Campers and rescue personnel alike have long valued the strobe function on flashlights for emergencies. Recently, however, military and law enforcement agencies have been researching how flashing lights can delay or even completely stop violent attackers. As Derek Valcourt reported on WJZ 13 in Baltimore, the Department of Homeland Security is developing an LED Incapacitator flashlight. Government officials hope to provide this new high performance flashlight as a non-lethal method to control, but not kill, non-cooperative suspects. Powerful flashing lights confuse and temporarily blind attackers. As David Throckmorton of the Department of Homeland security told Valcourt, “In effect what you are trying to do is get the person to close their eyes and make it hard for them to keep being aggressive and coming at you.”
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