Metress E K, Metress S P
Int J Health Serv. 1987;17(2):333-42. doi: 10.2190/08GN-WR79-X908-8YE0.
The plastic bullet was introduced into Northern Ireland as a riot control weapon in 1973. It became fully operational in 1975, replacing its predecessor the rubber bullet. The missile, which has been portrayed as a "minimum force," nonlethal weapon, has resulted in 13 deaths, including those of seven children, and scores of serious, permanent injuries and disabilities. Evidence regarding injury inflicted by the plastic bullet indicates that it is more dangerous than the rubber bullet that it replaced. It tends to cause more serious injuries to the skull and brain and therefore more deaths. An examination of the three rubber bullet and 13 plastic bullet deaths reveals that most victims were shot from distances much less than that determined to be "safe" and in a manner that contrasted with the rules of engagement. The data from numerous case studies seem to support allegations of abuse of the weapon by security forces.
塑料子弹于1973年作为一种防暴武器被引入北爱尔兰。它于1975年全面投入使用，取代了其前身橡皮子弹。这种被描绘为“最低限度武力”的非致命武器已导致13人死亡，其中包括7名儿童，以及数十起严重的永久性伤害和残疾。关于塑料子弹造成伤害的证据表明，它比被其取代的橡皮子弹更危险。它往往会对颅骨和大脑造成更严重的伤害，因此导致更多人死亡。对3起橡皮子弹致死事件和13起塑料子弹致死事件的调查显示，大多数受害者是在远低于被确定为“安全”的距离被击中的，而且开枪方式与交战规则相悖。众多案例研究的数据似乎支持了安全部队滥用该武器的指控。
