Introducing 'Low-Risk Pistols'?... Is It Really a Solution to Prevent Weapon Rampages?

"How to Handle Civil and Criminal Liability After Firearm Use?"
"The Culture of Reluctance to Use Must Change First"

President Yoon Suk-yeol announced that "low-risk pistols will be supplied to all on-site police officers" as a measure to respond to crimes with abnormal motives such as knife rampages, but questions are being raised about whether this can be a fundamental solution. There is a need to examine whether the introduction of low-risk pistols will be practically effective in subduing criminals and suppressing crime. Experts also agree that expanding firearm distribution is necessary, but they emphasize that it is important to establish an environment where actual firearm use is possible.

Low-risk pistols were developed as substitutes for the existing police tasers (electroshock devices) and .38 caliber (meaning the bullet diameter is 0.38 inches) revolver pistols. Compared to .38 caliber revolvers, their lethality is significantly reduced, so they are also called non-lethal modified pistols.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Low-risk pistols use 'low-risk bullets' made of plastic material, and their power upon firing is known to be about one-tenth that of conventional live ammunition pistols. They are expected to minimize human casualties while effectively subduing criminals. The government plans to expand the distribution of firearms to police officers to a 'one gun per person' basis starting next year. Currently, the standard for on-site police officers' pistol distribution is 'one gun per three officers.'

Professor Lee Woong-hyuk of Konkuk University’s Department of Police Science explained in an interview with Yonhap News TV, "For this measure to be effective, infrastructure must be established. Infrastructure means how to distinguish between intentional, gross negligence, and ordinary negligence that may occur in the line of duty when firearms are actively used."

Professor Lee said, "Simply put, the government and the state must to some extent exempt civil and criminal liability to eliminate the cynical on-site culture of 'solo lawsuits' or the notion that 'guns are not for shooting but for throwing.' For many years, the practice has been to just provide firearms and let each officer use them as they see fit, and then leave them to handle any resulting civil or criminal liability through 'solo lawsuits.'"

On the afternoon of the 4th, police officers are patrolling at Ori Station in Bundang. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

Professor Lee agreed with the expansion of firearm distribution, saying, "That is necessary to break the distorted criminal intent of offenders and to allow citizens to feel secure." He added, "The current unfortunate reality is that the police chief’s order to 'exercise active and bold public authority' remains declarative and hollow echoes, but there must also be infrastructure to actively use it."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.