| Before the advent of the C2, civilians were limited to | | | | IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) |
| acquiring the 34000 Series Air Taser which is bigger in | | | | magazine about 6 to 9 months ago. Contrary to |
| size and less ergonomic in shape. Then, the M18 | | | | what "ambulance chaser" lawyers claim, the effects |
| Taser became available in the market for civilians as | | | | of Tasers alone cannot kill a person. What |
| well as the M26 Taser for law enforcement. Both | | | | distinguishes Tasers from stun guns is that the |
| models are bigger and resemble the shape of a Glock | | | | former emits "T-waves" or a charge that has a |
| 17 semiautomatic 9mm pistol. These are too bulky to | | | | similar frequency as a human body's nervous system. |
| be carried concealed; although, they possess higher | | | | This effect overwhelms the nervous system, |
| power ratings of 18 and 26 watts, respectively, | | | | thereby paralyzing the subject for about 2 to 15 |
| compared to the Air Taser which only produces 7 | | | | minutes. On the contrary, the charge from stun guns |
| watts. | | | | overwhelms muscle groups, rendering just a part of |
| The C2, however, is small enough to be carried | | | | the body numb for less amount of time. |
| concealed with the shape of a hand phaser from Star | | | | C2, as in all Taser models, has its limitations also. First, |
| Trek: The Next Generation. It shoots 2 probes up to | | | | it is an electronic device which is prone to |
| 15 feet; although, the ideal distance to your target | | | | malfunction. Yet, I have yet to see a malfunctioning |
| should be between 5 to 7 feet. The longer the | | | | Taser. It if works the first time, it should reliably |
| distance, the higher probability that you might miss a | | | | work every time. Second, the probes have to |
| human target even though you are aiming at the | | | | penetrate the skin to be effective. If a human target |
| center mass, the area of the body below the neck | | | | is wearing more than 2 inches of clothing or is |
| and above the hips. The reason for this is that the | | | | wearing loose clothing, the needles might not contact |
| top needle from the cartridge shoots out at a | | | | the skin to work. That scenario happened last year in |
| straight trajectory while the other needle at the | | | | a booking area where my co-worker used an M26 |
| bottom ejects at a slightly lower angle, thereby | | | | against a combative female suspect with loose |
| hitting the target with the probes at a distance from | | | | clothing to no effect; she just stood upright while |
| each other. This causes the charge to be distributed | | | | being zapped. Third, you are limited in firepower since |
| through the body further. The cartridge itself, which | | | | you can only install a disposable cartridge one at a |
| is disposable after 1 firing, propels the probes with | | | | time, which might limit your options if you are |
| nitrogen, an inert gas. This is why the BATF (Bureau | | | | confronted by multiple opponents. But, you can use |
| of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) does not classify | | | | any Taser as a stun gun after the cartridge is spent. |
| Tasers as firearms. | | | | Weighing the pros and cons of carrying a C2, it is |
| Since the producers of the Taser does not disclose | | | | better to have one than not. The Taser affords you |
| the power rating of the C2, I am guessing that its | | | | distance between you and the perpetrator especially |
| power output is between 7 to 12 watts, enough to | | | | if he or she is armed. A stun gun would be of little or |
| approximately incapacitate a human being from 86% | | | | no use at all in that situation. Additionally, the |
| to 92% of the time. According to the Smith | | | | paralyzing effect is instantaneous, unlike pepper spray |
| brothers, the founders of the Taser, the stopping | | | | which takes several seconds to work. If you cannot |
| power of the C2 is greater than a typical shot from | | | | lawfully carry a firearm to protect yourself, the C2 is |
| a .38 or 9mm caliber handgun. This device has a less | | | | probably the next best thing as long as you have a |
| non-lethal dose of charge than the M18, M26, X26, | | | | backup weapon, such as a stun gun, pepper spray, |
| and X29 Tasers since it produces less power. | | | | or a knife, just in case it fails. A good rule of thumb |
| Nevertheless, the family of Tasers is non-lethal, or | | | | dictates to never rely on any equipment to function |
| "less-than-lethal," type of gadgets as researched and | | | | every single time. For good measure, always have a |
| proved by engineers who published their findings to | | | | contingency plan! |