Disabling Biochemical Weapons
Recent years have witnessed an increased interest in exploring the potential of disabling biochemical weapons by militaries and law enforcement agencies in several nations. The use of such weapons to incapacitate people or degrade materials is seen as offering a "non-lethal" alternative to more traditional means of applying force. However, disabling biochemical weapons are controversial. Their effects are poorly understood, and it is uncertain whether they are capable of effectively incapacitating a large majority of people without also causing death in a substantial minority. Training and research are also scattered and inconsistent. Moreover, disabling biochemical weapons appear to run afoul of the Chemical Weapons Convention and perhaps, also of the Biological Weapons Convention.