Wireless shotgun Taser

[gunsmith]

what will they think of next?

http://www.upi.com/Security_Terrori...eless_shotgun_round_extends_taser_reach/9706/



SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 14 (UPI) -- A shotgun-fired TASER round that will be released next month will give U.S. police officers the ability to use non-deadly force at much greater distances.

The XREP round, which will be unveiled at a conference July 9, is a wireless projectile that delivers the now-familiar electrical jolt that incapacitates a suspect without doing any serious damage.

Current TASER devices consist of darts connected to the weapon by wire. Although users need not come into direct contact with the target, they have to be within a few feet of a likely violent individual to put it to use.

The XREP, however, will allow officers to zap a suspect from a safer distance using a standard 12-gauge shotgun. Current police TASERS generally are carried by supervisors, so the shotgun approach could conceivably put the technology in more patrol cars.

"The XREP introduces not only amazingly miniaturized TASER technology, but also groundbreaking flight stabilization and microprocessor-controlled intelligent electrode selection technologies contained in a package that weighs only 14 grams, or half an ounce," CEO Rick Smith said in a statement Thursday. "The XREP projectile is ... the most sophisticated weapon system ever launched from a 12-gauge shotgun platform."

The Arizona company plans to conduct field tests of the XREP this fall followed by release to customers sometime next year.

 

[CWL]

weapon system

This will be the quote used by the lawyers the first time someone dies from this less-lethal system. Every LE Agency and city/county/state will be sued as well.

 

[GhostlyKarliion]

Hmmm, reminds me of the "Sticky Shocker" from the Splinter Cell game, although that one was fired from a grenade launcher.

I have always thought it was a great idea, pack a tazer in front of a charge strong enough to hurl it a short distance in order to subdue someone, never put much time into developing it myself, but kudos to those who did.

Now, the thing that keeps springing to my mind is suppose you miss the BG and hit something flammable, could this little sparky set the house on fire? Just makes me wonder

 

[shooter503]

We all know that blank ammunition can be deadly at short ranges. The physics problem here is that to throw a projectile accurately at longer ranges it must have sufficient muzzle velocity to be harmful at shorter ranges. I do not see how this design resolves the problem.

This is the "bean bag" idea repeated with its attendent risks.

"The XREP introduces not only amazingly miniaturized TASER technology, but also groundbreaking flight stabilization and microprocessor-controlled intelligent electrode selection technologies contained in a package that weighs only 14 grams, or half an ounce," CEO Rick Smith said in a statement Thursday. "The XREP projectile is ... the most sophisticated weapon system ever launched from a 12-gauge shotgun platform."

Would you like to be hit with a half ounce of birdshot from a 12 gauge at twenty feet?

 

[Sage of Seattle]

Interesting. I guess I don't see this new crimefighting tool to be very useful, ultimately.

My biggest concern is the fact that police have made documented and serious mistakes concerning the use of their tasers vs. their firearms; launching a lethal and LTL round from the same weapon, in my mind, means a much greater risk of suspect injury. Say we've got a couple of duelling grannies, so Officer Thudwhistle grabs his gauge, racks one in and instead of subduing and separating, he makes it look like Jackson Pollock just painted the living room.

Then the usual apologists will come out saying, "well, if you don't want to get splattered by the po-po, don't fight" as if being innocent has ever prevented tragedies.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

This will be the quote used by the lawyers the first time someone dies from this less-lethal system.

Almost all of Taser's products are referred to as weapons because they are. They would be in more legal trouble if they called it, "Super safe bunnies and rainbows stop the badguy harmlessly system."

Most issues with Taser misuse are training/doctrine problems, not the name of the device.

 

[CWL]

When the CEO of the company allows himself to be quoted with a comment like this, how will any LE Agency be able to credibly explain its deployment other than as a death-dealing device? Not very easy to justify using it for "non-deadly force".

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Hopefully we won't see "Unfortunately the officer thought the shotgun was loaded with taser rounds and not the standard issue 00 buckshot rounds that killed the suspect."

 

[kd7nqb]

sounds pretty cool. As for the "I thought I had taser rounds in" I know at least in portland the shotguns they use for the beanbag rounds are special ones that are painted Orange to prevent such things.

Also the article says right now generally only supervisors carry tasers. I know in Portland every officer has one.

 

[thexrayboy]

IIRC most departments that use less lethal 12guage munitions have dedicated firearms for these uses. They are sprayed/taped/colored in some fashion to distinguish them from 12guage weapons using normal ammunition.

Not to say that a lethal accident is impossible but this practice does make it less likely for it to occur.

I can see very very few circumstances where the use of long distance less than lethal devices can be justified. Not saying it is totally wrong but if a subject if so far away you need a shotgun to launch a taser device at them than he is not a significant threat. There may be some hostage or other type situtations where this could be useful.

The key to this tool as with any other used by LEO is training, tactics and most importantly ( and the one thing seldom addressed sufficently) rules and policy governing use.

 

[Odd Job]

I think they existed as 40mm versions first. Check this interesting thread:

http://cartridgecollectors.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2033

 

[jselvy]

It'll all end in tears.

Jefferson

 

[TallPine]

Yet another tool for police to misuse, all within department policy of course

 

[gunsmith]

LOL good one!

"Super safe bunnies and rainbows stop the badguy harmlessly system."

I too wondered about them saying only supervisors carry tasers I guess they do not get out much

 

[Wes Janson]

Seems to me like a great idea. 21 feet isn't very far, and the ability to rapidly respond to multiple targets would be a great leap in capability over an X26, it would seem to me. This shouldn't be any different than a beanbag round, other than increased efficacy.

We all know that blank ammunition can be deadly at short ranges. The physics problem here is that to throw a projectile accurately at longer ranges it must have sufficient muzzle velocity to be harmful at shorter ranges. I do not see how this design resolves the problem.

If it can be designed to go even 40 feet, it would effectively double the maximum distance an officer could use a taser at. Muzzle velocity need not be very high at all to make half an ounce go quite a ways.

 

[shooter503]

I doubt these rounds will cycle an auto shotgun which is probably OK since it seems to be that most PD shotguns are pumps.

Wes, actually I think you may be wrong. At a low muzzle velocity with a very light, low ballistic coefficient, load the range without serious trajectory drop would be quite low, especially from a smooth barrel. I did not see a claimed operating range in the publicity article but at a short range such as 20 feet this drop may be acceptable. However, if the taser round needs to hit sufficiently hard to force the barbs through heavy clothing the low muzzle velocity with a low kinetic energy round may not work.

On the other hand I must agree with you concerning the availablity of multiple rounds. When I did taser training it was very obvious that the biggest operational problem in our application was that you needed to remove the taser head to load another module which stopped the taser action on the first person you hit.

I wonder if there is any cumulative health danger from hitting someone with multiple taser rounds?

 

[coylh]

Double-feeds must be fun! BZZZT!

 

[GarandOwner]

Shotgun Taser XREP round

Some of you may of already heard of this, but Taser is coming out with a self contained, shotgun taser projectile. It has an extended range over conventional tasers because it is not connected with wires to the gun, and can be shot out of a normal 12 gauge shotgun.

http://www.taser.com/products/law/Pages/XREP.aspx


I wonder if these will be released to the public or LEO only. I think this would be a great home defense weapon rather than using lethal force. I wouldn't hesitate to pop a would-be burglar with a taser round out of my shotgun. Id be more hesitant to use a lethal bullet. Even though in Florida I can legally shoot someone for breaking into my house, ethically I dont think it is always right.

Any thoughts?

 

[GarandOwner]

deleted due to thread merger

 

[Ukraine Train]

I've always heard that any time a civilian fires a shot it's considered lethal force, even if you're aiming at, say, a leg. I think you'd have a tough time defending yourself if you shot someone with this thing and lethal force wasn't warranted.

 

[Lucky]

Wouldn't these be ultimate home defence? Everyone talks about how this cartridge or that isn't guaranteed to stop someone, and here's a load that is, and is forgiving of shot placement.

'Course some of us are doing the Princess Bride thing and making ourselves immune by use of Dr. Woo 'as seen on TV' electrical exercise/torture devices

 

[GEM]

I've heard that a round is $100 a pop.

I think it is neat but iffy for the home defender. If you have one in your shotgun, what's the next round? Loading up my 1300 with $800 worth of ammo is ... Missing or it not being effective and then transitioning to real rounds or another guns seems exciting for the homeowner.

It's nice for an officer with other officers around for firepower backup.

What's the shelf life of these gadgets?

I also wonder what happens when someone gets this in the noggin and a blast of ECT to the frontal lobes.