riot gun

noun

1. a gun, especially a shotgun with a short barrel, for quelling riots rather than inflicting serious injury.

Word History and Origins

Origin of riot gun¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

In 2015, a county inmate was beaten to death by three jail guards, and another inmate died after guards shot him with a riot gun at close range.

From Seattle Times

“Fifteen minutes of spectacular fighting scattered the protest” in all directions as “firemen turned hoses onto the crowd and a police truck equipped with tear gas, submachine guns and riot guns” arrived, the Times continued.

From Washington Post

The judge had issued an order prohibiting police from using less-lethal riot guns and launchers and using pepper spray on people engaged in passive resistance.

From Washington Times

Customs and Border Protection has authorized its personnel to use less-lethal force, such as riot guns firing pepper spray balls, against protesters who fire lasers — an increasingly prominent tactic for rioters in Portland.

From Washington Times

Video captured by KABC-TV’s news helicopter overhead purportedly showed the moments an officer fired a riot gun at Sanderlin, who had approached with his hands up.

From Fox News