Taser

A Taser is a tool used by police.

It shoots two small darts. These darts have tiny hooks. The hooks help them stay on clothes.

Thin wires connect the darts to the tool. These wires carry a quick zap of power. The zap makes muscles pull hard. This helps a person stop moving.

Some people use these tools to stay safe. A study showed fewer injuries for police.

But these tools can still be dangerous. We must use them with great care.

A Taser is a tool used by police.

It is a handheld device that sends out electric power. The device fires two small darts. These darts have barbs to help them stay attached to a person. Thin wires connect the darts to the main tool. These wires carry a strong electric current.

The zap of power causes something called neuromuscular incapacitation. This is a big name for when muscles pull hard and cannot be controlled. This happens because the electricity disrupts how muscles work. This can cause pain or strong muscle pulls.

Police use these tools to stay safe. One study found that police injuries dropped by 76% when they used them.

However, Tasers are not perfectly safe. They are called "less-lethal." This means they can still cause serious injury or even death. Some people are at higher risk. This includes the elderly or people with heart problems. Using the tool for too long can also be dangerous. Experts say the shock should not last more than 15 seconds.

A Taser is a handheld device used to send electric energy to a target.

It is part of a group of tools called conducted energy devices. These tools are often used by police and military groups around the world. Many people call the tool "less-lethal" rather than "non-lethal." This is because there is still a chance of serious injury or death.

Using the tool is never completely without risk. Some people, like the elderly or those with heart problems, face higher risks. Experts say that any electric shock should not last more than 15 seconds.

How does the device work when it is used? The device fires two small barbed darts toward a target.

These darts use small charges of nitrogen to push them forward. Once they hit, the barbs help them stay attached to the skin or clothing. Thin, strong wires connect each dart back to the main unit. These wires carry a very high voltage, often around 50,000 volts. This rush of electricity causes something called neuromuscular incapacitation, or NMI. This means the electricity disrupts how muscles work, causing strong, involuntary muscle contractions.

The history of this tool began many years ago. A patent from 1966 described a similar device with needles and wires. Later, a NASA researcher named Jack Cover began working on the first Taser in 1969. He finished the device by 1974 and gave it that name. The name was an acronym inspired by a book called Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle. This book was written by the Stratemeyer Syndicate under the name Victor Appleton. The first model for sale was called the Taser Public Defender. In 1993, brothers Rick and Thomas Smith started a company to make safer tools.

Many different models of the Taser have been made over time. In 1994, the Air Taser Model 34000 included a special identification system. The company later released the M-series and the X26 model in 2003. On July 27, 2009, they released the X3, which could fire three shots. In 2017, the company changed its name to Axon to show it makes other things too. The Taser 7 was released in 2018 with better accuracy. The most recent model, the Taser 10, was announced in early 2023. This new model can reach targets up to 45 feet away.

Understanding these tools helps us see how technology changes. For example, older models used gunpowder to push the darts. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms classified those early models as firearms. Newer versions use different ways to move the darts through the air. Some models even use lasers to help a person aim more carefully. These tools are used by over 15,000 agencies across the globe today. They are designed to help people stay at a safe distance during difficult jobs.

A Taser is a handheld conducted energy device (CED) used to deliver electric energy to a target.

These tools are used by over 15,000 law enforcement and military agencies globally. Manufacturers often describe them as "less-lethal" rather than "non-lethal." This distinction is important because the possibility of serious injury or death still exists. For example, at least 49 people died after being shocked by police with a Taser in 2018. Because of these risks, the use of the device is never completely without danger.

The device works through a specific mechanical and electrical process. When triggered, the device fires two small, barbed electrodes toward a target. These probes are propelled by small compressed nitrogen charges. Once the probes strike, the barbs help them stay attached to the skin or clothing. Thin, durable wires connect each probe back to the main unit. These wires must have high dielectric strength to handle the extreme voltage. This setup allows the device to complete an electrical circuit through the target's body.

This electrical circuit produces a phenomenon called neuromuscular incapacitation (NMI). The main unit contains a copper wire core that delivers short-duration pulses. A typical device can operate with a peak voltage of 50,000 volts. Under load, the voltage delivered to the body is approximately 2,000 volts. The device delivers an average electric current of 1.9 milliamps. These are sent as 100-microsecond pulses at a rate of 19 per second. This rush of energy disrupts voluntary muscle control. It causes the target to experience strong, involuntary long muscle contractions.

Technology in these devices has changed significantly through various models. The first model for sale was the Taser Public Defender, which used gunpowder as a propellant. Because it used gunpowder, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms classified it as a firearm in 1976. Later, the 1994 Air Taser Model 34000 introduced an anti-felon identification (AFID) system. This system released small pieces of paper with a serial number to prevent criminal use. In 1999, the company released the Advanced Taser M-series, which used patented NMI technology. In 2003, the X26 model was released, utilizing shaped pulse technology.

The history of the Taser began with early research and specific inspirations. A 1966 patent by Kunio Shimizu described an electrical discharge gun with wire-connected projectiles. In 1969, NASA researcher Jack Cover began developing the first Taser. He completed the device by 1974. He named it "Taser," a loose acronym inspired by the 1911 novel *Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle*. This book was written by the Stratemeyer Syndicate under the pseudonym Victor Appleton. Cover chose the name because it followed the pattern of the word "laser." Both terms describe a device that fires a "beam" of energy.

Modern versions of the device offer advanced features and improved accuracy. The Taser 7, released in 2018, is a two-shot device. It uses spiral darts that spool from the dart itself rather than the cartridge. This change increases stability in flight and improves accuracy. The Taser 7 also features a 93% increased probe spread at close range. The most recent model, the Taser 10, was announced in January 2023. This model can reach targets up to 45 feet away. It also has a probe velocity of 205 feet per second. Unlike older models, the Taser 10 allows officers to deploy probes individually to create their own spread.

Safety is a major concern when using conducted energy devices. Certain groups of people face higher risks during use. These include children, pregnant women, the elderly, and very thin individuals. People with medical conditions like heart disease or those with pacemakers are also at higher risk. Experts suggest that total exposure to the electricity should not exceed 15 seconds. There are also secondary risks, such as uncontrolled falls from high places. The electricity can even ignite flammable substances like gasoline or hand sanitizer.