Active Denial System

[Occhidiangela]

Water cannons require specific infrastructure to be present in the area of the riot, and can quite easily cause injuries. Tear gas, while quite effective, has a nasty tendency to spread, and hurts something aweful for hours.

A microwave gun does no lasting damage, stops hurting the moment it's off you, and can be targetted more accurately than tear gas.

Neither did thalidomide when it first came out.

Oops.:P

Long story short, I'd rather be zapped than hosed down or gassed, but I'd still head for the hills (Supposing I was participating in a riot) once the authorities started sweeping the beam across the crowd.

Besides, if you've got rioters huddling behind shields instead of actively engaging in destructive behaviour... Mission accomplished, wouldn't you say?

The counter to this ray gun is a marksman with a deer rifle. Shoot the sumbitch who is using it.

See 1963, Ap Bac, for an example of how small arms are a remarkably effective counter to high tech weapons systems, if used correctly.

This system is right out of Atlas Shrugged.

Oh tidings of comfort and joy.

Occhi