Tear gas is a chemical weapon as defined by the Chemical Weapons Convention, of which the United States is a signatory, and is banned from use in warfare. However, it remains perfectly legal for police departments in the United States to use tear gas on civilians, often during peaceful protests. This is despite the fact that tear gas, cs gas, pepper spray, and all derivatives have been shown to cause significant harm to an individuals eyesight, can cause severe pulmonary damage, as well as significant damage to the heart and liver. In addition, CS gas and its derivatives have been shown to cause harm to pregnant women and has the potential to cause miscarriages, as well as exhibiting a clastogenic effect.
We call on President Barack Obama to ban the use of CS gas and its derivatives.