An electroshock weapon (sometimes referred to, imprecisely, as an electronic weapon or electrical weapon; and generically known as an electroshock device) is a type of less-than-lethal weapon that functions by delivering an electric shock to a target. Various sub-types of electroshock weapons exist and, depending upon the jurisdiction and specific technology or design in question, these devices are officially categorized by law enforcement and regulatory bodies as conducted energy weapons or conducted electrical weapons, and rarely as conducted electronic weapons (CEW); or as conducted energy devices or conducted electronic devices (CED). Colloquially, electroshock weapons are frequently referred to by the brand name Taser, or are broadly termed stun guns; stun guns and Taser devices are, however, separate types, and entirely different forms, of electroshock weapon.
Electroshock weapons are engineered to pass electric current through a target with the aim of temporarily disturbing muscle function and inflicting pain, usually without causing significant injury. Their disorienting, motor-disrupting, and—in the case of powerful projectile electroshock devices—immobilizing effects, as well as their usually less-than-lethal design, make them a common option for use both in personal self-defense and by law enforcement officers in administering an intermediate level of force.
Numerous different types of electroshock devices exist. Stun guns, stun batons (sometimes also called stun prods or, simply, prods), cattle prods, shock collars, and stun belts (also called shock belts) administer an electric shock by direct contact, whereas Tasers are capable of firing projectiles that administer the shock through dart probes attached to flexible wires. Long-range self-contained electroshock projectiles that can be utilized as specialty ammunition, such as standalone electroshock rounds fired from ordinary shotguns, have been developed; these niche missiles do not require the connected wires found in Tasers.
Though the two terms are often either misapplied to refer to all electroshock weapons regardless of category or are used interchangeably, stun guns and Tasers are distinct forms of electroshock device. Stun guns are direct-contact weapons that work primarily to induce localized pain, thereby compelling pain compliance, and otherwise by locally affecting the sensory nervous system; stun guns can additionally cause some degree of muscular disruption, but that effect generally requires 3–5 seconds of direct contact to be made with the activated device. Meanwhile, the metonomously-named Taser is, by comparison, designed to function primarily as a long-range weapon, firing projectiles in the form of barbed darts attached to long wires intended to fully incapacitate the target by disrupting voluntary muscular control through the motor nervous system. However, some 'hybrid' models of Taser blur this distinction, as they are capable of delivering a "Drive Stun", a pain compliance technique involving placing the weapon in direct contact with the subject's body and discharging a shock without firing the probes.
History
In 1935, Ciril (or Cirilo) Diaz of Cuba designed an electroshock glove for use by police forces. As noted in an exposé on the topic featured in that year's September issue of Modern Mechanix magazine (later Mechanix Illustrated), the glove, wired to a half-pound belt-mounted battery, delivered 1,500 volts of electricity (only 3% of the modern Taser's voltage).
In 1952, the U.S. Army, seeking a weapons option that avoided the noise produced by gunfire, experimented with developing electroshock weapons for use by special forces Army commandos. The prototype devices and blueprints arising from these experiments in 1952 are sometimes cited as representing the first true stun gun designs.
Jack Cover, a NASA researcher, began formally developing the Taser in 1969. By 1974, he had completed the device, which he named after his childhood hero Tom Swift ("Thomas A. Swift's electric rifle"). The Taser Public Defender product used gunpowder as its propellant, which led the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to classify it as a firearm in 1976. Cover's patent was adapted by Nova Technologies in 1983 for the Nova XR-5000, their first non-projectile hand-held style stun gun. The XR-5000 design was widely copied as the source for the compact handheld stun gun used today.
Principle of operation Electroshock weapon technology uses a temporary high-voltage, low-current electrical discharge to override the body's muscle-triggering mechanisms. Commonly referred to as a stun gun, electroshock weapons are a relative of cattle prods, which have been around for over 100 years and are the precursor of stun guns. The recipient is immobilized via two metal probes connected via wires to the electroshock device. The recipient feels pain, and can be momentarily paralyzed while an electric current is being applied. Essential to the operation of electroshock, stun guns and cattle prods is sufficient current to allow the weapon to stun. Without current these weapons cannot stun and the degree to which the weapon is capable of stunning depends on its proper use of current. It is reported that applying electroshock devices to more sensitive parts of the body is even more painful.Darius M. Rejali, associate professor of Political Science, Reed College, Technological Invention and Diffusion of Torture Equipment Portland, OR, August, 1998. The maximum effective areas for stun gun usage are upper shoulder, below the rib cage, and the upper hip. High voltages are used, but because most devices use a less-lethal current, death does not usually occur from a single shock. The resulting "shock" is caused by muscles twitching uncontrollably, appearing as muscle spasms.
The internal circuits of most electroshock weapons are fairly simple, based on either an oscillator, resonant circuit (a power inverter), and step-up transformer or a diode-capacitor voltage multiplier to achieve an alternating high-voltage discharge or a continuous direct-current discharge. It may be powered by one or more batteries depending on manufacturer and model. The amount of current generated depends on what stunning capabilities are desired, but without proper current calculations, the cause and effect of high voltage is muted. Output voltage is claimed to be in the range of 100 V up to 6 kV; current intensity output is claimed to be in the range of 100 to 500 mA; individual impulse duration is claimed to be in the range of 10 to 100 μs (microseconds); frequency of impulse is claimed to be in the range of 2 to 40 Hz; electrical charge delivered is claimed to be in the range of 15 to 500 μC (microcoulombs); energy delivered is claimed to be in the range of 0.9 to 10 J. The output current upon contact with the target will depend on various factors such as target's resistance, skin type, moisture, bodily salinity, clothing, the electroshock weapon's internal circuitry, discharge waveform, and battery conditions.Q&A with TASER International co-founder Tom Smith Nov. 1, 2004Police review policy after Tasers used on kids November 15, 2004
The M-26 Taser models produce a peak current of 18 amperes in pulses that last for around 10 microseconds.Carleton University Technical Report on Taser Stun Gun
Manufacturers' instructions and manuals shipped with the products state that a half-second shock duration will cause intense pain and muscle contractions, startling most people greatly. Two to three seconds will often cause the recipient to become dazed and drop to the ground, and over three seconds will usually completely disorient and drop the recipient for at least several seconds. Taser International warns law enforcement agencies that "prolonged or continuous exposure(s) to the TASER device's electrical charge" may lead to medical risks such as cumulative exhaustion and breathing impairment.Product Warnings – Law Enforcement
Because there was no automatic stop on older model Taser devices, many officers have used it repeatedly or for a prolonged period of time, thus potentially contributing to suspects' injuries or death.Amnesty International's continuing concerns about taser use (in the USA) 2006Excessive and lethal force? Amnesty International's concerns about deaths and ill-treatment involving police use of tasers 30 November 2004 The current X26 model automatically stops five seconds after the trigger is depressed and then the trigger must be depressed again to send another shock. The trigger can be held down continuously for a longer shock or the device can be switched off before the full five seconds have elapsed. The devices have no protections against multiple police officers giving multiple shocks, cumulatively exceeding the recommended maximum levels.
Countermeasures There is a fabric that purports to protect the wearer from Taser devices or other electroshock weapons.
Commercially available varieties
Stun shields Stun shields are shields with electrodes embedded into the face, originally marketed for animal control, that have been adopted for riot control.
Taser
A Taser is a line of handheld conducted energy devices sold by Axon Enterprise, Inc. (formerly Taser International, Inc.). Taser devices fires two small dart-like electrodes which remain connected to the main unit by conductors. It delivers electric current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles resulting in pain and broad "neuromuscular incapacitation"." Neuromuscular Incapacitation (NMI)", Taser International, published March 12, 2007. Retrieved May 19, 2007 International Association of Chiefs of Police, Electro Muscular Disruption Technology: A Nine-Step Strategy for Effective Deployment , 2005
Wireless long-range electric shock weapon
Taser International has developed a long-range wireless electro-shock projectile called XREP (eXtended Range Electro-Muscular Projectile), which can be fired from any 12-gauge shotgun. It contains a small high-voltage battery. Its range is currently , but the U.S. Department of Defense, which funded development for the technology, expected delivery of a range projectile of this type from the company in 2007.TASER International Successfully Demonstrates Wireless TASER(R) eXtended Range Electro-muscular Projectile to Military Officials , PR News. Retrieved December 23, 2007.
An XREP projectile was controversially used by British police during the 2010 Northumbria Police manhunt. It subsequently transpired that the XREP had never been officially approved for use in the United Kingdom and the weapon system was provided unrequested to the police at the scene directly by the civilian company which distributes Taser International's products in the UK. The company's license to provide Taser systems was afterwards revoked by the Home Secretary Theresa May.
Controversies
Because of the use of electricity and the claim of the weapon being non-lethal, controversy has sprouted over particular incidents involving the weapon and the use of the weapon in general. In essence, controversy has been centered on the justification of the use of the weapon in certain instances, and, in some cases, health issues that are claimed to be due to the use of the weapon.