ***** ***** *** was **** **** *** **** ** watch *** **** *** ******. **** being ***** ** ***** ** ***** husbands ****** **** *** **** ** the **** *** ** ******. ***** get ***** **** *** ***** ***** they *** ***** *** ***** *** that **** *** ****** *** ****** in ***** ** *** ****... * short *** **** **** *** ******** description ** **** ** ***** ** in ***** ******. **** ***** *** surrounded **** * ** * **** fencing *** ** *** ** **** they **** ******** *******. ******* *** covered **** ***** **** **** ** try *** **** **** *********.
********* ***'* ****** **** * ***** and * ***** ****... **** **** armed **** **** *** ***** ** hand ****, **** ***** ******* ******* so **** **** ***'* **** *** help ** *** ******.
*** ***** ****** ** **** ***** countries **** **** ** ***** **** addresses ******* ** * ****** *** moral *** *** **** **** *** in ***** **** **** ******* *** people ***** ** * ******* ********* environment.
************* *** ****** *** ** ******* as **** *** ****, ***** *** Boomslang ****** *** ********* *** ** desperation *** ********* ** *** *** stop ** ** ***** *** *** slow *** ******** **** ** **** the ***** ** *** ******** *** call *** **** ** * ***-*** radio ** ***** ***** ** *** neighbors ** ******* **** **** ***** be ** ***** **** *** **********.
*** **** ** ***** ****** ** about ******** *** **** ** *** invasion ** *** ** **** ***** your *** ** *** **** **** it *** * **** **** ******* intent.
******* * **** *** **** * am ***** ** *** **** **** has ****** ** ** ** *** sense ** **** ** **** ** the ** ** ***** ******* ***** countries. * ***** **** ** **** be * **** **** ****** ** implement ** **** ********* ** *** current **** *** **** **** ******** be **** *** *** *** **** some ******* ***** **********.
* *** *** ***** **** ***** is **** ** *** ********* ****** and ******** ************* ******* **** **** shoots * ****** ****** ******* ** gas. *** ******* ** ***. **** you ***** ** ****** ** **** I **** ** ******** ** ******* them ** ******* ** ******** ** such ******
* ******* *** ********* ** *** boomslang ****** *** ***** ********** ******** to *** *** **** **** ** slow **** ** ******* ***** ******** home *********.
#**, ****** *** *** ********, **** informative *** ** *********** *** **** losses.
***,******* *** **** ******* *** * free ***** ** ********** ** ***** here. **** ***** ***** **** *** email *** ** **** **** **** a **** ** *********** ****** **** for * *****, ** ******* *** no **** ********.
*** **** ** *** **** ***** have **** ***** **** *** *****. It ***** **** **** **** **** updating *** ******* *** *** ** the **** ** **** *** ** not **** ** **** *** ***** active.
***, *** *** ****** ** ******* the ****? ** **** *** **** below, *** * ***'* *** ********.
***** ** ******* *** **** ** my ******** **** *** ** ***** not *** **.
****...********* ****** **********.
******* ** ********* ***** *****, **** about * *** ** **** *** with *********!