by Marcus Skiles

Created on: August 28, 2009

Since its invention in 1970, the Taser has become a widely controversial subject regarding its involvement in police work. Many people claim that the electric shock delivered by a standard Taser is excruciatingly painful and that it is an unnecessary form of non-lethal weaponry. Others believe that a Taser is the most effective non-lethal weaponry available, and is much safer to use than clubs or pepper spray. While both groups raise valid arguments, I believe that Tasers are indeed effective and safer than most non-lethal devices.

A standard Taser can deliver up to 50,000 volts of electricity in a single shock. This effectively incapacitates the target, causing violent-but temporary- muscle spasms and in some cases short-term paralysis, making it a simple task to end a potentially dangerous conflict with little or no life-threatening danger for either the assailant or the defender. While there have been instances where suspects have been severely injured or killed because of an electric shock, there has always been one or more contributing factors involved. For example, an individual who has been using a drug that raises heart rate or blood pressure is at a high risk for injury when these factors are coupled with the electroshock delivered by a Taser. Some critics also believe that Tasers have adverse effects on people with pacemakers or heart conditions. Sometimes the cause of death is thought to be associated with a controversial diagnosis called "excited delirium", a term used to describe the sudden death of suspects in police custody from complications arising from the use of potentially dangerous force on them. However, this condition is not a medical diagnosis.

Despite these dangers, most people believe that Tasers are a much safer way to deal with dangerous or belligerent suspects. Tasers (when used correctly) usually cause only small burns on the skin at the point of contact, with no permanent damage. Studies have been conducted by Taser International (the manufacturer of the Taser) to discover any ill effects on pacemakers or people with heart conditions. In all cases, these tests have revealed that a Taser used correctly poses little or no threat to long-term health with no permanent damage, and display that both the company and the government take the risks of Taser technology very seriously, and are in no way disregarding the concerns of human rights organizations. Tasers are also much safer than the alternative forms of non-lethal weaponry,

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