I Want You To Back Off, 'cause I Don't Wanna Kill Ya

The hosts of Armstrong & Getty On Demand dive into the controversial yet practical world of less-than-lethal force with Josh Sherrard, Director of Law Enforcement and Private Security at Berna Technologies. The conversation centers on the Berna Launcher—a CO2-powered, non-firearm device that fires pain-inducing, chemical-laden projectiles designed to incapacitate threats without killing. Sherrard argues that the average American is far more likely to face a violent crime (1 in 275) than to need lethal force (1 in 850,000), making non-lethal options not just prudent but essential for self-defense. He shares real-world law enforcement use cases, including 800+ U.S. agencies and international adoption, and recounts personal experiences being shot over 100 times during training to validate the device’s effectiveness. The episode challenges the assumption that guns are the only credible defense, emphasizing that most people aren’t trained to kill—and shouldn’t have to be. The Berna Launcher, legal in all 50 states, TSA-approved, and made in Indiana, offers a scalable, ethical alternative that prioritizes escape over escalation. The discussion reveals a growing societal shift: civilians are increasingly held to higher standards of force justification, often facing jail time for using lethal tools in non-lethal scenarios. Sherrard’s insight—that many gun carriers fail to confront the psychological burden of taking a life before carrying—resonates deeply.