What is identified as any weapon capable of causing serious injury or death?

A deadly weapon is specifically defined as any weapon that has the potential to cause serious injury or death. This term encompasses firearms, knives, blunt objects, and other instruments that, when used in a manner intended to cause harm, can result in significant physical damage or fatality. In law enforcement contexts, understanding the definition of a deadly weapon is crucial, as it directly influences the use of force policies and the assessment of threat levels during confrontations.

In contrast, less-lethal force refers to techniques and tools that are intended to subdue subjects without causing serious injury or death, such as tasers or bean bag rounds. Mitigation involves strategies to reduce or eliminate a threat without escalating confrontation, while de-escalation focuses on calming a situation to prevent the use of force altogether. Thus, these terms represent methods or strategies that differ fundamentally from the concept of a deadly weapon, which is about the inherent capability to inflict grave harm.