Stun Guns: Their History and Future

(The stun guns described below are not TASERs. Although a TASER® may be called a type of stun gun, it is different enough in design to be excluded here.)

Beginnings

The history of the stun gun is not a single birth but a series of developments. Electric cattle prods have been used since the 1940s to motivate cattle to go where the rancher wants them to go. There are numerous patents during the 1970s concerning devices designed to influence animals and repel sharks. During the same period, a couple of patents were issued for stunning devices designed to help patrolmen arrest suspects and control crowds. It's unclear if any of these devices were manufactured in this time frame as described.

An early stun baton design is detailed in 1975 patent number 3917268, "Spark gap type electric shock-producing prod" which describes a device close to the modern device. The summary says in part,"An electric shock-producing prod, usable by cattlemen, law enforcement officials, and others, wherein the electrical or electronic circuitry therein consists of a battery-powered oscillator having a coupled output provided with a series-connected spark gap...the oscillator can and will continue to run with the electric-shock contacts of the prod in engagement with the intended, recalcitrant object."

The earliest compact stun gun of conventional design is detailed in patent number US3722788 published March 1973. It describes a small battery operated device of high voltage and low amperage, designed to be worn on the person. Interestingly, this device featured prods that can be extended several inches for easier application.

While previous patents were issued to Americans, two patents in 1989 were awarded to inventors in Taiwan. The one looks much like a modern stun gun. The other is designed more like a pistol with a flashlight, strobe and siren on board. It's not known if either design went into production.


Recent Times

It's only been in the last several years that stun guns have hit the news and captured the public's attention. The media is quick to sensationalize stun gun mishaps as perceived safety concerns about stun guns in general. The media might not appreciate that thee devices are not gun shaped at all but rather rectangle appliances that are rather benign in appearance. The amperage of a typical stun gun is quite low, only a few milliamps at best. Voltage is limited by a device's applied voltage and size, typically in the form of one or several 9 volt batteries (or 3 volt lithium cells). Although effective in application, stun guns are not the super powerful weapons that their advertised high voltages would suggest.

There have been occasional news reports of law enforcement officers causing a captive's death by using a stun gun. Investigation usually turns up inappropriate beatings and attacks against the inmate much more likely to cause death. Police who use these devices are usually trying to subdue out of control individuals who are frequently on high stimulant drugs. These individuals may go quite berserk when facing apprehension and restraint. If that person suffers a cardiac arrest, did the stun gun really cause it or was it one of several participating factors?

Are Stun Guns Effective?

Common sense would say yes, a stun gun is an effective crime deterrent. But scientific verification is scarce. Various video sites feature young men stunning their friends. Reactions are quick and most participants drop to their knees with accompanying cries and yelps. The internet itself is awash with scary sounding police incidents and promotional efforts by internet stun gun vendors. It is recognized that for this product to be effective, the batteries must be fresh and the device must remain in contact with the assailant's skin or clothing, preferably for several seconds or more. Whether an attacker would sit still for this administration is a question impossible to answer. It is known that some assailants will run away when confronted with the zapping and sparking from an activated stun gun even before the appliance has been applied.

The Future of Stun Guns

Stun guns have gotten more powerful in recent years. Indeed, marketers are advertising voltages up to one million volts and beyond. Take these readings with a grain of salt especially if these new models use the same battery power as lower powered ones. Besides, stun guns are a non-lethal crime deterrent and they should stay that way.

Two new designs that offer a more secure grip have recently appeared on the market. The ZAPTD Double Trouble stun gun features a slim vertical design with a handle grip not unlike a joystick. The electrodes protrude at either end with five inches between them. This creates a larger shock potential of 1.2 million volts, claims the manufacturer.

The ZAPBK950 Knuckle Blaster stun gun features a black molded design with a wrap-around grip similar to brass knuckles. The device has a soft rubber skin and is sized to accommodate all hand sizes. The manufacturer claims 950,000 volts of power.

Crimes against person and property rise in a falling economy. Predictably, sales of stun guns have taken an uptick in recent months. A stun gun remains a viable and easier alternative to handguns. Stun guns are legal in most states and require no licensing. They are effective with a sustained application may be challenging in a real encounter. Perhaps a totally new technology will be invented that provides a quick sure knock down punch on any size assailant. Higher powered devices, however, could be a double edged sword for consumers. If the device becomes too powerful, it would likely be heavily regulated and reserved for law enforcement only.