San Francisco police want to use killer robots
San Francisco police are considering using killer robots that can shoot suspects. Hasta la vista, baby?
Killer robots to the rescue?
In the proposal from the California city police, they will be authorized to use a remote-controlled robot. This allows shooting at incendiary suspects. These killer robots would only be used in situations where the lives of police officers are in danger.
The advantage of a remote-controlled robot is that it can reach places where people cannot go. They also reduce the danger to police officers and significantly reduce the risk of firearms being used in an emergency.
Wild west scenes
In the video below you can see the LANIUS robot from the Israeli Elbit Systems in action. Although this model mainly has military applications, police services will probably look at this model with a smile.
Civil lawyers are concerned about this development. They are afraid that this will lead to Wild West scenes, in which officers will shoot suspects indiscriminately without involving a judge. Indeed, the American police have a reputation to uphold when it comes to violent action.
Heavily armed criminals a major problem in the US
Gun ownership is rampant in the United States, and while it’s illegal to carry guns in the state of California, it’s a piece of cake to import guns from a trigger-happy neighboring state like Nevada.
That means that arresting suspects is always a tricky business for police officers. There is a good chance that they will be shot with an automatic firearm. This probably explains why the San Francisco police force has a great need for controversial devices such as killer robots.
The San Francisco Police Department currently uses 17 robots, all for non-violent purposes. The proposal will be voted on on Tuesday 6 December 2022.
