Tasers: Safety, Effectiveness, and the Debate Over Bans

Largely viewed as a nonlethal means of subduing suspects, Tasers have been called into question on their safety many times, with reports of people suffering adverse reactions to being Tasered and even dying shortly afterward. Discouraging as that sounds, however, the pros of using Tasers far outweigh the cons.

Injury

• Tasers rarely cause serious harm, with superficial neck, eye and scar injuries usually being the worst a suspect has to worry about. Chances of cardiac arrest are also very limited, with most Tasers producing electrical currents 30 times weaker than those used in operating rooms. Taser International, which provides most Tasers used by police departments across the country, has reported that Tasers actually help suspects, reducing their injuries by 79 percent and sparing 9,000 lives, preventing officers from having to use brute force.

Other Means

• Using guns and batons to take down suspects is more likely to cause permanent injury or death than Tasering them. Tasers are a faster and less deadly alternative to shooting or beating down those taken into custody.

Officer Injuries

• Because officers using Tasers seldom have to use physical force, their chances of injury decrease. According to the "Ventura County Star," only 24 deputies were injured in the county in 2006, a drop from 37 in 2005, as a direct result of the use of Tasers.

Cost

• Tasers are smaller and lighter than guns, making them a more cost-effective measure.