The police taser has been getting accolades because of its ability to subdue individuals with minimal force. However, not everyone is pleased with this high voltage apparatus. Approximately fifty people have died after being shocked with a taser stun gun. Consequently, some groups are calling for a moratorium on the weapons. Let's take a brief look at how stun tasers are used and see if the benefits are worth the risk ...
In the U.S., tasers stun guns are not considered firearms and are legal for civilian use in most states. Some cities, counties and states do restrict or ban their use by people who are not police officers. Taser International will not ship its product outside the United States, unless the person placing the order holds a valid import/export permit. In Canada, however, tasers are a prohibited weapon. Only one company can buy tasers and import them into Canada under a special permit, and they can only sell the devices to law enforcement agencies. Each sale is registered and tracked, much like a handgun.
Taser stun guns are intended to allow police officers to subdue violent individuals without killing them. A police officer can disable a threatening suspect without worrying that a stray bullet might kill or injure an innocent bystander. However, since 2001, critics point to the deaths of more than 50 people in North America after taser shocks. Taser International claims that their product is not directly related to these deaths, and that about 100,000 police officers voluntarily took hits from one of these weapons -- with no deaths.
Supporters of the taser point out that the electric current has to pass through air and clothing before it can make contact with the target. Consequently, the charge is substantially reduced. Taser International says that while its device can deliver up to 50,000 volts, it does not deliver that much voltage to a person's body. The company says its Advanced Taser M26 delivers an average of 1,500 volts. However, that's enough to cause problems for a person with a pace maker. An American study concluded that weapons delivering a jolt weaker than those delivered by the tasers police officers use increased the risk of cardiac arrest in people with heart conditions. It's important to note that thousands of people have been shocked by a police taser and have fully recovered.
With so many valid points on each side of the police taser debate, it's difficult to decide whether the tool is a boon or bane. The issue continues to be debated, but until a decision can be made, police tasers are still a common part of police products for law enforcement defense.
Published by Martin Aranovitch on April 16, 2008 08:35 PM
