LawInfo

What are Taser guns, and how do they work?

Taser guns (which stands for Thomas A. Swift Electric Rifle), are hand­held weapons that shoot two needle­tipped electric darts about 25 feet.  Each time the trigger is pulled, the darts, which connect to electric cables that stay attached to the gun, deliver a 50,000 volt jolt for five seconds.  The shot can penetrate up to five centimeters of clothing, and can be activated as many times as needed for the life of the gun's battery.  A Taser gun temporarily immobilizes a person by using pulsing electricity to over­stimulate the nervous system, causing an uncontrollable contraction of the muscle tissue, and incapacitating the subject.  An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 people have been shocked by Taser guns during law enforcement confrontations since market availability in 1998.

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