Sublethal Camera Gun Examined

Author: Dan Gelinas, Published on Dec 06, 2018

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

*********** * ***** ******* ******* **** ************ * ********-**********, ******-******* gun ****** *** *********, ***** ** ********* *** **** *****. The ******* **** ** ** ***-****** *** ** ******** ** deter ********* *** ******* *****.

*** ******** *** *** *** **** ******* *********** ********* ** legality, *********, *** ********* ******.

** **** ****, ***** ** *** ******** *** ********* **** Sublethal ********* ***** *****, ** *******:

  • ******* **********
  • ******** **. ********** ***
  • ******** ***********
  • ******** *** * ******** *******
  • ********* ******** ** ************* / ** ********
  • ********* ** ** ******* ******
  • ******** ***** ****** *******

[***************]

Company **********

********* ** ***** ** ************, ***** ******, * ***** ***** violent ***** ** ****** ****** *** *** ************ ** ******* crime *** ********* ** *****, ** ************ ************:

** **** ******* ****,********* *********:

***** ****** *** * ******* **** **** ** *******, ********, rapes *** ***** ******* ******, ******** ** **** *********.

Military ** ********** ***

******, ****** **** *** ******** *** **** *** **************** ***** *** ******.

*******, ********** **** *** ****** ******** *** **** ** *** first **** **** *** **** ******** ********.

Solution ********

********* *** ***** * ****-*** ****** **** ******** * ******, armored *********, ***-***-***** ********* *** **** *** ******, *** ******-******-*****, key-switch-secured ********** **** ** **-***** ****** ** *** ***** ***** demonstrates:

**** **** **** *** $*,*** ***, ****** ** ** **** sold ** * ******** *** ****** ** ***** ******. *** kit ***** **** * ********* ****** ********, *** *** ********* can **** ** *** *** ****** *** ****** **** ****, according ** *********. *** ****** *** **** ** **** ** conjunction **** * *** **** ********* ** * *** ** order ** ****** *** ****** ** *********.

*** ******* **** * ***** **** ******* ** ***** *** size ** ****** **** ******* **** ** ***** ******'* ******:

*** ****** ***** **** *** ******* *** *** *** ******** holds ** ** *** ******.

*** ****** ** ******** ** ** ******* ** ******* ** properties ** ***** ** ******** ********:

On-Site *** ****

*** ****** ** ******** ** ** **** **-**** ****, **** a ********* **********-**-*** ******** ***** ** ** ******. ***** ******** this ** ** ***** *** * ****-******* *****:

*** ****** ******* **** ** ****** ** ****** ** *** gun ** ****** **** **** **** *** ****** ** **** for ***/*** ****.

***************, **-******* ****** ******* ** ********* ********. *******, *** ******* said ** ******* *** ** ** **** ***** *** ** litigation ********:

** **** ** ***** * ****** *** **** ***** ********, take * ***** ** *** ********, **** ** ** *** user, *** **** ***** **** * '*****' *******, **** *** gun ***** ************ ****** *** ******** *** ***** ****. **** system *** ************ **** ******** **** *** ******* ****** *** our ******* **** ** ***** **** ** *** ******** ******* for ********* *** ***** ****** ** ********* **********.

** ****, *** *** **** *** **** ****** ** ** defend ******* ******* ********* ***** *** ** ** ***** ********.

Potential ** ** ******* ******

********* **** ***** *** ****** ** *** ******** ** ** lethal, ** *** ****** *********** ********, ** ***** *** ***** below *****:

*** ******* ********** ******* *** ****** ~**' ** ****** * steep ***** ** ********** ** ******** *** *********** ** ******* intruders ** *** ****:

*** **** **** *** ** **** ** ** ***** *** remote *** ** (******) ***** *** ******. **** * **** elevation *** ****** **** ****** *** **** ******* ******* ** the ***. **** ** *** * ******* ******** *** ** dramatically ******* *** ****** ** ********* ****.

*******, ***** ****** *** *** ** **** ******** *** **** to ******:

*** *** ** **** ******** *** ** ** ***** ******** to ****** ******* ** ***** *** ******** ** *** **** ass ***** ** *** ***** *** *****, ** ** ** intruder ** **** ** *** ***, ** ** ****** ** be **********. * **** **** ************ ****** *** ****** *** to ***** ******** *** ****** **** ** ******* ****** *** their *******.

International ***** **********

*** ********** ** **** ********* **** *** **** *** ****** kit ******* ** ***** ******. *******, **** **** **** * non-weaponized ******* *** ***** *** ******** ** *******, ********** *** buy *** ******** ********* *** *** *** ****** ** **** the ****** ***********:

*********** ** ** **** ******. ** ***** ****** *** ********* gun *** *** ****** *** **** ********** ****. ** *** US ****, *** ******** ***** **** ** ******* *** ********* gun *** *** ******, **** *** ********* ****** ***** ** complete.

Problems *** ************* / ** ********

*** **** ******* *** *** ** ********* ****, ****** ******** or ****. *** ******* ** *** **,**** ****** ********** *************** *** ******** ** ***** **** ********** *******:

***** *** **** *********** ** ***** ** **** *** *** of ******** ********** ******* ** *********** ** **** ******* **** a**** ***** ** * ****** *** *** ** ****** ********** ***** ******** ***** **** ** *** ****:

*** ***** *** **** **** ****** ***** *****, ***** ************* trigger * ****** **** **** *** ********** ****, ****** ***** **** *******.*** *****:

*******, *** *** ***** **** ******** *********** ******* *** ********* than ***** *****. *** **** ***** ** ** ******** ** the *** ** * ******* ******** ** ** ****** *** the *** ** *** ***** ********* ***** ** ******** **** control ** * ***** ******** ****** *** ** **** ****. Also, *** ********* ** *** *** ** *** **** ** activate ** ****** ******* ***** **** *** **********.

********* *** ********** ** *** **** ** *** ** *** the ****** ****** *** ***:

********** *** ******** ** ******** ** ************ *** **** ******** needs ** ** ******** ** ***'* *** ***** ************. ** is ************ ******* ** *** **** ** ****** ******** ******** will **** *** ********** ******* ** ***** ******'* *********** *************. For *******, ********* **** *** ******** ***** ** ****** ******** to *** ***** **** **** * **** ********* ********* ******:

*** ********* ****** *** *** ** ******* **** * ****** variety ****** ********* ** ********* *** ********* *** **** * garden **** *** ******** *****. ** ***** ** *** ******' most ****-********** *********, *** ** ***** ** **** ** *** had *** ***** ** ****.

**** ** ** **** ******* **** *** ********* ******* **** modifying *** *********'* ***-****** ******** ** *********** ** ****** *******?

Legal ******* - *********** ** ** **

**** ***** **** *** ******** ******** ***** ******* *** **** it *** ******** ***** ********* ** *** ** ** ****.

*** ****** **********-***** *** **** **** *** ** ***** ** ****-******* is **** ** **** ** *** ***** ******** ** ****-******* is *** ******* **** *** ********* ******:

*** *** *** ****-******* ** **** ** *** ****** *****’* exceed *** ******. ** ******* ** *** *************. ** ** wasn’t ********** ** * **** ******, ***** ***** ** * problem. *******, ** **’* ********** ** * **** ****** ** real ****, **’* *** * *********.

*** ************** *** ****-***************** & ************, *.*.****** *** ** ***** ** ***********. ** **** **** **** homes *** ********** **** ********* *****, **** ********** ***** ******* on ******** *** *** ********* ******** ****** ******* **** **** in ****** *** **** **** *** *** *** ***** **************** to *** ***** ** ******:

*** *** ********* ** *** ****** ***** ** ******* ****** your ****. ***** ***** ** ** **** ** ********* **** the *********** *** * ****** ****** ** **** *** **** in ******** ******. *** **** ***** ** ********* ** * business, ***** *** ***** **** ** ********* **** *** **** in ****** *** **** *** *** *** *** **************** ***** to ******* ********.

************ **** ********* *** *****-**** *****:

*** ******* **** ** **** *** ****** ****** * ****. For *******, *** ***'* *** ** * **** *** ** go *** ** **** **** ** ******.

Vote / ****

Comments (25)

Undisclosed #1

12/06/18 03:43pm

******* ** ********* ***** *****, **** ***** * *** ** have *** **** *********!

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | 12/06/18 03:45pm

*** ******* '****' * ********* **** *** *********** ******* ** from *** ********?

Undisclosed End User #2

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 12/06/18 03:49pm

* ********* ******'* ****** *** ********* ***** ** *****

Avatar

Brian Karas

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 12/06/18 10:59am

*** ** ***** ******* ***** ***** ***** ** ***** **** it *** **** ** ********** **********. ** ** *** ***** from *** ****** ******* **** *** ********** ** ****** ************** protocol *** ********* ****** **, *** ******** *** ** ***** limit **, ***.

** ***** **** *** ****** **** *** ****** ** ** IP *******, ** ** ******** ******'* ** ****** **** *** internet. ** ** ******** ****** **** *** ******** ******* ****** could ** ***** ****, **** ***** ** * ********** **** the ** *** ******* ***** ** ******* ***** *** ** signaling ***/** ********** **** (** ** ********* **** ** **** your *** ************ **** ******** ******** *******). ** ******, ** they **** *** *** ***** **********, ********* ***** **** ********** in ***** ** ******* ** ****.

*** **** ****** ******* ******** * ***** *** ***** ** an ******** ****** * ****** **** ******** ** ***** ******* and **** ****** *** *** *** ****, ******* *** ******** more ********** ** ** ******. **** ** *** **** **** to ******* *********** ******* ***** *** ******** ****, ***. ** might ** **** ****** ** **** **** ** ** ****** that ******** *** ******* *** ******* ** *** *****, ********* them *******.

**** **, ** **, *** ** ***** **** ***** **** works **** *** * ***** ****, *** **** *** **** of ******** *** ******* *** ** *** ***-***-***** **** ** security ********* ***** ** **** **** ** ******* ****. *** mechanism ****** ***** **** ** ***** ** ******** ** * number ** **** (***** * **** **** ** ****** ** a ****** *****, **** **** *** ***, **** * ***** in *** *********, ***.).

Avatar

Dan Gelinas

IPVM | In reply to Brian Karas | 12/06/18 07:22pm

*** *****, *'* *** ***% ******* ** *** ****** ** your ******** (*'** ******* *** ********* ** *** *** *************), but ** ******* ** **** *** ********** ** ****-***** ** the ******. ** ******** ******** *****, ** ***** **** ** ***** ******** ** ******* ** a ***** ** ****. ** ** *** *****, ***** ******* to ** * ***** ****/**** ****** *** *** ******.

*'** ******* **** ***** **** * **** **** *********.

** *** ** *** ******* *********, * ***** ** ****** that ** *** **** ** ******** ********** **** * ***********, tarp ** *****, *** ****** ** *** ***** *** ** the ********** ***** **** ******* ******** *** ****** **** ****. I've ***** **** *** **** *** ** ***** ******, *** that ****** ******* ***** ***** **** ** **** * ***** heck ** * ***.

** ******, ** ***** ** ****** *** ******** *******, *** system ***** ***** **** ** ** **** ** ***** *** gun. **** ***** **** ** * *** *** ***** *** house *** **** **** *** ****** ****'* ****, **** ***** take ***** **** ********* *** ****** **** *** ********* ****'* home, **** **** **** *****. ** **** *** ** **** right ****.

** **** ******, *** ******'* ** ******** ****** ***** ***** own ********* *** **** ****** ********** *** **** ***** **** at *** ******, *********** ******** *** *********.

*********, **** *** *** **** **** *** **** **** ********, it ***** ****** **** ** ******** ******** ***** ** ****** out ****** *******.

Avatar

Dan Gelinas

IPVM | In reply to Brian Rhodes | 12/06/18 08:59am

**** ********, *****. *** ****** ** ** ****** *** ** not *********. **** ** *********'* ********* ** ****:

** **** **** ******* ** ** ********** ****** **** *** a ***** *** ** **** **** ** *** *** *** we **** ******* *** ** **** ** *** *** ** the *****. ****** **** *** * **** *** ******* *** it **** **** **** *** ****** ** ****** *********** **** the **********. **** **** ***** ** * *** ** ***** and ********** **** ** ** ******* ** ***** *** ********* like ** ** ******. ** **** **** **** ** ** some ******* **** ** ******** *** * *** ** ******* hackers **** ****** ******* ** * ****** *** ********** **** the ********. **** ** *** ** ******* ** **** * very ******, **-******** ****** *** **** ***** *** ***** ***** control, *** ********* ** **** ***** **.

Undisclosed #4

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 12/06/18 01:42pm

**** ** *** * ***** '**** **'.

Undisclosed End User #2

12/06/18 03:47pm

**** ***** **********, ********** ***** *** ***** ****** ********.

********* ******** ******, ***** ****** *** * **** *** *** of ******* ******* ***** *******.

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Undisclosed End User #2 | 12/06/18 04:09pm

**** ****** ******** *** "********" *****. * ***** ***** *** a **** *** ***** *** ****** ********** ***.

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | 12/06/18 07:44pm

** ********* **** **** *** ** ****** **** ******, *** their ***** ***** **** ***** ** ******* ******* ****** ** break **** * ******* ** *** ********?

Avatar

Dan Gelinas

IPVM | In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 12/06/18 09:22pm

**** *****. ******* *** ******* ***** ***** **** ***** **** once *** ******** ******* *** ******* *******, **'* **** ****** to ****** *** ******?

Avatar

Jason Thomas

12/06/18 08:19pm

**** ***** **** **** ** * *** ***** ********* ***. As ****, ** ***** ** **** ** ***** ****** *****. They *** ****** **** ******* ********. *** **** *** ****.

Avatar

Dan Gelinas

IPVM | In reply to Jason Thomas | 12/06/18 01:30pm

@*****, ***'** *******. ** ****, ****** ** ****'* ********* ** the ***** ********* ******* ** *** ******* **** *** *** *********** ****** *****:

Undisclosed #5

12/06/18 09:53pm

*** *** ** **** ******** *** ** ** ***** ******** to ****** ******* ** ***** *** ******** ** *** **** ass ***** ** *** ***** *** *****, ** ** ** intruder ** **** ** *** ***, ** ** ****** ** be **********.

*** **** ** ** “***** ********” ** ***** ****** *****, it ** *** ******** ** ***** **** ** *** ***.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

12/06/18 04:59pm

* ***'* *** *** **** ******* ***** **** ** *** USA **** *** *** ********* ******. *'* ***** ** ***** a ********* **** ** ****** **** ****** *****. ** ** cameras, ******, *** ****** ***'* ***** * ********, **** * have ** ****** *** ** ****** *** ***** ****** ** house *** **********.

* **** ** *** ******** *** ********* ** ***** ******.

****** ******* *** **** **** *** ********** "****-****-******" *** "***-******". They *** ***** **** ****** *** **** ******** ******** ** can ** *** ********* ** ** ***** **** ****** ***** (perp **** ******* ******** *** ** *****, ******* *** **** on * ***** ****)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #7

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #6 | 12/10/18 09:52am

* ******* ***** **** ***. **** **** * ***-****** ****** you ****** ** **** **** **** ******* **** *** ***** death. ***** **** **** ********* ** *** **** **** **** a ****-****** *** ** *** **** *** ****** ** * fight ******* *** ****** *** * ******* ********* ******.

******* ******* **** * ***-****** ****** ** ***** * ******. I ****** **** ** *** **** ********* **** **** *** this ****** ** **** **** ** ** ******.

Avatar

Jason Thomas

12/10/18 03:15pm

* ***** ** *** ******* *****. *** **** ***** **** Cat5e *****, *** **** * *********** ********, ** ** ***'* be ******. *** **** ***** **** ** ****** ** ***** and **** ********* **** *** ** *** ****** **** ******* it ***** ** **** ********* ** ******** *** *********** **** you **** ***** **********. ***, **** ** ** ***, *** US ***. ****, *** ******* **** ** **** *** ****** might ***.

Avatar

Adam Messina

ThinkReps | 12/10/18 07:20pm

* ** *** **** * ***** ** **** ** ******** myself **** ******** ** **** *** ***** ** ** ******** with ****. ** **** ***** ** * *** ****** **** so ** **.

Undisclosed #8

In reply to Adam Messina | 12/10/18 07:22pm

* ** *** **** * ***** ** **** ** ******** myself **** ******** ** **** *** ***** ** ** ******** with ****.

******* #*,*** ** *** *** **** *** ** ********* ** NYC...

Avatar

Adam Messina

ThinkReps | In reply to Undisclosed #8 | 12/10/18 07:32pm

**#* **** ** * *********** ******** *********. *** ******* *** same ** * **** ***. *** **** *** ******* *** to *** *** ****? ***'* ***** *** ***.

Undisclosed #5

In reply to Adam Messina | 12/10/18 08:58pm

*** **** *** ******* *** ** *** *** ****? ***'* break *** ***.

** ** *****.

Avatar

Adam Messina

ThinkReps | In reply to Undisclosed #5 | 12/10/18 09:10pm

**#* ** *** **** ** **** ** ****** *** ******* debate (******* *** *** ***** *****, *** **) ****** *** you *** *** * **** ******. *********, ***'* ***** *** digital ***. ****, **** *********** **** ******* *******.

Chris Dearing

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Adam Messina | 12/11/18 12:16am

...****** *** *** *** *** * **** ******.

**, **’* * ****.

*** ***’* *** ***** *** ** ******* ** **** ********* with **** *****:

*** **** *** ******* *** ** *** *** ****? ***'* break *** ***.

** *** ***** **** **** ****** *** *** **** *** breaking *** ***?

Avatar

Adam Messina

ThinkReps | In reply to Chris Dearing | 12/11/18 12:27am

**, * ******* **** ****** *** *** **** *** *** victims ** * *****. *** ** *** *** * ********. Why *** *** ****** ** ***** **** **** *** **********?

Undisclosed #5

In reply to Adam Messina | 12/11/18 01:41am

**, * ******* **** ****** *** *** **** *** *** victims ** * *****.

** **** *** **** *** ******** *** **** **** ****** not *** ****?

*** *** *** ****** ** ***** **** **** *** **********?

*’* ******* ** ******* ** *** * ****-**** ********, ***** on **** * ******** **** ********* ** *****-********/********* ******* ** your **********

* ** *** **** * ***** ** **** ** ******** myself **** ******** ** **** *** ***** ** ** ******** with ****.

** **** ***** ** * *** ****** **** ** ** it.

*** **** *** ******* *** ** *** *** ****? ***'* break *** ***.

***** ***** *** ********** **** *** **** **** ******** ********** is ********* *** ****** ******** *** ***.

******** * ***** **** ***** *** *** ******* ** *** doubt, *** *** *** ********* ******** (“** **** ***** ** a *** ****** **** ** ** **.”) **** **** ******* might **** ********** ** ** **** *********, *** *********** **** this *** ************ ** ***.

*** *’* ******* ** *** ** ** **** ******** *******, if ****’* *** ** *** ********.

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