The Humane Gun

In Dick Tracy, Cartoonist Chester Gould often anticipates events and inventions long before they become reality. Along with Diet Smith, Tracy beat the astronauts to the moon by seven years. The intrepid detective talked into a two-way wristwatch-radio before the transistorized version was invented. Now Tracy has introduced the "humane" pistol. It fires a cartridge that on impact spurts a slippery, tranquilizing liquid that upsets the footing of a fleeing suspect and immobilizes him for half a minute--just enough time to slip on the handcuffs.

The times have almost caught up with Gould. A California firm has just marketed the Stun Gun, which shoots a compressed four-inch-square nylon bag filled with either lead powder or birdshot. Fired from modified carbines, pistols or even nightsticks, the bag unfolds like a spinning pancake when it leaves the weapon's muzzle at 110 m.p.h. It will knock down--or at least stun --a fleeing suspect or a rioter. But, claims the manufacturer, the impact is not fatal. A Chicago police official disagrees: "Anything is lethal if it's fired at close enough range. Who are they trying to kid?'"

A Hell of a Bruise. The police of Berkeley, Calif., plagued regularly by demonstrations around the University of California campus, are enthusiastic about the Stun Gun. Captain Charles Plummer, who with three other Berkeley officers served as a guinea pig for the weapon, reported that "it left one hell of a bruise. But if I were a rioter, I think I'd prefer that to buckshot."

The Stun Gun has yet to see action, but a number of police departments have ordered it. Among the organizations that have placed orders are two campus patrol forces.

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