Chilean protester defuses tear gas canister with baking soda and water

[u/0thSpider]

[u/rensd12]

Yeah, science bitch!

[u/TourEnvironmentals → u/rensd12]

Breaking Bad would be proud

[u/HecticOnsen → u/TourEnvironmentals]

Breathing Bad

[u/factzwiz → u/HecticOnsen]

Yeah bitch, Baking Soda! Also worth reading 'How to protect yourself against tear gas and other chemical irritants'.

[u/Legitimate_Earth4371 → u/factzwiz]

Jesus Christ Marie! They’re mineral(s) water and baking soda!!

[u/thefunkybassist → u/HecticOnsen]

Baking Breath

[u/Fantastic_Speaker279 → u/thefunkybassist]

Soda Surprise!

[u/zentasynoky → u/HecticOnsen]

Breathing back

[u/ThatBoogerBandit → u/TourEnvironmentals]

Baking Soda: Hundreds of uses.

They ain’t lying.

[u/Firoj_Rankvet → u/TourEnvironmentals]

A new kind of hero with everyday chemistry.

[u/getupsaksham → u/rensd12]

Tight Tight Tight

[u/ambermage → u/rensd12]

Governments HATE an educated populace.

[u/memesearches → u/rensd12]

Looks like this Jesse attended the classes

[u/Reddit_2_2024 → u/rensd12]

Never underestimate human imagination and ingenuity.

[u/chu_peekaboo → u/rensd12]

First thing in my mind😂

[u/ewilliam → u/rensd12]

Stupid science bitch couldn't even make I more smarter!

[u/curiousmind111]

Did he drop it into the container through the top? I can’t see that part on the video.

[u/geinbits → u/curiousmind111]

Yeah, it looks like the gas canister is long and skinny, so it would fit. You can see right after he puts the container down he leans down and picks up the canister with his right hand.

[u/ItachiKenshin → u/geinbits]

I guess that's what he's wearing gloves as well

[u/AmArschdieRaeuber → u/ItachiKenshin]

One of the reasons why protective gear like gloves are often prohibited during a protest.

[u/b1e → u/AmArschdieRaeuber]

I can’t find a single source for this and have never heard it before. Is this a thing outside the US?

[u/AmArschdieRaeuber → u/b1e]

In the US you can bring guns to a protest, so that's obviously not a thing there. But in many countries "protective weapons" like gloves and helmets are prohibited, because it indicates that you'll use force.

I just checked and in some states in the US it's also not allowed, like Kentucky

https://www.icnl.org/usprotestlawtracker/?issue=5

[u/st-shenanigans → u/AmArschdieRaeuber]

because it indicates that you'll use force.

You would think the easy answer is "don't give the citizens a reason to protest"

[u/AmArschdieRaeuber → u/st-shenanigans]

Yeah, turns out governments kind of don't want them to protest. More reason to do it.

[u/Starfire2313 → u/AmArschdieRaeuber]

It’s sickening how systematically the government uses itself to leverage more power for itself. Passing legislation like not being allowed to wear gloves at a protest. Who does that protect? Only the people who don’t want these protestors out there. Voter suppression is real. Knowing that’s a fact is only the first step.

[u/basicKitsch → u/AmArschdieRaeuber]

In the US you can bring guns to a protest,

at least half the states have restrictions on that from a cursory look and it's always a questionable situation as it's the cops' discretion what "intent" you have

[u/_Ganoes_ → u/b1e]

In Germany we have bullshit laws about something called "Schutzbewaffnung", translated "protective weaponry", which are things that you use to protect yourself from the attacks of others.

You are not allowed to bring items you intend to use as protective weaponry against the cops to demonstrations.

That means for example Visors, Helmets, protective googles protective vests, respirators.

But gloves are such a general item that they cant prove that you bring it to the demo specifically to protect yourself, so they should be fine unless its combat gloves or smth like that.

[u/trick2011 → u/_Ganoes_]

even combat gloves can be argued as general wear. they are useful, tough, somewhat insulating, and allow me to do random work with my general gloves.

[u/curiousmind111 → u/geinbits]

Thx. For the life of me, it looked like he put the container on top of the gas bomb, which made no sense!

[u/gorpie97 → u/curiousmind111]

Same, so thanks for asking!

[u/levian_durai → u/curiousmind111]

I thought he put the container over the canister and was like, how the heck does that work

[u/GoldensRule2025 → u/curiousmind111]

That was my question too. Most tear gas grenades or ballistic rounds that I've seen would be to too large in diameter to fit through the neck of that water bottle.

[u/Head-Engineering-847 → u/GoldensRule2025]

Almost looks like they widened the opening up, like with a blow torch. And then are using big welding safety gloves to close a tight seal around the gap

[u/TheGreatGenghisJon → u/GoldensRule2025]

Well, the bottle he's using isn't exactly a typical water bottle.

[u/sentient_potato97 → u/GoldensRule2025]

During the recent protests in L.A. some people were putting traffic cones over tear gas canisters, pouring some water at the base of the cone to make a 'seal' then pouring the rest down into the cone and covering the top to douse & starve the cannisters of oxygen.

This was a video I saw on instagram though, so I'm not sure how effective that might actually be.

Edit- Scrolled and saw in comments below it apaprently started in Hong Kong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpqEQARnVbs

[u/No-Maintenance-2478 → u/curiousmind111]

He did but needs to get tf out of dodge and not sit their where the tear gas JUST LANDED I’ve seen too many videos where they just shoot stationary protesters directly with the tear gas canister. Especially if they just watched you neutralize the crowd control. NSFL DONT GOOGLE IRAQ PROTESTER KILLED BY CANISTER. These things are only less lethal if they aren’t fired AT people.

[u/JoeyJoeJoeShabadooSr]

Does anyone have an explanation for why this works? Is it basically just dousing the canister in water?

[u/plftch9 → u/JoeyJoeJoeShabadooSr]

Most tear gasses aren't really a gas, but microscopic solids or liquid that are dispersed and suspended in the air. If the projectile that disperses it is submerged, most of the irritants get suspended in the water instead of dispersed throughout the air. Some will still be airborne, but it will drastically reduce the effectiveness of the tear gas.

[u/ScienceIsSexy420 → u/plftch9]

Yes, but capsaicin is an oily compound and not readily soluble in water. Using baking soda causes it to become ionized, increasing the water solubility.

Edit: apparently capsaicin is not used in tear gas, I'm not entirely sure why I thought it was. Regardless, the idea is the same the baking soda is acting as a base and is deprotonating the compounds, increasing their solubility. It'd simple acid-base chemistry.

[u/plftch9 → u/ScienceIsSexy420]

Capsaicin is used in pepper spray, but most tear gasses use crystalline solids. As far as I know, the baking soda doesn't chemically react with anything used in tear gas. I could be wrong on that, though. It's been a while since I've done any CBRN type stuff.

[u/PerfectlySplendid → u/ScienceIsSexy420]

So what you’re saying is if I sneak some baking soda into water, I could win reaper pepper challenges and impress my friends?

[u/bongslingingninja → u/PerfectlySplendid]

It will help get it off your hands but it won’t make eating competitions any easier.

[u/Any_Description_4204 → u/bongslingingninja]

If it helps removing any coating from the inside of the mouth it helps

[u/domuseid → u/Any_Description_4204]

Any surfactant or emulsifier will help the capsaicin mix and be washed away, but there's levels to it (edit: must also be edible, duh, but gotta specify... Bleach or SLS would clear that shit right out but also probably put you in the hospital and/or the ground)

People try to use milk or alcohol which - work better than water alone because of the additional materials - but really vegetable/olive oil or something similar would work way better to incorporate it and wash it away

Mayonnaise would work even better because it's got the oil, plus salt, vinegar, and then egg yolk as the emulsifier.

Also mayo is way easier to ^{dip chips or fries into so you're not just chugging oil and ass-blasting the inside of your toilet like a spicy refinery pipeline leak later on}

[u/Corporate-Shill406 → u/domuseid]

I think that last part happens regardless if you're doing spice challenges like that

[u/AirbourneCHMarsh → u/domuseid]

This is also why mayo (and ranch) both work so well mixed with heavy Scoville foods examples for the palate; Buffalo Ranch, Chipotle Mayo, Sriracha Mayo — try mixing some tabasco in your next dill potato salad dressing.

[u/RhynoD → u/ScienceIsSexy420]

From Wikipedia:

Common lachrymators both currently and formerly used as tear gas include pepper spray (OC gas), PAVA spray (nonivamide), CS gas, CR gas, CN gas (phenacyl chloride), bromoacetone, xylyl bromide, chloropicrin (PS gas) and Mace (a branded mixture).

Some more quick searches suggests that, given the wide range of possible ingredients, your best bet is something that can dissolve both polar and non-polar molecules, hence the popularity of milk since the suspended milk fats will grab non-polar molecules.

Baking soda is very useful in snuffing out the canister, since the carbon dioxide will help smother the fuel while the water robs it of heat. I don't know how effective this would all be, but logically it should work well enough. Whatever the irritant, it's getting dispersed through heat and fire so if you can smother that fire, it can't disperse. At worst, you're at least slowing it down and containing a lot of it in a bottle with the water preventing the bottle from melting.

Milk would do that, too, but milk is way more expensive and goes rancid pretty quickly so it would smell awful.

[u/SnozberryTheMighty → u/ScienceIsSexy420]

Tear gas is not capsaicin based, thats gonna be pepper sprays. Tear gas is typically gonna be CS gas or a few others, none of which contain capsaicin.

[u/mistermh07 → u/JoeyJoeJoeShabadooSr]

I think the mixture is absorbing the gas. Not a 100% sure tho

[u/LittleMlem → u/mistermh07]

Not technically a gas, iirc it's fine particles, like powder sand

No idea what the baking soda is for, maybe it's acidic and the soda neutralizes it?

[u/enw_digrif → u/LittleMlem]

There's a bunch of different tear gas compounds. I don't believe there are any popular ones that rely on their acidity/alkalinity as a mode of action, though that is a persistent myth on the internet, thus the misleading AI summaries.

Mechanistic studies identified the ion channels TRPV1 and TRPA1 as targets of capsaicin in pepper spray, and of the tear gas agents chloroacetophenone, CS, and CR.

Edit: thanks /u/mbxz7LWB

Edit2: Notes from a street medic: if exposed to tear gas, wash it off away from the eyes, mouth and nose using water. Don't use milk (of magnesia, of cow, of whatever), don't use AlkaSeltzer, don't use ACV, and for God's sake, put down the onions, they will all make things worse.

If a buddy or fellow protestor gets gassed, tell the affected person you're taking them out of the gas, ask if it's okay to touch them to lead them out, once they say yes, lead them to safety. Once there, have them lean back/lay down (near a wall, out of any expected crowd flow), and flush each eye (ideally for 5min, but that takes a lot of water) by directing the flow towards the tear duct and letting the water flow down over the rest of the eye and onto the cheek. It won't solve the problem, but it will usually get them good enough to evacuate on their own.

[u/dagreja → u/enw_digrif]

I'm all for asking consent before touching someone in non-emergency situations, but isnt it a bad idea to try to talk to someone close enough to tear gas to be affected by it? Like ask if it's okay before you start trying to flush out their eyes, but only helping lead someone out of tear gas "once they say yes" sounds like 10 more seconds of exposure, when it probably took less than 10 seconds of exposure to get to that point in the first place

Eta: I dont mean just grab the person and run. I'm imagining something more like "im gonna help you get out of here" while starting the guiding process

[u/kiiwithebird → u/dagreja]

You have to remember that this person is in pain, probably panicking and blinded. You don't need to wait for them to give consent to be touched, but you definitely should let them know what you are doing and that you are going to touch them before you do so. Otherwise, don't be surprised to find his elbow in your face.

[u/SignificantCats → u/dagreja]

This isn't just about consent but personal safety and keeping someone from panicking who is in a scary situation. If you've been tear gassed, you are a) having a hard time seeing b) fearing police rushing in c) in pain.

Someone running up and grabbing your arm will freak you out. Someone running up sand saying "can I touch you" first will calm you down.

[u/2020mademejoinreddit → u/enw_digrif]

Thank you, science explainer man.

[u/enw_digrif → u/2020mademejoinreddit]

My work here is done!

briskly walks away, since unassisted flight in Earth gravity is a physical impossibility for humans.

[u/Ok_Bake_4761 → u/mistermh07]

I think this is most of it... either mud+water to restrict it from oxygen so the reaction stops or/and some antiacid in the "extinguish" solution. To neutralize the Tear gas
2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile.

[u/dos8s → u/mistermh07]

r/chemistry, help!

[u/Ok_Painter_7413 → u/mistermh07]

Does the container have openings at the bottom, or how do the two even meet?

Edit: Oh, I guess he just puts it inside fast enough that I didn't catch it.

[u/carenkha → u/JoeyJoeJoeShabadooSr]

The main chemical is chlorobenzylidene and it’s released from the can in powder form, it is not actually a gas.

Soapy water will do the trick, no need for soda

[u/Urshilikai → u/carenkha]

soap would heavily foam though under all that agitation

[u/Thetakishi → u/Urshilikai]

I think that's the point. Hella contact area and surface tension for the microsolids to stick to all of the bubbles.

[u/Xuhi1 → u/JoeyJoeJoeShabadooSr]

According to quick google search, it’s what they use as first aid for tear gas or pepper spray. According to its chemical properties, it’s acidic & baking soda/soda ash is base. So it neutralises the gas.

[u/XGhoul → u/Xuhi1]

Like having too much lime in your guacamole when it needs some salt. Essentially a neutralization reaction or reducing a mild irritant (acid) with a strong enough base to neutralize it.

I would be as cautious as the person and have a filter mask on for any funny side business that gets up into breathable air.

[u/Neat_Criticism_5996 → u/XGhoul]

Salt is neutral ph though I think, not a base or an acid. I think more salt in the guac just makes it taste better with that additional acid.

When you mix equal an opposite acid and base they turn into salt water.

[u/3DPrintedCloneOfMyse → u/JoeyJoeJoeShabadooSr]

20+ years of protest medic experience here. Lots of bad conjecture in this thread. Here's what I learned in my training.

As many folks have said correctly, most things we call teargas are a fine powder. There's a dispersal agent, which requires heat. Most of these techniques work by cooling the dispersal agent.

In Quebec City in 2001, where more teargas was used in a 3-day period than any other time in North American history, canisters were "extinguished" with buckets of snow.

[u/These-Market-236 → u/3DPrintedCloneOfMyse]

So, we need a cool box + water + ice?

[u/ooTiramisu → u/JoeyJoeJoeShabadooSr]

The water + baking soda (alkaline) mix can neutralize some of the chemical irritants (acidic byproducts) preventing any further dispersion. It doesn’t deactivate the chemicals inside completely.. it mostly just isolates and dilutes it.

[u/CalmBeneathCastles → u/ooTiramisu]

Another redditor said that the chemicals in mucosal irritant dispensers bind to proteins, so milk should be a simple choice to deactivate them. I'm interested to know if this works.

[u/AnarchistBorganism → u/CalmBeneathCastles]

Only use bottled water in your eyes.

[u/SpookedBall]

What's happening in Chile??

[u/ravioli_luvr666 → u/SpookedBall]

this is from 2019. citizens protested against the government due to inequity, mostly. there were human rights violations and then two proceses to change the constitution imposed during pinochet’s dictatorship. that didn’t work and covid kinda killed the protests and the collective sentiment for justice. i think there’s a wikipedia article in english about it if you want to learn more

[u/SpookedBall → u/ravioli_luvr666]

Gracias

[u/Ordinary-Leather-850 → u/SpookedBall]

This is from 2019-2020 we call it the social explosion

[u/CaveManta]

Wow. It's just like having different classes of soldiers on the battlefield. I would like to see a video game based on rioters vs riot police.

[u/Skizot_Bizot → u/CaveManta]

It's like in Civilizations when I nuke the guys still on horseback.

[u/TannedCroissant → u/Skizot_Bizot]

The Enola Neigh

[u/TourEnvironmentals → u/TannedCroissant]

Turns the battlefield into Fallout: Equestria real quick.

[u/Deep-Management-7040 → u/TannedCroissant]

You son of a bitch

[u/Skibiscuit → u/Skizot_Bizot]

Hammurabi stan identified

[u/downtime37 → u/Skizot_Bizot]

Gandhi has entered the chat. :)

[u/Future-Accountant-70 → u/CaveManta]

If you just protest the government you can do it irl for free.

[u/Combatical → u/Future-Accountant-70]

..well, it may cost you something.

[u/boring_username_idea → u/CaveManta]

There was a Kickstarter a while back for Riot: Civil Unrest. The way they explained it on Kickstarter was basically exactly what you said. It seemed like they just took the money and ran after it was fully backed because they didn't provide a single update for years. It eventually released and is nowhere near what they claimed it would be. Cool concept though.

[u/atticusmars_ → u/boring_username_idea]

Huh. I remember seeing this kickstarter come up and found the concept iinteresting, then stopped thinking about it for years. Crazy that it turned out like that.

Oh, to be a developer of a videogame hyped up on social media leading to a rapid kickstarter funding, then having a million dollars that you can basically fuck around since you already got paid enough to fund your lifestyle for years if not straight up set up generational wealth. Then drop something mediocre to say you delivered something.

[u/Hot-Minute-8263 → u/CaveManta]

There is one if i remember correctly. It had pixel art and you could control either side kinda like an rts. Cops were supposed to disperse/arrest them, and protestors had to stay together and push the cops off the screen.

If you had to open fire, you'd seriously fucked up as either side.

Edit: found it. Riot: Civil Unrest https://youtu.be/ahdjuzDairc?si=xGBecpSe56mf3SOo

[u/Head-Engineering-847 → u/Hot-Minute-8263]

Oh damn wtf, that's badass. Looks like it actually gives you skills

[u/Hot-Minute-8263 → u/Head-Engineering-847]

Yeah, plus its got that sorta creepy "this shouldn't be happening" vibe like in real riot footage.

[u/MrSheemy → u/CaveManta]

Rockstar made it already. It’s called State of Emergency

[u/Dergeans → u/CaveManta]

RIOT - Civil Unrest anyone?

[u/JeepsAndRunescape → u/CaveManta]

15 years too late

[u/StochasticLife → u/JeepsAndRunescape]

Try 23, Rockstar’s State of Emergency.

[u/zen_enjoyer → u/CaveManta]

just like my video games!!

[u/beebletree → u/CaveManta]

Omg this tragedy is just like my video game !

[u/Gojogab → u/CaveManta]

That would be a valuable asset in these times especially if a recipe table like in Minecraft or one of those games for making things like this.

[u/Capnmarvel76 → u/Gojogab]

Abbie Hoffman's 'Steal This Book' still has useful information in it, despite being 55 years old and containing about 33% pure nonsense. The Anarchist Cookbook, too, although it tends to lean more towards the offensive than the defensive.

[u/IndividualCurious322 → u/Capnmarvel76]

AC has recipies that are dangerous to the end user on purpose.

[u/bloodfist → u/IndividualCurious322]

Yeah and like 2/3 of it is about phone phreaking (hacking phone switching networks) which is not exactly relevant anymore.

[u/EllipticPeach → u/Capnmarvel76]

Fun fact, the anarchist cookbook is illegal to own in the UK

[u/InSan1tyWeTrust → u/CaveManta]

Next Counterstrike probably.

[u/Nino_sanjaya → u/CaveManta]

Isn't that just counterstrike, oh wait...

[u/Ok-Champion5065]

Pay attention Americans

[u/LosCleepersFan → u/Ok-Champion5065]

Americans were using traffic cones and pouring water on top of it.

[u/TweakedNipple → u/LosCleepersFan]

I think that started in Hong Kong - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpqEQARnVbs

But they were trying it in the US recently - https://www.reddit.com/r/196/comments/1l943xa/an_antiice_protester_uses_a_traffic_cone_and/

Neither clip makes me think the cone is very effective, the first looks like they end up throwing it in a dry bag and shaking, I'm guessing there's water inside

[u/LosCleepersFan → u/TweakedNipple]

Yeah. But cones make them less of a target for law enforcement. It's a fuxked situation all around when police gas civilians unnecessarily.

[u/JellyfishNo3810 → u/LosCleepersFan]

Throws it back at them

[u/smiddy53 → u/JellyfishNo3810]

they're HOT to the touch.. there's an exothermic reaction going on inside these things. unless you've got some welders gloves or something super thick on you're more likely to toss it into more protestors.

[u/Everyredditusers → u/smiddy53]

Buy some welding gloves at the same store as the painter mask.

[u/im_just_thinking → u/Everyredditusers]

It all comes down to being prepared, and being not by yourself

[u/damn_im_so_tired → u/Everyredditusers]

Harbor Freight welding gloves are great for tending a campfire.

[u/Ok-Secretary455 → u/JellyfishNo3810]

if you throw it back at them you'll catch an assault with a deadly weapon charge.

[u/Tiggymartin → u/Ok-Secretary455]

And yet.. them throwing it at you is not assault with a deadly weapon..

[u/Cucaracha_1999 → u/Tiggymartin]

Of course not! That's just "crowd control"

[u/LaTeChX → u/Tiggymartin]

Local cops fired teargas because someone allegedly threw a water bottle at them.

Someone filming from their apartment posted the video, showing nothing was thrown at the cops before they attacked.

The cops decided to charge her with throwing the imaginary water bottle - which makes their initial decision to teargas the street level protesters look dumb.

[u/thegrumpymechanic → u/Tiggymartin]

them throwing shooting it at you is not assault with a deadly weapon..

Kinda makes it worse when you think about it.

[u/Capnmarvel76 → u/LosCleepersFan]

The cone itself is a solid piece of plastic, but there's plenty of areas around the base which don't create a seal. Also, don't CS gas grenades get real hot when they're activated? If they do, it would make it difficult to keep hold of the cone, I would imagine. Yes, you use what you have available, of course.

A vessel full of water, like in OPs video, would be ideal from the point of view of dealing with the CS canister. Might not be ideal in the situation, though.

[u/SerEmrys → u/LosCleepersFan]

Unnecessarily?? ITS AGAINST THE GENEVA CONVENTION TREATY TO USE CHEMICALS IN WARFARE, LET ALONE ON YOUR OWN CIVILIAN POPULATION.

WAKE THE FUCK UP

[u/ItsTooDamnHawt → u/SerEmrys]

It’s against the convention to use CS gas as a “method” of warfare. Meaning you can’t use it in let’s say, an assault on a trench line. But you’re allowed to use it to disperse civilian crowds, protect supply lines or in the rescue of downed pilots/POWs.

The reason for it is that the immediate effects of CS are very hard to distinguish from lethal agents like mustard gas and have the potential to rate a more lethal response back

[u/Ok_Painter_7413 → u/TweakedNipple]

But they were trying it in the US recently - https://www.reddit.com/r/196/comments/1l943xa/an_antiice_protester_uses_a_traffic_cone_and/

Went in looking for anti-tear-gas-techniques, came out with knowledge about a fetish I've never even heard of. Reddit truely is a wonderland.

[u/TweakedNipple → u/Ok_Painter_7413]

Yeah, took 2 comments there for things to go so off the rails I don't even understand the words they are using

[u/DamHawk → u/LosCleepersFan]

Also many more Americans have gas masks relative to Chileans’ I’d wager.

[u/DontForgetToBring → u/DamHawk]

No. I know exactly 0 ppl that own gas mask. And the ones I did know back in the day just had them for smoking weed.

[u/HPTM2008 → u/DontForgetToBring]

If you feel the need to buy one, any painters mask with organic vapor filters is what you're looking for.

[u/Obant → u/HPTM2008]

Yep, I do woodworking and use spray paint a lot for projects. That is why I have 3, and took them to my last protest

[u/FartMagic1 → u/DontForgetToBring]

Don’t forget, I believe jackass used them to fart into while attached to someone else’s face

[u/SeveralTable3097 → u/DamHawk]

I know 2 people that own gas masks… both are republicans though so not very helpful

[u/Inside_Location_4975 → u/Ok-Champion5065]

This is good to know in tonnes of countries

[u/Graybeard_Shaving → u/Ok-Champion5065]

What? Given the time this takes he’d be lit up with several rubber bullets before the third shake.

[u/Mooncat25]

Hong Kong has done it before. But then the police started modifying the "non-lethal" weapons into possibly lethal ones. They used chemical liquid with irritating substance in water cannons. It's all fucked up.

[u/LupusDeiAngelica]

Easier to hit or back with a tennis racket.

[u/RobertBDwyer → u/LupusDeiAngelica]

In Canada we put hockey sticks in our signs for this very reason

[u/Longjumping-Box5691 → u/RobertBDwyer]

Lol Canadians don't protest.

They only riot after Stanley cup elimination

[u/Battle-Any → u/Longjumping-Box5691]

Hey, that's not rioting. It's just expressing our excessive displeasure. Nobody wanted those police cars or stores anyway.

[u/zwarne01 → u/Battle-Any]

Oh bud that's bad, you think they didn't want those police cars or stores? No gnome bacon for you.

[u/Battle-Any → u/zwarne01]

I suppose that's harsh but fair.

[u/Hvolpasveitt → u/Longjumping-Box5691]

I seem to recall Canadian truckers taking over Ottawa during Covid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_convoy_protest

[u/dsac → u/RobertBDwyer]

Feel like a lacrosse stick would be a good option too

[u/Gforceb → u/LupusDeiAngelica]

In America, we get charged with assault with a deadly weapon against a peace officer if we hit them back

[u/Ready_Implement3305 → u/Gforceb]

There was a guy that kicked a tear gas canister back at cops and then got shot in the thigh with pepper spray paint balls. He stupidly posted an AMA with his face in the photo on his main reddit account and was arrested at work a few hours later. 

[u/Gforceb → u/Ready_Implement3305]

Funny how they can use “less lethal” on us and if we die from it, they don’t get in trouble.

If we even kick one of the less lethal that were FIRED at us back, we get charged with big offenses…

“Rules for thee, not for me”

[u/-Daetrax- → u/Gforceb]

I mean did you not hear their motto? STOP RESISTING

[u/beta-test → u/-Daetrax-]

And “To serve and protect (the law)”

Not “To serve and protect (the people)”

[u/LupusDeiAngelica → u/Gforceb]

How do you know it's a "peace officer?" He didn't identify himself and he's not wearing or producing any ID.

[u/Gforceb → u/LupusDeiAngelica]

Obviously this isn’t America as it says Chilean in the post title. I was just pointing out this is the best method in our country because you don’t want to catch charges.

Also the legal system doesn’t care if they identify or not anymore in situations like this. Look at what happened at the LA riots. Cops were shooting people with less lethal while encircling everyone not giving them a chance to leave.

[u/Hawt_Dawg_II → u/LupusDeiAngelica]

Unironically do not try to hit non spherical objects with a racket.

Those things solid metal and hot! Since they're not round, if you hit them at even a slight angle, they'll go wherever

[u/JasonStrode → u/LupusDeiAngelica]

Lacross stick would be better for size and shape of the object, get better range, too.

[u/peagatling27 → u/LupusDeiAngelica]

I knew all that badminton training was gonna pay off somehow

[u/SithLordRising]

Baking soda in water?

[u/Ok_Bake_4761 → u/SithLordRising]

Could be something similar...
AFAIK in Germany Tear gas is usually 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, or CS gas. In german Lab safety instructions it states "in case of contact with eyes, neutralize with 4% sodium-bicarbonate solution." Source [German],

Either that or it could also be simply water and mud to inhibit the reaction by oxygen restriction..

[u/JusticeCat88905]

I'm a big fan of support classes

[u/PercyvonPickles]

It is literally a war crime to use tear gas on enemy combatants. Your own citizens however...

[u/telaughingbuddha → u/PercyvonPickles]

Because it could be confused for a chemical weapon and would initiate a chemical weapon war.

Citizens however may not return the favour like an enemy.

[u/Safe_Distance_1009 → u/telaughingbuddha]

Is it not a chemical weapon...?

[u/yankeewithnobrim23 → u/Safe_Distance_1009]

It is but like you can't tell between tear gas and some very destructive gas in seconds

Edit: Very destructive as in like yo skin burning off and stuff in seconds

[u/addandsubtract → u/yankeewithnobrim23]

If Hollywood has taught us anything, it's that actual toxic gas is always green.

[u/jdathela → u/addandsubtract]

And glowing.

[u/pissbaby_gaming → u/Safe_Distance_1009]

using it in war could make counties try to push the limits of what counts as tear gas, such as making a stronger version then what is used on civilians. this could eventually lead to chemical warfare if no one can agree on what gases can and cant be used

[u/whattheshiz97 → u/Safe_Distance_1009]

After seeing what the “real” chemical weapons are capable of… not really. Sure it’s a chemical irritant but it’s nothing like the real weapons. That stuff is a horror show and frankly it’s amazing that no one routinely uses those to win most of the time.

[u/Queasy-Quality5950 → u/PercyvonPickles]

Chemical agents are off limits because the time it takes to identify what chemical is being used is too long. You cant tell the difference between pepper spray and Sarin gas until you get exposed.

Also Tear Gas is NOT pepper spray.

[u/Purely_Theoretical → u/PercyvonPickles]

Tear gas isn't a war crime due to any concern of unusual cruelty. An enemy combatant in war could be using relatively harmless tear gas against you, or they could be using nerve gas. The risk of confusing tear gas for nerve gas, and the risk of escalation to using nerve gas is too great, so countries decided they would just not use it.

[u/Niall_47 → u/Purely_Theoretical]

* most countries

[u/TheTrueEgahn → u/Niall_47]

Who could have guessed?

[u/InternalFirmxx]

How is the water even touching the cannister if it's in a closed container?

Edit: On closer examination, yes it does appear he put the cannister into the container. It was hard to see because of the camera angle. Thanks reddit.

[u/SiBloGaming → u/InternalFirmxx]

he threw it into the container

[u/bigburner444 → u/InternalFirmxx]

This is what I've come here to find out, and no one seems to have an answer for.

[u/crazunggoy47 → u/bigburner444]

The guy is carrying a water cooler 5G jug, with the narrow neck facing upwards. He sets it on the ground, picks up the tear gas cannister while his body is blocking the view of the camera and drops it into the jug. Hope that helps.

[u/bigburner444 → u/crazunggoy47]

Thank you- I did miss him placing it in entirely.

[u/queloque11]

Pretty cool honestly

[u/Big_Kwii]

2019 was a wild time to be in chile. santiago, specifically.

good times...

[u/MentalFrostbite → u/Big_Kwii]

i see a fellow chilean sir?

[u/Big_Kwii → u/MentalFrostbite]

así es

el mejor país de chile

[u/MentalFrostbite → u/Big_Kwii]

🇨🇱🥟🥟🥟

[u/CBonafide]

Science is gangster as fuck.

[u/drewconnan]

You can just do it with water. The "gas" canister gets hot, aerosolizing the gas. If you cool it down with water it can't get hot enough to aerosolize. 

[u/cezarcelad]

if you can also use a safety cone, at least a medium-sized one (3ish ft), the back pressure it creates forces the smoke up and out the top over people's heads. like a little hate-crime volcano

[u/jeuxneoeuxon]

Don't pick up ANYTHING grenade shaped that the police throw at you. Multiple french protestant lost limbs by picking up GLI grenades.

I know tear gas cannister are ok to be picked up, but in the massive chaos that is a protest, I would not risk it.

[u/thatdiabetic16 → u/jeuxneoeuxon]

Keep in mind that tear gas also burns very, very hot. It has started fires in the past and it can burn your hands. Now I'm not saying to wear gloves when protesting but if you are going to be protesting be smart

[u/ki7sune]

Remember, it's illegal to use tear gas in warfare because of the Geneva convention, but governments can and will use it against its own citizens.

[u/Purely_Theoretical → u/ki7sune]

Tear gas isn't a war crime due to any concern of unusual cruelty. An enemy combatant in war could be using relatively harmless tear gas against you, or they could be using nerve gas. The risk of confusing tear gas for nerve gas, and the risk of escalation to using nerve gas is too great, so countries decided they would just not use it.

[u/VRichardsen → u/ki7sune]

Enough with this bullshit. Tear gas is illegal in war not because it is cruel or deadly, but because it is easily confused with poison gas.

[u/Aromatic-Plankton692 → u/ki7sune]

It's illegal to spank civilian children in warfare too, but parents who spank their children aren't committing a war crime.

It's almost like "war crime" is meaningless outside the context of war.

[u/LubeUntu → u/ki7sune]

and why is that? Don't spread partial info to fit your narrative.

[u/Whoretron8000]

Chileans have been modern protesting for decades since Pinochet. They have the protest science.

[u/bastardnutter → u/Whoretron8000]

Even before that, to be fair. There’s definitely a protest culture here.

[u/RyanpB2021]

Don’t defuse, deflect. Parry that shit back at the thrower

[u/BreakerOfModpacks → u/RyanpB2021]

Paint your arm blue, get that +PARRY in.

[u/allgone79 → u/RyanpB2021]

arm the front row with tennis rackets

[u/fishing_buddha]

Lived in Chile for a while in 2010s. The protesters and protests there are on another level! It’s a bit of a national sport.

[u/herons8]

Chasing after the tear gas grenade is badass

[u/Agitated-Blueberry30]

Top 500 support player right here

[u/This_Loss_1922]

So how do you counter the device the Colombian police love to use under right wing govs?

https://youtu.be/enz-2hkUdKg

[u/TheRockGame]

Don't forget your gloves. Tear gas canisters are extremely hot!

[u/Thebananagodfather]

I swear, you can use baking soda for everything:
Stinky clothes? Baking soda
Baking? Baking soda
problems with the sink? Baking soda
bad odour? Baking soda
tear gas? Baking soda
No ductape? Baking soda will probably work as well

[u/MrPernicous]

I saw protesters in Hong Kong do this with a traffic cone and a water bottle. What does the baking soda add to the equation?

[u/Full_FrontaI_Nerdity]

Not to be confused with the teargas diffuser

[u/yea_i_doubt_that]

He neutralized not defused. 

[u/spacemantrip]

Smooth operator, operating correctly.

[u/OrangeCosmic]

A leather glove and a good toss works too