[int_19h]

160 dB way over hearing safe. Most rifle rounds are in >140 dB territory, and that is quite sufficient to give you permanent hearing damage.

[Aloisius]

That's peak power at 1 meter for a large LRAD, not what someone 75 or 100 meters away experiences.

[mrob]

There will be some attenuation, but the output is focused into a beam, so you don't get the usual inverse square falloff with distance.

[ty6853]

You do, there is just a greater gain factor constant.

[numpad0]

The point is that LRADs are supposed to be an ethical alternative to guns and gases, as far as the original design intent is considered...

[mrob]

As LRADs are less ethical than CS gas, the true design intent is likely to produce something that looks insignificant on video recordings so it can be used as extrajudicial punishment of undesirables with less risk of public outcry.

[fazeirony]

this. and let's not forget that these....officers always receive the best, most top notch training to use these things safely. (/s)

yet another reason to ensure footage looks like 'nothing terrible happened to these people' as expertly trained cop uses a weapon of war against civilians.