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Tasers, popularly known as stun guns, are not without risks. Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images Law enforcement and other professionals around the world are increasingly using Tasers, or electronic control devices. Even some civilians are using them for personal protection. Tasers deliver a jolt of electricity that temporarily paralyzes the target. Taser International claims that its products "protect life, protect truth, and protect family," and there are probably many instances of lives saved because a Taser was used instead of a gun. However, the devices are not without drawbacks.
Risk of Death
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More than 351 individuals in the United States, most of them unarmed, have died since June 2001 after being shocked by police Tasers. In susceptible subjects, high voltage stun devices can cause cardiac arrhythmia or ventricular fibrillation, which can lead to heart attack or death. Although preexisting medical conditions or illegal drug-taking may have been the proximate cause of death, in many cases, police officers are seldom able to determine this information prior to Tasing someone. Some healthy people may also be susceptible to these dangers.
Risk of Excessive Use
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U.S. law enforcement agencies that use Tasers write their own policies regulating when they can be used. Some agencies sanction Taser use in cases of "passive resistance." This can be as simple as refusing to obey a verbal command. "Because Tasers are often seen as completely safe and non-lethal, they are often used as a weapon of first rather than last resort. They have become less an alternative to deadly force than an alternative to less-intensive policing techniques," observes a study by Amnesty International.
Risk of Fire
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The spark of the Taser can cause ignition of flammable liquids and fumes when used nearby. Self-defense sprays are among the substances that can cause fire or explosion. Taser International's website warns customers of this risk.
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