Defend Thyself

1. What are the issues concerning citizen ownership of TASER ECDs?
Citizen ECD Ownership Issues and Q&A.

2. Are TASER electronic control devices considered firearms?
No.  The Bureau of Alchohol, Tobacco and Firearms has stated that TASER ECDs are non-firearms in 1998 and in 1994.

3. What is a TASER C2?
A TASER C2 is a personal safety electronic control device that can stop threats up to 15 feet away.  It works by launching out two probes up to 15 feet from a disposable TASER cartridge.  The probes deliver a scientifically designed electric signal that makes muscles lock up, therefore temporarily incapacitating an attacker for 30 seconds so that you can get to safety and call 911.

4. Is a TASER a lethal weapon?
No. In fact, TASER devices have been proven statistically to dramatically reduce injury rates to suspects and police officers as well as to increase personal safety and community security compared to any other use of force option.  However, TASER devices are not risk free and may cause injuries, primarily from falls or physical exertions, so their use should be taken seriously.

5. Are TASERs more dangerous to people with pacemakers?
Both the human heart and pacemakers are able to withstand the power of a defibrillator that emits around 300 joules ("joolz") of energy.  A TASER emits less than one joule of energy. TASER devices have been used over one million times by either TASER International or law enforcement without causing a single death.

6. Is the TASER C2 the same model that law enforcement  officers  use?
No, law enforcement agencies use the TASER X26 and the ADVANCED TASER M26 that are only available to law enforcement. Those units are capable of recording data useful to officers in court.  The TASER C2 is a consumer model that utilizes the same technology and stopping power in a smaller size.

7. Please describe the required activation background check process / How do you prevent selling a TASER to criminals?
The TASER C2 is shipped out inactive and you will need to pass an identification verifcation a felony background check to get the activation code.  TASER International has taken on the task of screening the purchasers to make sure convicted felons can't activate a TASER C2.  You can do this over the internet or if you don't have a computer, you can do it over the phone and a trained operator will give you the code that is unique to your TASER C2 to unlock it.  Once the TASER C2 is unlocked, you will never need to do it again but there is a $9.95 activation fee that is good for up to ten units.
  
8. What are AFID tags?
AFID stands for Anti-Felon IDentification tags.  Each cartridge contains 20-30 of small, confetti-like tags that have the serial number of the TASER cartridge imprinted on them.  If a TASER device is misused, the police will find these tags and can use them to identify the owner of the TASER device that was used.
  
9. Is it legal to carry a TASER?
Yes, but there are some limitations. You cannot carry any TASER device on an airplane (it must be in your checked in luggage) or take them into public buildings like courtrooms or in some schools. If you are over the age of 18, they can be legally possessed in 43 states.  You currently cannot possess a TASER device in DC, HI, MA, MI, NJ, NY, RI and WI, as well as a few cities like Annapolis, Baltimore, Chicago, and Philadelphia.  Some restirctions apply to CT and IL  Please check your local laws before purchasing or carrying any type of electronic control device.

10. Are there any restrictions to fly or travel internationally with a TASER?
When traveling by air, TASER devices need to be placed in your checked bags and not carried on the plane. Also, do not try to take it out of the country - please leave it at home if you are traveling abroad. Please check with your airline or other carrier for any new guidelines in advance of traveling.
  
11. Is using a TASER similar to shooting a gun?
Not exactly.  There isn't a kick or recoil with a TASER device but you will hear a loud pop like a balloon popping.
  
12. How many times can I use a cartridge?
The  TASER C2 comes with one TASER cartridge.  As each TASER cartridge can only be used once, you may want to consider purchasing additional cartridges.
  
13. How does the TASER shoot out the probes?
The TASER cartridge uses compressed and inert nitrogen to launch out the probes.  The TASER cartridge is a one-time use system and delivers the probes and AFID tags at approximately 100 MPH.
  
14. What if I miss my target?
The end of the TASER C2 can also act as a powerful contact stun device which is a powerful backup capability.
  
15. What is the Lifetime Replacement Guarantee?
In the event you use the TASER C2 to defend yourself you can set the device down and run to safety. If the TASER C2 is stolen during your use of it for self-defense, file a police report and send a copy to TASER International for a free replacement unit.  Your life is worth more than the cost of a TASER C2.
  
16. Does it work on animals?
Law enforcement officers have successfully incapacitated vicious animals with various TASER systems.  The TASER C2 was designed for human use which is why the probes are deployed vertically. Most animals bodies are horizontal to the ground meaning you will have to adjust the way you hold the device in order to get both probes to hit your target.
  
17. Is there a money-back guarantee?
The TASER C2 comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee less shipping and handling on unactivated units. Once you've activated and registered the TASER C2, we are unable to issue a refund.
  
18. Is there a warranty?
Every TASER C2 comes with a 90-day warranty that ensures that the TASER C2 is free of defects in workmanship or materials for 90 days from the point of attempted activation.  You may also purchase a one or three year "No Questions Asked" warranty during the activation process that guarantees TASER International will repair or replace any TASER C2 that fails to function for any reason for the length of the warranty.

19. How Does A TASER Work?
Upon firing, compressed nitrogen projects two TASER probes 15 feet at a speed of 135 feet per second. An electrical signal transmits throughout the region where the probes make contact with the body or clothing. The result is an instant loss of the attacker’s neuromuscular control and any ability to perform coordinated action. TASER uses an automatic timing mechanism to apply the electric charge. The TASER releases an electric current in a preset time sequence (The TASER C2 has a 30 second cycle and the TASER M18 has a 5 second cycle). This cycle ensures that the nervous system of the target does not recover instantly to allow him to remove the probes. The follow-on bursts disrupt the process of re-equilibration of the nervous system. While the target is disabled, the user can place the device on the ground and escape.

20. How Can The Advanced TASER Be So Effective Yet Non-Injurious?
The TASER does not depend upon impact or body penetration to achieve its effect. Its pulsating electrical output interferes with communication between the brain and the muscular system, resulting in loss of control. However, the TASER is nondestructive to nerves, muscles and other body elements. It simply affects them in their natural mode. More importantly, no deaths have ever been directly attributed to the TASER .

21. What Has Testing Revealed Regarding The Advanced TASER?
Anesthesiologist and specialist in medical electronics, Dr. Frank Summers, MD of St. Joseph’s Hospital, Orange, California, directed tests of volunteers at St. Joseph’s in 1971 and 1974. Dr. Summers stated, "...We undertook this [volunteer test] in the operating rooms at St. Joseph’s Hospital. We had an assembly of cardiovascular surgeons, cardiologists... we had a real [TASER]. We tested extensively and made movies. The tests were impressive. We monitored all parameters of physiology, including electrocardiographs. The tests did not produce any lethal effects and we found that the background work that had been done did indeed pan out in practice."

22. Does The TASER Affect The Heart Or A Cardiac Pacemaker?
The Taser’s output is well below the level established as "safe" by the federal government in approving such devices as the electrified cattle fence. In a medical study of the Model XR 5000Ô electronic stun gun, Dr. Robert Stratbucker of the University of Nebraska Medical Center confirmed that the T-Wave does not interrupt the heartbeat or damage a pacemaker. Any modern pacemaker is designed to withstand electrical defibrillator pulses that are hundreds of times stronger than the Taser’s output. The TASER current of 0.3 joules is well below the 10-50 joule threshold above which cardiac ventricular fibrillation can occur.

23. Isn’t High Voltage Lethal?
High voltage, in itself, is not dangerous. One can receive a 25,000-volt shock of static electricity from a doorknob on a dry day without harm. The physiological effect of electrical shock is determined by: the current, its duration, and the power source that produces the shock. The typical household current of 110 volts is dangerous because it can pump many amperes of current throughout the body indefinitely. By contrast, the TASER power supply consists of 8 AA batteries that are capable of supplying less than three watts of electrical power for a few minutes.

24. Will The TASER Cause Electrocution?
No. The output is metered by the electronics and the electrical energy in each pulse is always the same, regardless of the target condition. The electrical output will not be transferred from one person to another even if they touch. TASER, Inc.’s president has been stunned by an TASER while standing in water to emphasize this point.

25. What Are The After Effects?
A person hit with an TASER will feel dazed for several minutes. The pulsating electrical output causes involuntary muscle contractions and a resulting sense of vertigo. It can momentarily stun or render an attacker unconscious. Yet, the Taser’s low electrical amperage and short duration of pulsating current, ensures a non-lethal charge. Moreover, it does not cause permanent damage or long-term aftereffects to muscles, nerves or other body functions. A January 1987 Annals of Emergency Medicine study reported TASER technology leaves no long term injuries compared with 50% long term injuries for gun shot injuries.

26. Must The Probes Penetrate The Body To Be Effective?
No. The electrical current will "jump" up to two inches as long as both probes are attached to clothing or skin. At most, only the 3/8-inch needlepoint will penetrate the skin. They have less energy than a spring propelled BB.

27. What If The Probes Miss?
The TASER can be used in a touch-stun mode. The user is thus provided with a final backup if the probes miss the target. Should the user miss or engage a second attacker, he can touch the unit directly to the target and it will work like a powerful touch-stun device.

28. What Is The Best-Shot At Maximum Range?
As long as the spread of the probes is at least six inches, the TASER will be extremely effective. To ensure that the spread is greater than six inches, the TASER should be fired at a target several feet away. The optimum shot is from seven to ten feet away form the target to achieve maximum effect. At seven to ten feet away - the spread of the probes will be approximately 16 inches, ensuring that the target receives the most efficient T-Wave flow.

29. Does Temperature Have A Detrimental Effect On The Advanced TASER?
No. The TASER utilizes compressed nitrogen (an inert gas). The TASER compressed air capsules have successfully held their charges at temperatures of minus 20º F and up to 160º F. Moreover, altitude will not adversely effect the firing of an TASER. In addition, the temperature will not effect the T-Wave. However, as with any product containing polycarbonates and other thermoplastics, the TASER and Air Cartridges should never be left in direct sunlight.