Fact Check: A peer-reviewed article published in 2017 in the medical journal BMJ Open found that rubber and plastic bullets cause significant injury and are not appropriate for use in crowd-control settings.

Fact Check: "A peer-reviewed article published in 2017 in the medical journal BMJ Open found that rubber and plastic bullets cause significant injury and are not appropriate for use in crowd-control settings."

What We Know

A systematic review published in the medical journal BMJ Open in 2017 examined the injuries and fatalities associated with rubber and plastic bullets, also known as kinetic impact projectiles (KIPs). The study analyzed data from 26 articles, covering incidents from January 1990 to June 2017, which included injury data on 1,984 individuals. The findings revealed that 53 people died as a result of their injuries, and 300 suffered permanent disabilities. Notably, the review highlighted that a significant proportion of these severe injuries were due to strikes to the head and neck, which accounted for 49.1% of deaths and 82.6% of permanent disabilities. The authors concluded that KIPs have caused substantial morbidity and mortality and suggested that due to their inherent inaccuracies and potential for severe injury, they are not appropriate for crowd-control settings (source-1, source-6).

Analysis

The claim that a peer-reviewed article found rubber and plastic bullets cause significant injury and are inappropriate for crowd control is supported by the systematic review published in BMJ Open. The review's methodology involved a comprehensive search of multiple databases, ensuring a robust selection of studies that met inclusion criteria. The findings are corroborated by various reports indicating that rubber bullets can lead to severe injuries, including those documented in The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, which emphasize the risks associated with their use.

Additionally, a case report published in 2021 further illustrates the potential for severe injury from rubber bullets, documenting a testicular rupture caused by such a projectile during a protest (source-2). This aligns with the findings of the systematic review, reinforcing the argument that these projectiles can lead to significant harm.

The sources used in this analysis are credible, with the BMJ Open being a well-respected peer-reviewed journal in the medical field. The systematic review's conclusions are based on a substantial body of evidence, making it a reliable reference for understanding the risks associated with rubber and plastic bullets.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that a peer-reviewed article published in 2017 in BMJ Open found that rubber and plastic bullets cause significant injury and are not appropriate for use in crowd-control settings is accurate. The systematic review provides compelling evidence of the severe injuries and fatalities associated with these projectiles, leading to the conclusion that their use in crowd control is unjustifiable.

Sources

1. Death, injury and disability from kinetic impact projectiles in crowd ... PubMed
2. Testicular rupture following rubber bullet trauma case report PMC
3. Rubber Bullets and Beanbag Rounds Can.. National Library of Medicine
4. By firing rubber bullets at... Los Angeles Times
5. Rubber/plastic bullets used for crowd control can maim and kill - BMJ Open BMJ Blogs
6. Death, injury and disability from kinetic impact projectiles ... - BMJ Open BMJ Open