How a Taser Works

The Taser gun, an electroshock weapon used by police departments worldwide is no stranger to bad press. Any new technology that is designed for violent encounters should be carefully assessed. Unlike medical devices, Tasers don't have to undergo testing and receive approval by agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, at least not in the United States. Partly in response, several local and state legislatures have considered introducing laws restricting the stun guns' adoption, and most police departments, if not all, have instituted guidelines on the proper use of Tasers. Equipping law-enforcement services with Tasers is likely to reduce the number of bullets officers fire from their handguns and therefore the number of serious injuries and deaths. At the same time, it may lead police to inflict an unwarranted amount of pain on individuals who commit only minor crimes.