title: Ballistic study of the SAPL GC27 gun: is it really "nonlethal"?
abstract: To evaluate the potential dangers of the "nonlethal" 12-gauge single-shot handgun SAPL GC27 with Fun-Tir (FT) and mini-Gomm-Cogne (mGC) ammunition, a ballistic study was performed with both types of ammunition. Nine unembalmed human corpses covered with a cloth sheet were shot through the right and left pectoral regions. With the mGC ammunition, rib fractures were observed when the firing range was less than 2 meters, skin perforation when the range was less than 1.5 meters, with lung injuries at less than 0.2 meter; the heart and the aorta were lacerated at contact range (0 meter). No skin perforation was observed with the FT ammunition, but rib fractures were observed when it was fired at up to 2 meters. Our study shows that the mGC ammunition, shot by the CG27 firearm, can be lethal at contact range and that pellets penetrate the skin at ranges of less than 1 meter. These results led us to conclude that this weapon is too dangerous to be marketed as a "nonlethal" weapon. The term "reduced wounding power weapon" is preferable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Surgery, University Hospitals of Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, F69495 Pierre Bénite, France. eric.voiglio@adm.univ-lyon1.fr
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Voiglio
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frattini
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Dörrzapf
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breteau
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miras
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Caillot
mesh_terms: D005389:Firearms / Q000145:classification; D044709:Forensic Ballistics; D006801:Humans; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000209:etiology