Lack of study and oversight raises concerns about tear gas]Interesting AP examination of tear gasAs a chemical weapon it's actually banned in war.
Many police depts have switched from CS to OC chemical irritants, the latter mostly based on highly concentrated pepper resins. Many protesters believe the tear gas has gotten stronger and more harmful. Most tear gas is mostly a powder with chemicals added to keep it airborne.
I think a big part of the problem is that tear gas is a very easy police tactic so that it's overused. And really it should never be used against peaceful demonstrators exercising their 1st A rights.
It’s unclear exactly who in the U.S. government is overseeing the production of tear gas and its use by domestic law enforcement.
The federal government regulates everything from lawn pesticides to labels on beer, but the AP could find no agency that regulates the manufacture or the use of tear gas.
In its attempt to find an oversight body, the AP contacted numerous federal agencies: the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The effort devolved into a cross between alphabet soup and a game of hot potato. The EPA punted to the CDC, which passed the ball right back to EPA. The ATF referred questions to the Department of Justice. No agency claimed oversight.
An offensive weapon used fairly indiscriminately by police in public areas, and its production and use is left unattended.
And to further counter bambu's blind assertion that BLM and street protests are not accomplishing anything:
In the absence of federal oversight, states are now moving to establish some control over the use of tear gas. A new law in Colorado says that before tear gas or pepper spray can be used, police must ensure that an order to disperse is heard and that people have enough time to move and an exit route to comply. The legislatures of Michigan, New York state, and Ohio all have bills in committee that curtail or prohibit the use of tear gas by law enforcement.
Likely more to follow.
Police abuses and tactics are being reviewed. And laws are being passed to reign them in. Next up is trying to take on police unions.