Jun
23
Taser 101
Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog, Safety & Self-Defense
To tase or not to tase. That is the trendy question, right? But I think when it comes to women specifically, there are a lot more questions about how they work and if it’s the best route to follow for personal self-defense. I bring up this topic because I received an invitation today to join a Network Marketing Company just for taser parties. Yeah, that’s right: Tupperware or Mary Kay, but a little more electrifying. And I thought the Passion Party I recently attended was a little bizarre! Before you can make a decision for yourself (and never let anyone else make it for you), it’s best to get educated. So let’s start with the facts:
-The taser is an electroshock weapon that uses Electro-Muscular Disruption (EMD) technology. This makes muscles contract involuntarily throughout the body, and the sensory and motor nerves go into overdrive.
-The Taser fires two little electrodes, kinda like baby darts. They are connected to the hand-held unit by conductive wire and propelled by compressed nitrogen charges (similar to paint guns). The air cartridge contains a pair of electrodes and propellant for a single shot and is replaced after each use. For consumer models, they are limited to shooting a distance of 15 feet. When the darts hit the target, they penetrate clothing and hook into the skin.
-Police officers use two different models, the M26 and X26. Taser International is also marketing a civilian model called the C2.
-According to the Associated Press, there have been 180 deaths from tasers up to 2006. However, a study by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center studied nearly 1,000 people after getting tazed. They concluded that 99.7% of the subjects had either minor injuries, such as scrapes and bruises, or none at all. So go figure.
I have never been personally tased, and I’d prefer to keep it that way. But I’m curious, sometimes to the point of stupidity, so I’d probably volunteer to get zapped just for the sake of research. I think a person can only have so much of an opinion about this until they have felt the effects themselves. I would like to know if someone who has been tased can still continue an attack, or if they are just totally incapacitated.
For the sake of women’s safety, we have to give a few things consideration:
#1: Who is most likely to attack us? Statistics say our most common threat is a person we know. So if you’re going to be armed with a taser, you should be prepared to use it against anyone, stranger or not. This argument should also be made for any physical self-defense, like a palm strike. I mean, you have to be ready to use it on anyone and fully commit with the intention of escaping…including someone you might care about.
#2: Is is a replacement for other self-defense? I get a little nervous when anyone’s self-defense response is a can of pepper spray, a taser or any other product du jour. You’ve got to have a plan if the batteries die or if you miss. What then? I think your mind and body are your best weapons, and anything else you decide to use is a bonus.
#3: Are you going to carry your taser all the time? A mistake we often make is to arm ourselves only when there is a perceived threat. (i.e, walking through a dark parking lot, in a big city at night, etc.) Sometimes we deem certain situations “dangerous” and others as “safe.” Truly effective self-defense needs to be used all the time, as part of your daily routine. So consider if you’d take your taser to your pedicure appointment at 11am on a Saturday in suburbia.
#4: Will you get training? Sometimes women buy safety products, only to FEEL more safe. This is more dangerous than not carrying anything at all, because it creates a false sense of security. Anything we arm ourselves in, we should also know how to use under stress.
I’d love to hear your thoughts about tasers. Anyone get zapped recently? Any of my law enforcement and military buddies have a comment on this?
With the proliferation of tasers, it was only a matter of time before we saw this recent headline “Charges Dropped in Boulder Taser Shootout.” You can’t make this stuff up.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/16642561/detail.html?rss=den&psp=news
Wow, I don’t think that taser parties have hit the UK yet… although I do believe only police officers are allowed to carry them.
I agree with every point made actually, very well said. And they do sound maybe safer and more effective to use than something like pepper spray? I mean in the sense that if a person messes up with pepper spray or any weapon/fist/whatever, this will only anger the assailant further, thus putting them in more danger, whereas tasing the attacker will temporarily (& as you pointed out harmlessly - saving the victim from criminal charges, don’t even get me started) disable them, giving the victim a chance to run. Training women how & when to use them would definately be a good thing too, I agree.
P.S You’re braver than me if you decide to get tasered for your research. Film it!
(Kidding)
I agree that tazers can definitely give a false sense of security. People need to be trained before they are allowed to purchase one. (which is not the case) Additionally, it is important to remember that anything that can be used by you, may be used against you if you lose control of it. If untrained, this could cause more harm then good. We need to take it upon ourselves to use what we have at our disposal; our minds and body. It CAN be the ultimate weapon. Thanks for this important blog, Erin.
I disagree with Ophella’s comment that people should have to be trained BEFORE purchasing a taser. If I were to go to a store to purchase a gun, pepper spray, or baseball bat to defend myself I would not be required to to be trained before purchase nor would I receive any training after the purchse. The cool thing about the taser c2 is that they come with a training dvd and manual (yes I own one.. and it’s pink!), and the dvd goes through all different scenarios on how to use it.
You are right that anything can be used against you in an attack and that’s why being aware of your surroundings is so important. But imagine being aware of whats going on and seeing that attacker before he/she is too close… that’s when you pull out the taser and stop them before they can get to you. I think it’s a revolutionary idea in self defense!!
And for the record.. yes I have experienced the taser… for 5 seconds at a self defense course put on by local law enforcement… trust me when I say .. IT WORKS!
Best review the facts before swallowing the propaganda from Taser.
Fact: They have been found liable for $6.2M judgment due to failure to warn about the dangers of repeated long-duration tasering leading to blood pH issues and subsequent death.
Fact: The civilian model includes a 30-second mode where you’re supposed to put down the sparking gun and run away. How far can you run in 30 seconds? And the perp (assuming that he’s survived) now has your stun gun and is pissed off.
And for those that have experienced the taser shock in a ‘course’. Was it fired into your chest or into your back. Back? Why the back? No - serious question! Why do they apply training shocks to the back when the real world is often aimed at the chest? To falsely inflate the safety figures - that’s why.
See the blog. 400+ posts. Many links.