Tasers subject their victims to a 50,000 volt shock followed by 100 microsecond pulses of 1,200 volts. In theory, a Taser is intended to serve as a non-lethal method of control for law enforcement.
Since 2001, more than 500 people in the United States have died after law enforcement officers used this weapon against them. A study published by the American Heart Association’s Circulation Journal confirms that the misuse of a Taser can cause sudden cardiac arrest and death.
In the UK there have been three taser-related deaths since the stun-guns were first brought into widespread use in 2005. A Channel Four investigation found that the frequency with which UK police officers are using their new kit is growing, highlighting that the number of taser discharges in the UK has risen collectively amongst forces by 70% from the previous year. The Daily Mail recently reported how police repeatedly tasered a terrified Alzheimer's sufferer because he didn't want to go into care.
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