You might be reading/seeing about LAPD usage of less-lethal ammo while they broke up the UCLA encampment.
They are NOT "rubber bullets".
LAPD use 12ga bean-bag rounds that have a max range of about 50ft and are visible in flight. The "beans" are plastic pellets in a kevlar sock.
Those can still be lethal if they hit in the wrong spot. But so can a thrown baseball, D-cell battery, or police baton/billy-club
AFAIK no major US police force still uses the old style rubber or wooden bullets.
@Render When did that change? During the US protests a few years back police were firing rubber bullets at the eyes of media reporters.
@TBBW1 The BLM protests were pretty much the last gasp of the old school rubber bullets in major PD's. Too many lawsuits.
The beanbag rounds have much lower velocity. But it took a while for PD's to change over from old style ammo they already had in stockpiles to the new style ammo.
I would not be the least bit surprised to find out that some PD's with smaller budgets still have the old style ammo in stock.
LAPD had to dump their 37mm and 40mm tear gas guns for the same reason, lawsuits.
@Render The orange flash made me wonder because I was pretty sure that had to be buckshot (rubber or otherwise) or a bean bag. So, you.
@TBBW1 12ga pump action with orange furniture is firing beanbag rounds. Single shot launcher is firing tear gas rounds.
Up to you if you trust me or CBS on weapons identification.