Press Journal (Vero Beach, FL) March 11, 2005
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Scary weapons in the making
You just never know what you might be missing if you don't surf the Internet for expanded news sources. Today I just found some very important information that has left me chilled to the bone.
An article at (www.newscientist.com) detailed a new military weapon being built that sends an electromagnetic pulse from a laser from more than one and a quarter mile away to its targets. The intended use is "to deter, disable, and distract individuals," according to (Global Security.org).
The plan is to mount the laser on a truck, plane, or helicopter, fire it from a safe distance, and stop rioters, snipers, or soldiers without risking harm to military personnel.
So far, more than $3 million have been spent on research and tests that have hurt and paralyzed animals. Much of this study has been done at the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida.
Currently, new research at UCF seeks to generate a pulse that triggers pain neurons without damaging tissue. Studies on cells grown in a lab will identify how much pain can be inflicted before causing injury or death. Pain researchers fear that this technology will be used for torture.
If we spent as much time, money and energy finding ways to create supportive and nurturing societies as we do inventing new weapons to harm each other what a wonderful world we'd live in. What Would Jesus Do?
Mindy Stone
Vero Beach
© Copyright 2005, Stuart News Company
