Which term refers to a weapon that is not fundamentally designed to cause death or great bodily harm?

• A. Motor dysfunction
• B. Less-lethal weapons
• C. Intermediate weapons
• D. Malfunction

Answer: (B)

This question is about how weapons are categorized by their intended lethality. The term described is for devices designed to subdue or deter without the primary aim of causing death or serious injury. These are known as less-lethal weapons. They’re chosen when an officer needs to stop or control a situation but wants to minimize the risk of fatal outcomes. Examples include pepper spray, tear gas, rubber or bean bag rounds, and stun devices like Tasers. The key idea is intent and design: the goal is incapacitation with a lower likelihood of fatal harm, though they can still cause serious injuries in certain circumstances, so proper use and policy compliance matter.

The other options don’t fit this definition. A phrase like motor dysfunction isn’t a standard term for weapons. Malfunction refers to a failure of a device to operate properly, not to a category of weapons. Intermediate weapons describe a different category—tools intended to cause more harm than typical nonlethal options but not necessarily designed to be lethal—so they don’t capture the specific emphasis on reduced fatal risk the question is seeking.