Trained as an Ohio National Guardsman for riot control and deployed as a Platoon Leader on active riot duty, I have direct knowledge and experience, albeit from the 1970s.
Here is what I learned:
- With and without plastic shields, soldiers with rifles can effectively move rioters away from assets, buildings, and people that need protection in the proper formation.
- With gas masks, soldiers can deploy gas grenades to subdue and discourage a crowd.
- Gas grenades come in several types and are used effectively with minimal permanent harm or danger to most rioters except those with respiratory medical issues.
- Soldiers armed with rubber bullets can subdue and disable rioters who intend to resist arrest and commit an assault on authorities.
- Soldiers armed with dye bags, sandbags, and buckshot can stop the most aggressive leaders and disable them for arrest.
- Guardsmen deployed for riot duty do not make arrests as that is the responsibility of local police.
Given that, what was missing in the deployment of Guardsmen at the Capitol? They did not have the proper ammunition and were not deployed with the appropriate tactics. That was poor planning resulting from deficient leadership and management.
"In current usage a riot gun or less-lethal launcher is a type of firearm that is used to fire "non-lethal" or "less-lethal" ammunition for the purpose of suppressing riots. Less-lethal launchers may be special purpose firearms designed for riot control use, or standard firearms, usually shotguns and grenade launchers, adapted to riot control use with appropriate ammunition. The ammunition is most commonly found in 12 gauge (18.5 mm/.729 inches) shotguns and 37mm/40 mm (1.46 inches/1.57 inches) grenade launchers.
In the United States, the term riot gun more commonly refers to a riot shotgun."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_gun
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