Why Police Would Be Better Off With Stun Guns
In 2005, the Metro police in Nashville, Tennessee was sued by a family which alleged that the department was to blame for using a Taser weapon and causing a man’s death. Although a medical examiner eventually ruled out the allegation, it was more than enough to influence the law and restrict the use of Taser weapons for sergeants only.
A new law, however, has lifted the restriction and made Taser weapons available to all officers. The authorities believe that the use of Taser weapons will be beneficial overall. According to the News Channel 5 website, the Metro Department is in the opinion that the use of Taser Guns will diminish the chances of suspects or officers getting injured. They also believe that the accompanying recording devices will also help in keeping officers in line with regard to its use.
Definitely, the right time for using such weapons should be a concern, especially when considering recent events in Orange County. The LA Times reported two separate incidents when the use of stun guns caused the deaths of two inmates.
The grand jury of the State of Orange County Jails had suggested a ban for using stun guns in its annual report, which was released last June 2008. The first victim, Michael Patrick Lass, had died when deputies utilized a Taser in their efforts to subdue him. The second casualty, Jason Jesus Gomez, had slipped into a coma after being restrained also by Taser. He died last April 1, 2008 at the Intake Release Center.
The grand jury had cited this as a “cause of alarm”, and Sheriff Sandra Hutchens had then responded by banning the use of stun guns if there was still alternative means of subduing “overtly assaultive behavior”.
Of course, there are always two sides to a coin, and in some cases, the use of Taser weapons and the likes have proven to be advantageous. Consider, for instance, the WFSB website’s report on a failed burglary attempt in Vernon, Connecticut.
The police had received a tip some time after midnight about a burglary attempt and responded accordingly. The suspect, Juan Rafael Santiago, had fled upon the police’s arrival and was then pursued by foot. It took several uses of stun guns before the suspect was finally subdued.
He was brought to Rockville Hospital and treated there for minor injuries. Upon his release, he remains in the police’s custody with a $450,000 bond and is set to face previous and new charges.
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So why would police be better off with stun guns? Although there are similarities, let’s not confuse a stun gun with a Taser ECD. Many people mistakenly use the terms interchangeably, but there are distinct differences in both function and method of application.
Stun Guns and Tasers are both designed to deliver a charge of high voltage, but low amperage electricity into a person’s body through the skin. That charge disrupts their central nervous system. The electricity will affect the ability of a person to function like they normally would; they may loose complete control of their body; usually falling to the ground, unable to move for several seconds or even minutes.
The Taser takes this a step further as an ECD (Electronic Control Device). In addition to the electricity, it uses “Shaped Pulse Technologyâ€, which is a sophisticated pulse wave. It initially uses a high voltage charge when it penetrate barriers such as clothing, followed by a series of lower voltage pulses that causes involuntary muscle contractions and a resulting sense of vertigo. The civilian Taser C2 can deliver that charge, unattended, for up to 30 seconds. Some stun guns do offer a pulsating feature, but only work for as long as you hold the trigger and maintain contact with your assailant’s body. Both devices are effective at stopping attackers. The Taser’s probes are attached to 15 foot wire leads; making it very effective out to about 10 feet away.
Stun Guns
A stun gun is a small, hand held device that comes in a variety of sizes and voltages. They range in size from a pack of cigarettes or tiny flashlight, all the way up to a large item that is similar in size to an older portable phone.
Stun Guns range from 80,000 to 1.8 Million volts with low amperage. Unless the attacker is on drugs or a gorilla, a stun gun should take them down. Their success rate is about 85%. The attacker does have to be next to you. If he is beyond the distance of your arm, the stun gun is worthless; unless you throw it at him, knocking him unconscious; which is not a good plan. The stun gun will not work if it is not touching the body of the attacker.
Stun Guns affect the victim’s central nervous system. You have to hold the stun gun to the person for 3-7 seconds for it to work effectively. Just touching the person with it will drop them to the ground, but they will get back up. A stun gun requires you to apply a few seconds of electricity flowing to the assailant’s body in order for them to become disoriented and work most effectively.
Stun Guns cost $15 to $100 dollars, depending on their voltage and features. They come in many hand-held forms, including integration into flash lights, and disguised in items such as cell phones, lipstick cases, and Etc. Most stun guns are alkaline battery powered, although there are a few that use rechargeable batteries.
The Taser
The Taser is the final word in non-lethal self defense. While law enforcement model Taser X26 has 35 foot wire leads, it is illegal for non-law enforcement individuals to purchase and carry of self defense. There are now two consumer versions of the Taser. The original civilian model is the M18 and M18L, which have a similar shape as a standard .45 Colt pistol. The second and newest consumer model is the Taser C2, which has a sleek, curved design, and is much smaller. It comes in various colors, and is marketed to consumers as a small, yet effective self defense product. Both versions use nitrogen propelled cartridges to fire two electronic probes at the body of an attacker.
The probes are attached to thin wires, and the charge will penetrate up to 2 inches of clothing. The best distance to fire the Taser is 6-10 feet away. Further than that and the probes may separate too wide and possibly miss the target. Any closer and the probes might not spread apart far enough to be fully effective.
While the Taser’s output is only 50,000 volts, the Taser also outputs higher amperage than a stun gun. The reason the Taser works so well is that it can shock the attacker for a period of 5-seconds up to a 30-seconds cycle; which temporarily disrupts the person’s central nervous system. The Taser M-18 and M18L operate on a 5 second cycle, and the new Taser C2 operates up to a 30-second cycle when you pull the trigger. That means you can drop the Taser after you shoot it and run for help, and it will continue shocking the attacker for the rest of the 30-second cycle.
Since the Taser can only hold one cartridge at one time, it has a back-up feature that acts like a regular stun gun if you need to use it on another attacker. Hold it against the attacker, pull the trigger, and the electricity will flow between the two exposed contacts at the end of the Taser and the attacker’s body. It is as effective as the probes.
The Taser C2 starts at about $299 without a laser sight, and the M18 starts at about $399 without a laser sight. Both have models with a laser sight that are highly desirable for to ensuring you hit exactly where you are aiming.
Both stun guns and Tasers are extremely effective self defense products. If you have the funds, a Taser is the best non-lethal self defense product on the market, and it provides the furthest distance from your attacker for it to work. With a Taser, the attacker should not get close enough to hurt you, unless they’re carrying a gun.
Stun guns are effective also, are less expensive, and require you to be within arms reach of your attacker. The risk is the attacker could take it from you and use it against you, so you want to choose one with an emergency wrist strap that will disconnect quickly, rendering the stun gun useless.
You can pick up your own Taser C2, Taser M18 or M18L or a several different styles of stun gun through Boomer Life Solutions at http://shop.boomerlifesolutions.com