| The question everyone seems to be asking about | | | | force necessary. |
| TASER devices is whether they are safe. While there | | | | A small risk of injury to the assailant is much |
| has been a great deal of recent media coverage | | | | preferred over any possible alternative. Remember, |
| over TASER use by law enforcement officials with | | | | the person attacking you has chosen to engage in an |
| unfortunate results, TASER devices are actually very | | | | illegal activity, putting innocent citizens and police |
| safe. News stories center on isolated incidents, nearly | | | | offers at risk. While you may be concerned about |
| always impacted by a previous condition or other | | | | hurting or killing your attacker, always remember that |
| contributing factors. It is important to note the | | | | his safety must be a lower priority than your own. |
| distinction between contributing and causing; while | | | | With this low risk of injury, why do instances of |
| TASER use has the potential to be a contributing | | | | injury or death related to TASER use keep making |
| factor for injury or death, there are no cited cases in | | | | the news? The truth behind these stories is that in |
| which the use of a TASER device is the only factor. | | | | nearly every case, the target of TASER use had |
| For law enforcement use of TASER devices, the | | | | pre-existing conditions affecting the results of TASER |
| safety of the officer and of the criminal must be the | | | | contact. The electrical signal delivered using a TASER |
| first priority on all occasions. In a law enforcement | | | | device can affect those with preexisting heart |
| situation, TASER devices are often used as an | | | | conditions, as well as those who are on drugs. In |
| alternative to firearms, and in this instance they are | | | | addition, loss of muscle control causes the criminal to |
| much safer for the target. They are also used as an | | | | fall to the ground; in the process, they could injure |
| alternative to other means, such as simple physical | | | | themselves. There is a persistent myth that TASER |
| force, and in this situation they are much safer for | | | | use can cause heart attacks, but in actuality the |
| the arresting officer. | | | | electrical current of this device simply cannot deliver |
| Similarly, in self-defense situations it is crucial to think | | | | the amount of energy required to cause heart |
| about whose safety should be the first priority, and | | | | attacks unless drugs or prexisting conditions are |
| what level of risk is acceptable. TASER devices have | | | | involved. |
| been highly touted as effective, non-lethal self | | | | A recent study of TASER use has found that |
| defense products. While it is undeniable that there is | | | | TASER devices are a safe self defense tool. |
| always a risk in applying a strong electrical current to | | | | According to the Wake Forest University School of |
| anyone's body, studies have shown that these | | | | Medicine, 99.7% of all instances of TASER use result |
| devices are overwhelmingly safe. They are known to | | | | in no significant injuries. TASERS provide a non-lethal |
| take down large, strong assailants in mere seconds. | | | | option, allowing private citizens and police officers to |
| When you use a TASER device to stop an attack, | | | | control a violent situation without risking their own |
| you are preventing further harm to yourself and | | | | safety, and in nearly all cases, without harming the |
| taking down the attacker with the least amount of | | | | criminal. |