Taser develops shock shotgun shells

[Harry Tuttle]

Taser develops shock shotgun shells
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiheral...7.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_national

The stun-gun manufacturer says the new product will allow police officers and U.S. troops to hit someone from a much greater distance than its current line of Tasers.
BY AMANDA LEE MYERS
Associated Press
PHOENIX - The nation's largest stun-gun manufacturer is working on a new way to deliver electricity to the human body: through 12-gauge shotgun shells.

Though it's still being developed, Taser International says the new product will allow police officers and U.S. troops to hit someone from a much greater distance than its current line of Tasers, which Amnesty International has cited in more than 120 deaths.

DOUBLE IMPACT

The eXtended Range Electro-Muscular Projectile, or XREP, will be a shotgun shell designed to combine the blunt-force trauma of a fast-moving baseball with the electrical current of a stun gun.

''It will truly cause incapacitation,'' company spokesman Steve Tuttle said.

Taser hopes to release the product in 2007. The Office of Naval Research funded the approximately $500,000 it took to develop the shotgun shells, Tuttle said.

The company has been selling its stun-gun weapons to law enforcement agencies since 1998. Currently more than 175,000 Tasers are being used by more than 8,500 agencies in the United States. More than 100,000 of the devices have been sold to private U.S. citizens, and U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq also use them, Tuttle said.

The devices have sparked safety concerns. In Miami-Dade County, following reports that Miami-Dade County police officers used Tasers on children, lawmakers recently imposed a five-day waiting period and background checks when purchasing a Taser or other electronic control device.'' Buyers also will have to undergo safety training.

50,000 VOLTS

Tasers shoot two barbed darts that deliver 50,000-volt jolts to the human body using a special electrical wave form that overwhelms the nervous system and temporarily paralyzes people.

But the weapons, considered by the company to be low-level-force devices, can hit a target only 25 feet away.

Test models of the XREP shells currently reach 100 feet.

Already, the product is drawing criticism from human rights organizations, which have accused law-enforcement agencies of using the existing Tasers when more humane options are available. Amnesty International has called for independent studies on their safety.

''Amnesty's concern with this product would be similar to those with Tasers being used currently,'' said Amnesty International spokesman Edward Jackson. ``Where is the independent comprehensive medical testing?''

According to Amnesty International's count, more than 120 people shocked with a Taser have died shortly afterward in the United States and Canada.

Taser denies that its products are solely to blame in any deaths, arguing that drugs, health conditions or other factors -- not the electrical shock -- have been the cause. The company also contends Tasers have saved the lives of thousands of suspects who might otherwise have been shot by police.

But Taser-related deaths have prompted some police departments to reconsider the necessity of the devices, and lawmakers in Florida and Georgia have introduced bills restricting their use.

 

[LiquidTension]

Awesome, now cops can shoot elderly ladies from outside handbag-swinging range!

Kidding! Tasers are valuable tools when used correctly. The only problem I have with them is that law enforcement officers tend to use them in situations that would not normally warrant force. For example, all of the scenarios in which elderly people or children are tased - would sidearms or batons have been used if the Taser hadn't been available? Usually not.

That said, the only use of a Taser by our department since I've been here was on a subject that assaulted one of our officers.

 

[Henry Bowman]

Taser has done all it can to make sure that its devices are not confused with firearms. That is, the shape and look are different and most LEOs carry them on the weak side or cross-draw to minimize risk that a firearm is used when a Taser is intended.

I am concerned that 12 gauge shells will be mixed up. "I thought it was loaded with Taser shells. Guess I forgot about that buckshot shell in the pipe." I think that they should consider an odd gauge or specialized firing device. That would add cost, but not doing so is choosing to accept a risk of mistaken loads.

Just my $0.02.

 

[Mizzle187]

Taser has done all it can to make sure that its devices are not confused with firearms. That is, the shape and look are different and most LEOs carry them on the weak side or cross-draw to minimize risk that a firearm is used when a Taser is intended.

I am concerned that 12 gauge shells will be mixed up. "I thought it was loaded with Taser shells. Guess I forgot about that buckshot shell in the pipe." I think that they should consider an odd gauge or specialized firing device. That would add cost, but not doing so is choosing to accept a risk of mistaken loads.

Just my $0.02.

I agree,thats why they must make them where even a dummy wouldnt get them confused. How I dont know but they better. In all though I think this is pretty damn cool and would like to see them in action! Except on my Granny!

 

[RyanM]

I think tasers probably are probably one of the better options to use against elderly people who are resisting arrest. If you're under arrest, you're under arrest. It doesn't matter how old you are. Being old and feeble is not a "get out of jail free" card. If you resist arrest, it's the cop's job to get you in cuffs anyway.

So if a cop has to arrest a belligerent old lady who refuses to be negotiated with, their options are limited to:

1. Intimidation. There is absolutely no way in hell that anyone could ever intimidate a belligerent old lady. You can forget that one right off the bat.

2. Try to grapple and risk either getting shot, or snapping her bones like rotten twigs.

3. Beat the old lady down with a baton, and almost certainly break every single bone in her body.

4. Shoot her. That'll look real good on the evening news.

5. Chemical spray. If she's got asthma or emphysema or any other respiratory problem, that could cause serious injury.

6. Call for backup. See #1.

7. Taser. No permanent damage in most cases, and usually causes instant collapse. Only risk of injury is from falling down, and that's much less of a risk than in the first three.


Funny how if an old lady takes a swing at a police officer and gets tased for her trouble, she's somehow in the right, but if the same thing happens with a teenager, he's just a "punk kid." Age is completely irrelevant to being a punk.

I'm not defending the cops who have tased people without justification, but tasers are probably the best option for subduing people who aren't that much of an (apparent) threat, while minimizing risk of injury to both parties.

 

[CAS700850]

In some of the casaes I saw as a prosecutor where a Tasaer was used, it has been in situations where there was going to be a no-holds-barred physical fight, or it was almost time to go to the sidearm. What Amnesty and the other detractors seem to miss is that it fills a gap just short of a firearm, which would likely have a higher fatality rate than the Taser does, if you believe Amnesty's stats. It's a great tool. Has it been misused? Sure, but so have handguns, batons, and handcuffs. Doesn't mean that you should consider getting rid of the tool. You should get rid of the misuser.

That said, I think Henry's got a good point. Maybe Taser should develop a proprietary caliber, or gauge, and contract with one of the shotgun makers to develop a pump shotgun operating solely on the Taser shells. Like the way they's developed the "pistols" for the current Taser.

Personally, I see this as the next logical step. What's next? I'm waiting for wireless technology.

 

[Zero_DgZ]

Can you say "sticky shockers"?

Hell, I'll take a case.

'N some night vision, too.

 

[sturmruger]

Cops all ready use all sorts of less lethal shotgun ammo I doubt they will have any issues with getting them mixed up. From what I remember they usually have a orange or red shotgun for the less lethal projectiles.

 

[Thain]

If Taser were to develop these in an "off" guage or a propreitary caliber, it would really limit the market. Most police departments have limitede budgets for new tools, yet already have a stockpile of 12ga. shotguns... the military admidtly has a bigger budget, but even they have limits.

IMHO, Taser should make the rounds a extremly distinctive day-glo color (pink?) and its instructors should incourage police armorers to mark XREP loaded weapons... I've seen lots of police forces with "STUNBAG" written in block letters on bean-bag loaded riot guns; why not do the same for these rounds?

Plus, with a standard 12ga. the officer or soldier can keep some "regular" rounds on their buttstock or belt, and switch to lethal force much easier than running all the way back to the patrol car to grab their other gun.

Of course, if they can make the technology fit, it wouldn't be a bad idea to offer the round in, say, 16ga. or 20ga. I say this for selfish reasons, I have a single-shot 16ga. that I think would be just dandy for HD with a taser-shell.

 

[buzz_knox]

The devices have sparked safety concerns. In Miami-Dade County, following reports that Miami-Dade County police officers used Tasers on children, lawmakers recently imposed a five-day waiting period and background checks when purchasing a Taser or other electronic control device.'' Buyers also will have to undergo safety training.

Cops stun children so they put increased burdens on civilians (the only ones to whom waiting periods apply)?

 

[johnmcl]

Filling Gap

Chris,

I think your point of a Taser filling the gap just short of weapon use is right on. I also agree that the 'rights' groups, such as AI, see the world very differently from the cops or soldiers on the streets.

By the way, everyone is up that Taser stands for Thomas A. Swift's Electic Rifle? Tom Swift is a comic book hero, a contemporary of Flash Gordon.

John

 

[Strings]

buzz_knox: I noticed that too. Reminds me of tailhook: Naval officers are found guilty of misconduct, so they gave the enlisted LOTS of training on sexual harassment...

 

[tellner]

As they say on fark.com "What could possibly go wrong?"

We've already seen people shot - and killed - when the officer grabbed what he or she thought was a Taser and it turned out to be a pistol. Oops. Imagine the possibilities if the lead and the shock slugs come out of the same gun. The "bean bag" guns are yellow and look strange. It's much less likely that regular shotguns will be mistaken for them.

I'd actually like to see Tasers in some conformation that wasn't much like a pistol. If the feel were different enough it would eliminate the problems that can happen when you pull the wrong weapon.

 

[Stiletto Null]

Can you say "sticky shockers"?

Hell, I'll take a case.

'N some night vision, too.

Pass the ring airfoil projectiles, plz

 

[GEM]

First, I think this is a good idea - accidents happen but a longer distance weapon would be useful.

However, I predict a return to the modern version of the LeMat revolver.

A 357 with 8 shots, surrounding a 12 gauge barrel for the Taser round!!

If you look that the old LeMats or replicas, it's doable. In fact, there was a dude who did 38 SPL cylinders for them. Get rid of the Blackpowder barrel and make it a DA gun!!