Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Can a TASER Kill? Conclusions Based on Research and Logic


!±8± Can a TASER Kill? Conclusions Based on Research and Logic

Are you considering buying a TASER C2, but not knowing whether these devices are really lethal or not is keeping you from making a decision? Maybe you are among the thousands of people who search the internet each day for a clear and definitive answer...only to find conflicting points of view about the subject. Search no more. We got the answer all figured out for you.

Can a TASER kill? The answer is: "not really". Emergency medicine researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine (in collaboration with researchers from Louisiana State University, University Medical Center in Nevada, and Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia) studied nearly 1,000 cases of TASER guns use throughout the United States. Their findings revealed that there were either no injuries or only mild injuries (scrapes and bruises) in the vast majority of the cases (99.7%) of TASER use. Although there were indeed two incidents of head injuries (associated with falls) and even one case in which the person was hospitalized with a condition "of unclear relationship to the TASER", these three occurrences altogether constituted only 0.3 percent of the total number of cases (these findings were presented in 2007 at the American College of Emergency Physicians' Research Forum in Seattle, Washington).

Despite these facts, you may still wonder about those incidents in which people has actually died after being exposed to the TASER's electric discharge. Although those lamentable cases are quite undeniable, subsequent investigations have revealed that there is no conclusive evidence to support the idea that TASER devices actually caused those deaths, a conclusion that coincides with the findings of a study published in 2008 by the U.S. National Institute of Justice ("Study of Deaths Following Electro Muscular Disruption: Interim Report"). In most cases it hasn't been clear if excessive police force (combined with the physical stress that comes with the verbal altercation, physical struggle or physical restraint) has been the responsible factor.

The same study found that no medical evidence exists to support the idea that the TASER may induce cardiac dysrhythmia when deployed reasonably. However, the medical risks of repeated or continuous electric discharges are still unknown, so the TASER should be used that way only in situations in which your life (or that of a loved one) is in great danger, and when the benefits of using it repeatedly or continuously far outweighs the possible risks for the criminal.

The above consideration is even more important when considering the welfare of assailants who suffer heart conditions and/or other medical problems: although there are still no definitive conclusions on their specific case, they are thought to be the most vulnerable to the effects of these self defense devices. However, you must ask yourself: What are the odds of someone with a heart condition attacking you, anyways? Maybe too low to be concerned about...specially in any situation in which your life might be at risk. Would you really doubt using a non lethal TASER against someone who is threatening to kill a dear family member of yours, just because he (the criminal) might probably have a heart condition? In our opinion, your security must always be your first concern anyways, because the one who might die or be seriously injured is YOU (or your loved one), NOT the attacker.

We must clarify that we certainly have a great respect for all life and believe in the potential of criminals to be rehabilitated. However, you must remember that self defense is your basic human right, too. Your life (and that of your family members) should be respected and protected as well.

Death by TASER is not the most probable outcome for the criminal who might endanger your life, as investigations have revealed. Instead, secondary injuries might be a more probable result, although those injuries are not considered to be directly attributable to the TASER's electric stimulation. For instance, the criminal may fall to the ground after receiving the electrical shock, and may suffer impact injuries, bruises, cuts and abrasions. The attacker may also suffer muscles or tendon tears, as well as stress fractures, as a result of muscles contractions. But if you refrain from using a TASER because of that...what are you going to use instead?

If we turn to logic we will find that those secondary injuries may also result from using any other form of self defense. For example, a criminal may fall to the ground and suffer impact injuries after the would-be-victim uses his martial arts skills to defend himself. Or he (the assailant) may suffer injuries after being attacked by a the defender with a baseball bat. A shotgun may even kill the aggressor, which is even worse. The TASER is definitively a more effective and reliable self defense weapon when compared to all of the above. And because it was the attacker who put your life in danger in the first place, it would not be logical to let a criminal harm you (or a loved one) just to protect him from falling down and suffering some fractures.

Furthermore, it must be taken into account that ANY weapon, used the wrong way, can potentially kill somebody. A baseball bat can kill somebody. A pencil can kill somebody, used to stab your opponent. Many more criminals have died as the result of being attacked by the defender with shotguns and knives, regardless of the presence or absence of medical problems. In the worst case scenario, a TASER is a less lethal way of protecting yourself, your family...and the criminal himself.

TASERS have been tested on thousands of police officers and voluntary citizens, without arousing any serious health complications (if TASERS were lethal weapons, police officers wouldn't consent to participate in these trials, would they?). However, you must remember that police officers are professionals, and they have taken all the necessary precautions during these experiments, so please, do not try it at home. TASER guns are not toys, but serious self defense weapons.

In conclusion...Can a TASER kill? Our informed opinion is NO...at least not in the vast majority of cases. However, we greatly suspect that in your darkest hour, in a situation in which your life (or that of your loved ones) might be in mortal danger, you will not be wondering whether or not a TASER is lethal. You will even wish you had bought one just in time...before it was too late.


Can a TASER Kill? Conclusions Based on Research and Logic

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