Still throwing rocks at each other........

[Buck]

I've wondered for a very long time why no human has
ever invented a device to replace the gun since the gun
is, in an abstract way, just a machine to throw 'rocks'
at a target.

First man threw rocks
then man threw spears
then man invented the bow & arrow the throw a smaller spear
then man invented the gun to throw a "bullet" (read rock)
then etc.

So you see that humans have not advanced very far from the first
human to throw a rock. All humans have done is improve the machines
to throw the 'rock' with. That said, there is not nor has ever been a
truely new 'weapon' ,at the personal level, in all of human history.

Humans still make war or hunt with a "projectile"(rock/spear) of some
type. Go figure............

[jim]

Cost effectiveness. Lasers and other things are just now coming on line, but they will always use what gives them the most bang for the buck, and has some longevity.
jim

[Southern_Gent]

Main problem with lasers, or anything which could be classified as an energy based weapon, is the power required to run the device. Indeed, the amount of power required to make a laser lethal is not man-portable yet. Should it become so in the near future, other problems may arise, such as using a high-powered energy weapon in a wet location. It may take a long time to get such a weapon refined into a man-portable size that can be used in any and all climates.

[edward_4576]

Fire is a form of energy isn't it? Wouldn't a flame thrower be considered an energy weapon if it were? Even though tasers need to fire two projectile leads to deliver the charge the primary incapacitating factor is the electrical charge. One other item, I was watching a nature program and they talked of a capsasin based aerosol that was recommended to defend against bear attacks, so you have chemical weapons capable of incapacitating or at least disauding a large predator from attacking.

Perhaps all you need to develop a new weapon is a little bit of ingenuity.

[edward_4576]

Just found this -

http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2007/12/pain_beam

8)

[Mac_Muz]

Ya missed one, it is called a pen....