Why are Chemical weapons illegal?

[Schadenfroh]

why are chemical weapons banned by the Geniva convention???

 

[Brutuskend]

There are BAD, M'kay?!

 

[MovingTarget]

Probably because of the chance of unintended casualties bieng much higher near civilain populations more so than conventional weapons...I dunno.

 

[crab]

Would you like a demonstration?

We'll need your address, or better yet, LAT/LONG coordinates.

 

[fatbaby]

because someone with a lot of money didn't like them.

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: fatbaby
because someone with a lot of money didn't like them.

hey, that sounds kinda like why drugs are illegal, along with a lot of other stuff...

 

[Ness]

Because we have enough trouble just trying to control people who get the urge to use firepower on a regular basis. Imagine what it would be like if every gang member in LA was running around with chemical weapons instead of 9mm handguns.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

The reason was WWI.

During those days, mustard gas was a commonly used agent. Unlike bullets, you could not duck it. It left thousands and thousands forever disabled. The result was so hideous, that these weapons were outlawed.

 

[Brutuskend]

A better question would be why are hollow points illegal? The rounds we fired out of our M16's weren't and they would do as much or MORE damage than a hollow point.

Shot guns aren't.

 

[NogginBoink]

The truth of the matter is that the rules of "civilized warfare" make little sense.

We're allowed to shoot the enemy, but not use hollow tipped bullets because they hurt too much and cause "unnecessary suffering" (or some such phrase).

It's just one of those things that it's much easier to accept and not question, because if you answer the question, you find the answer makes very little sense.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
The reason was WWI.

During those days, mustard gas was a commonly used agent. Unlike bullets, you could not duck it. It left thousands and thousands forever disabled. The result was so hideous, that these weapons were outlawed.

Addendum: mustard gas basically becomes sulfuric acid in your lungs....thereby dissolving them and causing you to asphyxiate in hugely painful fashion. Not nice stuff.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
A better question would be why are hollow points illegal? The rounds we fired out of our M16's weren't and they would do as much or MORE damage than a hollow point.

Shot guns aren't.

Fired a round or two through those myself and I disagree. It would be relatively easy to construct a much more damaging round. M16's caused some weird and scary wound trails, but you can always make one that would fragment effectively.

 

[wfbberzerker]

basically, the geneva convention tries to ban weapons that cause suffering, but not death. thats really my guess, since i dont know for sure, but that seems like the most likely reason.

 

[Brutuskend]

Ever see that film where a guy took and drilled out some rounds and then dropped mercury into the holes and then sealed them?

Now That's a damaging bullet!

 

[HappyPuppy]

Has anyone here ever seen the effects of napalm or white phosphorous up close and personal? I have. It's nasty beyond comprehension.

There are other legal weapons we have that are, debateably, as cruel and inhuman.

Rest assured that you have not heard about the experimental weapons we used in Iraq.

There is a reason the U.S. has gone to "war" every 20 years since its inception.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
Has anyone here ever seen the effects of napalm or white phosphorous up close and personal? I have. It's nasty beyond comprehension.

There are other legal weapons we have that are, debateably, as cruel and inhuman.

Rest assured that you have not heard about the experimental weapons we used in Iraq.

There is a reason the U.S. has gone to "war" every 20 years since its inception.

Cheap land mines are a treat too. Especially if the half of the person left lives.

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
Has anyone here ever seen the effects of napalm or white phosphorous up close and personal? I have. It's nasty beyond comprehension.

There are other legal weapons we have that are, debateably, as cruel and inhuman.

Rest assured that you have not heard about the experimental weapons we used in Iraq.

There is a reason the U.S. has gone to "war" every 20 years since its inception.

Yup, we gotta test our new "toys" and show the world they work. (So we can then sell them to the next country we plan on going to war with in a few years, thus keeping the military industrial complex rolling.)

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppyRest assured that you have not heard about the experimental weapons we used in Iraq.

:camera:?

 

[wfbberzerker]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: HappyPuppyRest assured that you have not heard about the experimental weapons we used in Iraq.

:camera:?

eek, no pics please, just info.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Probably because of the chance of unintended casualties bieng much higher near civilain populations more so than conventional weapons...I dunno.

but carpet bombing does the same thing

 

[MovingTarget]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Probably because of the chance of unintended casualties bieng much higher near civilain populations more so than conventional weapons...I dunno.

but carpet bombing does the same thing

Yeah, carpet bombing is terribly devastating when used on cities such as in WW2 (dunno about Vietnam for now though). It was even worse when we started using incendiary bombs mixed in with the payloads. Just imagine how much more horrible if we mix in a few chemical munitions when bombing a city. I'll take the conventional carpet bombing anyday....

 

[her209]

We should put the leaders in a boxing ring and let them duke it out.