In Córdoba, 7,500 agents have already completed their training and the provincial Police will incorporate 5,000 reduced lethality launchers.
“In Córdoba, since December we have approximately 1,000 weapons, now, we are finishing receiving more than 5,000 weapons with half of the personnel trained. We hope to have 100% of the personnel trained by mid-year, in addition to equipping all police personnel,” commented Manuel Calvo, Minister of Security of the province.
Byrna is a company originally from Boston, United States, which acquires a South African company shortly after its founding. The latter had developed a short pistol-shaped launcher, which could be manipulated like a traditional weapon.
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Two years ago, the company was established in Argentina from the hand of Bersa, a historic manufacturer of short weapons with more than 70 years in the market. Currently, Byrna has a manufacturing plant located in the Ezeiza Industrial Complex, in the province of Buenos Aires.
“With the Byrna firm for this year we are working on expanding in Brazil, in addition to inserting the first incorporations in Uruguay and the Dominican Republic. Our focus is to grow throughout the market of forces and governments throughout Latin America.“, explained Guillermo Iglesias, Byrna director for Latin America, in dialogue with infoBusiness.
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Characteristics
The Byrna, with a design that resembles traditional pistols, does not use gunpowder to propel its kinetic projectiles (.68 caliber); instead, use compressed air (CO2).
In addition, these launchers provide projectiles with chemical components, such as pepper spray, generating a double effect: the impact itself and a spray of Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) + PAVA that causes burning in the throat, difficulty breathing and nausea.
Background
Córdoba is not the first town to use this tool. Previously, the municipality of Lanús, located in the province of Buenos Aires, had already implemented the use of Byrna. However, the first incorporation at institutional level on a large scale it took place in the province of Córdoba.
Thus, the weapons that the different forces of Córdoba will have at their disposal are:
– Police Force: Byrna SD launcher (with a capacity of 5 projectiles) with kinetic (traumatic) and tear gas projectiles.
– Special Forces: Mission 4 Bundle of .68 caliber, with a capacity of 19 projectiles.
Given the non-lethal nature, these weapons They do not require special permits for their acquisition, carrying and use.. This means that private interested parties also have the possibility of obtaining them, with prices ranging from $680.000 y $750.000.