Aegis Industries Calls for Health Effects Standards for All Non-Lethal Technologies.

MONTEREY, Calif. -- Aegis Industries, a developer of intermediate force options, is calling for government and industry-wide standards for non-lethal technologies that accurately reflect the stage or "readiness level" of development and health effects research for a given device. The Readiness Level Standards (RLS) should be based on scientifically reliable information related to the bio-effects mechanisms and health impacts for each non-lethal technology and be widely available to decision and policymakers, end users and the public.

Commenting on this effort, Aegis founder and CEO Ken Stethem explained, "The use of non-lethal devices by law enforcement, particularly stun devices, has significantly increased in the past several years and has been marked by a corresponding increase in the number of deaths and injuries which have led to a national debate as to the safety of these devices." Clarification of safety is critical given that law enforcement agencies across the country have purchased and deployed non-lethal technologies with the belief that they are a safe and reliable non-lethal alternative. "In the interest of public safety and national policy, Aegis is calling for the development and implementation of Readiness Level Standards for all non-lethal technologies," remarked Stethem. According to Bruno D.V. Marino, Ph.D., Chief Science and Technology Officer for Aegis Industries, Aegis has been a leader in promoting a scientifically based national policy for the deployment of this technology. "Standards would provide manufacturers with a rigorous scientific process for responsibly commercializing non-lethal technologies, as well as require manufactures to verify safety claims with impartial and confirmable scientific data," said Dr. Marino.

While the DOD and the Joint Non Lethal Directorate (JNLWD) have developed an Human Effects Readiness Level Guide for non-lethal technologies (https://www.jnlwd.usmc.mil/documents/trl_chart.pdf), use of the guidelines for specific devices is not clear. The health effects knowledge of a technology can be rated on a scale from 0 to 9, with 0 characterized by little more than a literature review to 9 indicating human operational testing and data collection. "The framework of the RLS will assist all parties in evaluating use relative to risk, cost and effectiveness, " remarked Marino.

Aegis Industries continues to support increased basic research and advanced studies to understand the health effects of non-lethal devices as well as to advocate for increased public safety. "Without clearly identifying the bio-effects mechanism(s) and the threshold(s) of safety and effectiveness, I believe that it is not possible to fully develop a safe, effective and responsible use-of-force policy or regulations for these technologies," remarked Stethem.

Aegis Industries, Inc. is the emerging market leader in the stun industry and specializes in the design and development of intermediate force options for the military, law enforcement, corrections, and the private security industry. You can learn more about Aegis Industries at www.aegispds.com.