Tests for new chemical guns in late stages The chemicals will be loaded into guns that are currently used to fire plastic bullets. The Home Office has previously described the DIP as something not intended to cause serious physical injury, but instead to "dissuade or prevent a potentially violent person from their intended course of action." The DCC said tests of other types of devices which could be used to control protests with minimum force were ongoing. He also said tests were taking place on a new version of a Taser gun, the X2, which has the capacity to deal with multiple people, but tests are believed to be in the very early stages and would need to be subject to other assessments - including medical scrutiny.