Alec Titan
Tasers are electrical control devices used by law enforcement to subdue resistant suspects without physical contact or the use of firearms. They are designed to incapacitate a person by emitting electric pulses that match those used by neurons, which transfer information between the brain and muscles. When a taser is deployed, it sends a signal to the muscles, causing them to contract uncontrollably and immobilizing the subject. This can be understood as a disruption of the electrical signals between the brain and the muscles, leading to a loss of muscle control. While tasers are considered less-lethal weapons, there have been concerns and controversies regarding their safety and ethical implications, with some authorities and organizations questioning the potential for serious injury or death when they are used.
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What You'll Learn
How tasers work: electricity sent to muscle fibres
The TASER is a "less-lethal" weapon that uses electrical current to temporarily incapacitate subjects by inducing involuntary muscle contractions, also known as neuromuscular incapacitation (NMI). When a TASER is deployed, its prongs deliver electricity directly into the muscle fibres, causing them to contract uncontrollably. This results in the body "freezing up" or "locking up rigid".
TASERs work by emitting electrical pulses that match the natural frequency and strength of the neurons that transmit information between the brain and muscles. This highjacks the central nervous system, which controls the muscles, and overrides the brain's control of the body. The electrical pulses from the TASER flood the nerves and drown out normal signals, leading to uncoordinated muscle movements and random contractions.
The TASER's ability to disrupt the electrical signals between the brain and muscles can be understood through an analogy. Imagine two people having a conversation over the phone. Suddenly, a third person joins the call and begins speaking loudly, disrupting the conversation and preventing the other two from understanding each other. This is similar to how a TASER interrupts the signals between the brain and muscles, causing a loss of control and coordination.
It is important to note that TASERs do not electrocute subjects. The amount of current delivered by TASERs is far below the amount needed to electrocute someone. Additionally, the human body has protective mechanisms, such as the skin and soft tissue, which provide high resistance to electricity and reduce the current that reaches vital organs like the heart. However, there have been concerns and reports of serious injuries and deaths associated with TASER use, leading to debates about their safety and ethical implications.
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Tasers and the central nervous system: hijacking the brain's control
The TASER is a "less-lethal" weapon, with the possibility of serious injury or death always present when deployed. It is a brand of conducted electroshock weapon sold by Axon, formerly TASER International.
TASER energy weapons use electrical current to temporarily incapacitate subjects by inducing neuromuscular incapacitation, or NMI. When a TASER weapon is deployed and connects with the body, it sends a signal to the muscles, telling them to flex. This is the same technology used in off-the-shelf muscle stimulators for rehab and muscle therapy. The amount of current delivered in this signal is extremely low, far below the amount needed to electrocute someone.
The prongs of a TASER send electricity directly into muscle fibres, causing them to contract uncontrollably. However, this is not the whole story. TASER International states that a TASER incapacitates a person by hijacking the central nervous system, which controls our muscles. It achieves this by emitting electric pulses that match those used by neurons, which transfer information between the brain and muscles. When these nerves are flooded with pulses that are similar to their natural frequency and strength, normal signals get drowned out and muscles contract uncontrollably.
The continuous electrical current from a TASER interrupts nerve signals from the brain to the body. With a lack of signals, the muscles tense up until the brain tells them to do otherwise. This can be thought of as a disrupted telephone conversation. Two people, representing the brain and muscles, are able to have a constructive chat as long as their voices are clearly transmitted between receivers. But the smooth exchange falls apart when an intrusive third party gets on the phone line and begins to blab away.
Critics of TASERs, like Amnesty International and The American Civil Liberties Union, have linked these weapons to unjustifiable in-custody deaths. A 2012 study published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation found that TASERs can cause "ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac arrest and even death". However, other studies have supported the use of TASERs as a safe and effective means of law enforcement.
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Safety concerns: the possibility of serious injury or death
While tasers are considered a less-lethal weapon, there is still a possibility of serious injury or death whenever the weapon is deployed. Critics of tasers, including Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union, have linked these weapons to in-custody deaths. In 2012, Amnesty International documented over 500 deaths that occurred after the use of tasers. Additionally, at least 49 people died in 2018 in the US alone after being shocked by police with a taser.
Tasers work by sending electrical currents into the muscle fibers, causing involuntary contractions of the muscles. This can lead to a "freezing up" or "locking up" of the body. The electrical current can also interrupt nerve signals from the brain to the body, resulting in a loss of muscle control. While taser currents typically don't reach the heart, there is still a risk of serious injury or death, especially for individuals with medical conditions or those who use illegal drugs.
One safety concern with tasers is the potential for repeated, extended, or continuous exposure. Axon, the company that sells tasers, has identified an increased risk associated with prolonged exposure, recommending that total exposure should not exceed 15 seconds. However, in one study, researchers tased 34 healthy subjects for 15 continuous seconds to investigate the potential for deadly harm. While the study found that tasers could be used safely and effectively by law enforcement, it's important to note that prolonged exposure increases the risk of serious injury or death.
Another safety concern is the potential for needlestick injuries during taser dart removal. If the probes are not immediately pulled off after a person has been tasered, there is a risk of superficial burns or small puncture wounds on the skin. Additionally, if an individual is exposed to bloodborne diseases during dart removal, they may contract infections such as HIV, hepatitis B or C, or other bloodborne pathogens.
While tasers are designed to temporarily incapacitate individuals without causing long-term harm, there is still a possibility of serious injury or death in some cases. It is important for law enforcement and other users to be aware of the potential risks associated with taser use and to deploy them responsibly and ethically.
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Taser models: pulse mode and drive-stun mode
Tasers are a brand of conducted energy device (CED) that primarily function by incapacitating people through an intense electric shock. This shock temporarily overrides the brain's control of the body by disrupting nerve signals and causing involuntary muscle contractions.
Taser International, now known as Axon, has developed several models of Tasers, including the Taser TF-76, Air Taser 34000, and the Advanced Taser Electro-Muscular Disruption system. The latter, introduced in 2001, features a stronger charge that reaches and synchronizes with motor nerves in deep muscle tissue, inducing sustained muscle contractions or tetanus.
One of the models available for civilian use is the Taser Pulse, which can immobilize an attacker for up to 30 seconds, providing an opportunity for escape. It has a 15-foot range and features built-in laser-assisted targeting for accuracy. The Pulse can be used as a shooting stun gun or a contact stun gun for close encounters.
Another model is the Taser X26, which utilizes shaped pulse technology. A study on the Taser X26 estimated its average current pulse at 1 ampere and concluded that it was the proximity of the heart to the electrodes and the short duration of the pulse that prevented heart muscle stimulation.
Taser models also include the drive-stun mode, which is a "pain compliance" tool that causes localized pain without significantly affecting the central nervous system. This mode does not incapacitate the subject but can assist in taking them into custody. Amnesty International has expressed concern about this mode, stating that its potential for multiple and prolonged shocks renders the weapons open to abuse.
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The human body: protective mechanisms against tasers
The human body has protective mechanisms against Tasers, which are "electrical control devices" used by law enforcement to subdue resistant suspects without physical contact or the use of firearms.
Firstly, the human body's skin provides high resistance to electricity, reducing the current that enters the body. This is further supported by the soft tissue that surrounds muscles and organs like the heart, which also reduces the current. For example, a current applied to the arm will be reduced to 0.001% of its original signal by the time it reaches the heart. Tasers have a 2-milliamp current, and it takes at least 1,000 milliamps (1 amp) to injure muscles, nerves, and the heart.
Additionally, Tasers do not appear to trigger the release of creatine kinase, a muscle enzyme associated with muscle cell damage. While current research has shown that Taser-induced muscle contractions cause a small increase in creatine kinase, it does not appear to pose a direct risk for rhabdomyolysis, a condition that can lead to kidney failure.
Furthermore, the duration of the pulse in Tasers is very short, allowing the heart to return to its baseline state before the next pulse. The larger time constant for the heart muscle compared to skeletal muscles also helps prevent stimulation of the heart. According to a 2007 study, there is only a 0.4% chance of heart muscle stimulation among the general population, even with optimal electrode placement.
However, it is important to note that Tasers are not completely risk-free. While they are considered less-lethal weapons, there is still a possibility of serious injury or death when they are deployed. Critics of Tasers, including Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union, have linked these weapons to unjustifiable in-custody deaths. In 2012, Amnesty International documented over 500 deaths that occurred after Taser use, and a study published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation found that Tasers can cause ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac arrest, and even death.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, tasers lock your muscles by sending electrical signals to your muscles, causing them to contract uncontrollably.
Tasers emit electric pulses that match those used by neurons, which transfer information between the brain and muscles. When these nerves are flooded with similar pulses, normal signals from the brain get drowned out and muscles contract uncontrollably.
When a taser connects with the body, it sends a signal to the muscles telling them to flex and contract involuntarily, immobilizing the subject.
While tasers are considered less-lethal weapons, there is a possibility of serious injury or death whenever they are deployed. Critics of tasers have linked these weapons to unjustifiable in-custody deaths.
The amount of current delivered by a taser is extremely low, far below the amount needed to electrocute someone. A single Christmas tree light bulb outputs more than 100 times more current than a taser.
