Several devices resemble firearms but expel projectiles without using traditional gunpowder-based bullets. These include air guns, which utilize compressed air or other gases; airsoft guns, employing compressed gas to fire plastic pellets; paintball markers, propelling paint-filled capsules; and nail guns, using compressed air or explosive charges to drive nails. Taser guns, also categorized among such devices, employ electrical charges to incapacitate targets, while harpoon guns and spear guns use mechanical energy.
These tools offer a range of applications beyond conventional firearms, serving purposes from recreational activities like target shooting and paintball games to professional uses in construction (nail guns) and law enforcement (taser guns). Historically, some of these technologies predate firearms, offering early forms of projectile weaponry. Their modern iterations find increasing relevance where the use of lethal force is undesirable or impractical. The varied power sources and projectile types allow for specific applications tailored to the desired outcome, whether it’s fastening materials, subduing a threat, or engaging in recreational activities. This has led to continuous development and refinement of these technologies.
