Can Composite Materials and Plastics Really Help the Environment Frangible Bullets Could Make the World a Safer Pla | Page 2

Frangible Bullets Could Make the World a Safer Place Ecomass Technologies is a leading US manufacturer and supplier of lead-free polymer based frangible projectiles for the military, law enforcement and civilian ammunition industries. Frangible projectiles, also called soft rounds, are designed in a way that they break upon impact with hard surfaces rather than ricocheting everywhere during close-quarter action. It presents a great, much-needed change in the way bullets were made for centuries, and departs from the existing school of thought, both in terms of personal protection and range shooting. Most important is that a frangible bullet is made using copper jackets, a refreshing change from the lead bullets and all the damage and lead poisoning they bring along with them. Jason Villalba, a Texas State Representative, approached ballistic experts and members of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to determine the type of ammo that would be best used as ammunition which can be used by school marshals in active shooter situations. Even though frangible ammunition is specifically designed to break upon impact with hard surfaces, experts raised a concern that this type of bullet could easily surpass the body of the intended target or sheet rock walls and endanger anyone in the immediate vicinity. Based on his discussion with experts, Villalba spoke about amending the legislation to state that school marshals will not be allowed to carry the ammo unless it has been specifically been approved by TCOLE. “There are multiple types of frangible ammunition... there are a number of different types of ammo that can work and will work and are frangible,” says Villalba. Certain experts including Ken Alexander and Buford Boone who worked with the FBI pointed out concerns about the use of this type of ammo. After all, once a bullet is fired, there is always a chance that it pierces drywall and causes unintended damage. Villalba argued that while no ammunition completely eliminates the risk of collateral damage, frangible bullets are as close as one can get to minimizing the damage and stopping the attacker.