zlacker

Part of the rationale is that tear gas and other chemical weapons are indiscriminate. When you aim a bomb or gun, you know what you're aiming at, and if a civilian is in your sights, you can choose not to fire.

Once you release chemical weapons, you can't control them, they go wherever the wind takes them. This could be in the direction of civilians or friendly troops.

Here in Seattle they used so much tear gas in Capitol Hill last night that it was seeping into homes. A coworker reported that his 3 month old child woke up coughing like crazy.