INTERNATIONAL VIEWS

Cops in over 40 countries worldwide use tasers and are legalized such as Argentina, Australia, United States, Canada, Brazil, France and many more.

In most countries they are only legalized for police and not for civilians.

In the United States, Tasers 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

CANADIAN USE OF TASERS

It is illegal in Canada to own a taser or stun gun for civilians. Use of this tool is only licensed to federal and provincial police officers, who are permitted to use the weapon if they feel they are under threat by another individual. You can buy it to protect yourself from animals under special permission but carrying a weapon for self defence against criminals is illegal. If you’re caught using it against someone human, it would be considered a weapon, in which case you could be fined, sued or imprisoned for using it. Individuals will also be criminally charged if they are found concealing and carrying a stun gun or transporting one. 

Citizens debate whether it is alright for police to use tasers on all suspects or not. In my opinion tasers are much better than a criminal/suspect getting shot which may cause death. Getting tasered will only result in a temporary discomfort. It can cause injury due to person falling from their body locking up but those are secondary, minor injuries. I think police should have this power because they are permitted to protect themselves and have another option to subdue violent people. Yes, they should be careful and not overuse this advantage but as it’s said; tasers do not cause any permanent injury unless it’s a previous health defect.  Studies have shown that agencies that use Tasers have seen a decrease in the number of injuries to suspects and Officers

What do you think should Canadian law enforcement be allowed to use tasers at all or not?

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING TASERS

Taser guns are one of the most popular self-defence devices usually carried by police, security officers, and military personnel. Firearms are dangerous for everyone involved and most often lead to death. A problem for law enforcement was that police needed an effective method to enforce the law when criminals were dangerous or non-compliant. Tasers are handy, easy to use and have a temporary effect on the person who got tasered. However, Health factors may contribute to death. The study found that while the “electrical characteristics” of stun guns could potentially contribute to such deaths, there wasn’t enough evidence to confirm or exclude the weapons as a cause. Drugs or alcohol, pre-existing health conditions and stress are among some of the factors that can potentially contribute to death. The possibility that a stun gun would be the sole cause of a sudden in-custody death is low, and what role it may play is unclear and dependent on other factors. There are approximately 9,174 conducted energy weapons or stun guns in use in Canada. Since the late 1990s, at least 33 people have died following their use.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/taser-other-stun-gun-deaths-extremely-rare-1.2054290

HOW ARE THEY USED?

A taser delivers up to 50,000 volts. This does really sound like a lot of electricity, but it's a misleading way of expressing the power a Taser uses.

The electrical weapon, according to TASER International, overrides the brain’s control of the body by speaking the same ‘language’ as nerves. 

Tasers are designed to weaken a person through up to five centimetres of clothing. Taser International says the electrical pulse is delivered at a high voltage because the electric current has to pass through clothing and air — neither of which is a good conductor of electricity — to make a complete circuit with the target

Taser International also says that while its device can deliver up to 50,000 volts in an open air arc only, it does not deliver that much voltage to a person's body. The company says its Taser X26 delivers an average of 1,200 volts.

Source: 

http://scienceline.org/2007/08/ask-sergo-tasers/

WHO MANUFACTURES THEM?

Arizona-based Taser International makes virtually all of the stun guns/tasers being used today. 

Taser International says more than 16,200 law enforcement agencies in more than 40 countries use its devices. Since early 1998, more than 543,000 Taser brand immobilizers have been sold to law enforcement agencies.

There are five main types of stun guns made by Taser used by law enforcement agencies:

·         M26: A high-powered weapon marketed to police forces to stop "highly combative individuals." A burst of compressed nitrogen launches two small probes attached to the device by conductive wires. From as far as 10.6 metres, the device transmits electrical pulses through the wires to immobilize a person. Also has a laser sight for aiming.

·         X26: A smaller model introduced in 2003. Launches two small probes as far as 10.6 metres.

·         X3: A triple-shot semi-automatic introduced in 2009. Capable of deploying three separate sets of two small probes as far as 10.6 metres as a backup shot in the event of a miss or to stop up to three separate targets.

·         X2: A double-shot semi-automatic introduced in 2011. Capable of deploying two separate sets of two small probes as far as 10.6 metres as a backup shot in the event of a miss or to stop up to two separate targets.

·         XREP: A CED projectile deployed by a pump action 12-guage shotgun round capable of hitting targets as far away as 30 metres.

The company also makes stun guns for personal use:

·         C2: Introduced in 2007, smaller than its predecessors and comes in nine colours. Launches two probes as far as 4.5 metres.

·         X26C: Modelled after the X26 but formatted for personal use. Has a range of 4.5 metres.

·         Advanced Taser M18/M18L: Modelled after the M26 with a range of 4.5 metres.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/facts-about-stun-guns-and-their-use-in-canada-1.810288

Source: http://www.taser.com/

WHAT IS A TASER?

“It is a weapon firing barbs attached by wires to batteries, causing temporary paralysis”

Tasers are hand-held weapons that deliver a jolt of electricity through two prongs that are pressed directly against the suspect or through a pair of wires propelled by compressed air from up to 10.6 metres away. 

The jolt stuns the target by causing an uncontrollable contraction of the muscle tissue. The target is immobilized and falls to the ground — regardless of pain tolerance or mental focus.

Taser stands for "Thomas A. Swift Electric Rifle." It is named after a series of children's science-fiction novels written in the early 20th century featuring the young genius inventor Tom Swift.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/facts-about-stun-guns-and-their-use-in-canada-1.810288

Introduction

Hello all,
My name is Jasmeen Bal.
My purpose for making this blog is for an assignment. It'll involve talks about tasers.
What are they?
Who manufactures them?
How they are used?
Canadian involvement.
International views and systems.

Please feel free to comment.
Thank you.