Home Invasion!

In York, Pa, a city close to mine, a man broke into a home at 1:30am, shot the homeowner and took a car, police said.

Connie Cooper, 64, was working in her office and heard a noise and went downstairs to find a man wearing gloves and a ski mask downstairs, police said. 

She alerted her husband, 66-year-old William Cooper, who was sleeping upstairs, police said. He came down, struggled with the man and was shot in the chest.

William Cooper is in critical condition at York Hospital.

After he was shot, his wife locked herself in her office. The intruder broke down the door and demanded her car keys. She gave the man her purse and he made his getaway in the family’s blue Hyundai Elantra.

The article also states that the stolen card was found in Maryland and towed back to the York crime lab. The man is still on the loose. The police said they think the break in was random.

This type of crime occurs every day somewhere. What would have caused a better outcome in this case?  Let’s say instead of coming down and grappling with the man, he used his TASER that he keeps in his bedroom and shot the intruder with it at a distance of about 12 feet. The man would have gone down immediately, he would have called the police who would have arrested the man and taken him away. No shot husband.

Let’s say the husband instead had a high voltage stun gun on his night table. He goes downstairs, grapples with the intruder and immediately stuns the man in the neck, in the ribs, anywhere and everywhere he could. When the man goes down, the man grabs the gun. While his wife calls the police, he stands next to the incapacitated man, stunning him whenever he attempts to focus.

Let’s suppose the husband had neither of these self defense items.  But he did have ultra hot pepper spray under the bed which he quickly retrieved. From a distance of 8 feet, he sprays the intruder in the face. The man gasps, his hand go to his eyes but he can’t rub them clear. In essence, he is temporarily blind. They call the police who take the intruder away. The husband is safe, the wife has her purse and the car is in the garage.

Nothing more needs to be said. Stun guns and pepper spray and safe effective and inexpensive self defense product. Consumer model TASERs are more sophisticated and cost more but have a virtually 100% sure and quick take down power. That’s why police use them. 

Stun Gun Supply is proud to help Americans exercise their God given right to self defense.

Tasers Get Postive Press.

Two recent studies claim the use of TASERs is safe, within limits. First the National Institute of Justice released a 74-page report that states that there is no medical evidence showing the devices pose a significant risk for cardiac arrest in humans when they are deployed reasonably.

"All evidence suggests that the use of CEDs carries with it a risk as low or lower than most alternatives," the report says, adding that the decision to use stun guns is best left up to trained law enforcers at the crime scene.

In a second study, researchers surveyed agencies across the country about use-of-force issues. They found that Tasers, which deliver muscle-convulsing pulses of electricity through darts shot from a gun, can reduce injuries.
Findings from the studies will help law enforcement make decisions about using stun guns, the NIJ said.

TASER® International Pre-Packages C2 Tasers

TASER International has re-configured their popular C2® TASER line to make it an even better value.

All colors in the C2 line now come as kits.  The Gold C2 TASER line includes the TASER C2, two live cartridges, one blue training cartridge,  a soft holster (39009) and a practice target. Red continues to be our best selling color.

The top-of-the-line Platinum line consists of four live cartridges, one training cartridge, a soft holster (39009), one blue training cartridge, a practice target, and a training manual.

Before, TASER sold the C2 TASERs with only one cartridge included. Buyers would frequently add  extra cartridges and a holster. Now the TASER comes with a complement of add-ons at an all-in-one price that betters the previous cost.

The black TASER is also available in a Basic Kit as model 31014. This includes one live cartridge and one blue training cartridge. By including only the basics, TASER can sell this product at a suggested price of only $379.99 which is a very attractive price point.

All C2 TASERs now come with an integrated laser sight and an LED light. 

TASER® And The Models

The TASER® is a type of stun gun that rapidly takes down an assailant with almost 100% effectiveness. It does this by sending two darts to the target. These probes are attached to the gun by two thin electrical wires. When the user presses the trigger, the probes rapidly fire and send an electrical charge through the wires. The perpetrator goes down quickly with almost 100% effectiveness. The product works by overwhelming a person's sensory and motor functions. When used responsibly, the product is safe with a low incidence of injury.

Note: TASER International prefers the term Electronic Control Device (ECD) to describe the TASER. Many people, including members of the media, often confuse the terms "stun gun" and "TASER").

TASER® began as a company in 1993 and focused on citizen models to deter personal assaults. In 1999, the company brought to the market the M series TASER models which fine tuned the electrical pulse to more effectively incapacitate the target's neuromuscular system. The Advanced TASER M26 (26 watt) model became the first successful ergonomically shaped device to find favor with law enforcement personnel. These and others involved with security found that an aggressive and uncooperative individual could often be subdued and apprehended without the incident escalating to a lethal force situation. Cartridge ranges are available up to 35 feet.

Citizens concerned with personal safety were offered their own M version, the M18 (18 watts). Although not quite as sophisticated or powerful as the police model, the TASER M18 was a successful product. The M-18 was sold without a laser sight, the M-18L included the aiming aid. The device was powered by eight AA batteries with a maximum firing range of 15 feet.

In 2003, the company released the X-26 model. This police model is 60% smaller in size and weight than the M-26. To accomplish this, TASER engineers managed to re-shape the pulse wave so the gun required less power to operate. While the M-26 needed 26 watts of power, the X-26 needs only 5 watts. This "shaped pulse" technology is 25% more effective than the M-26 and better penetrates clothing. The unit requires a lithium power pack. Police departments laud the seven ounce weight that make carrying the unit in its holster much more comfortable than the previous model. Among the advanced features are a Central Information Display (CID) which indicates countdown timer during an activation, battery level and warranty information. A strong night time light has been integrated into the unit.

TASER International claims that 11,000 law enforcement agencies worldwide use TASER devices. But the company hasn't forgotten the individual consumer. The TASER® C2™ is a newer model designed specifically with the female user in mind. The model is stylishly ergonomic making it easier to hold by even small hands. The C2 shoots up to 15 feet and uses a lithium power pack that the company claims is good for 50 firings. The TASER C2 is available in five colors at a lower price than any previous model.

What's new for TASER International? The company is concentrating on audio-video surveillance products. It has been marketing the TASER® CAM™ as an attachment to the TASER X-26. It can record audio and video as the officer sees it. The new TASER®™ Axion™ is a stand-alone audio video system that an officer can wear while discharging his duties. It fits around the head and records the officers view of his surroundings. The company says that law enforcement officers constantly face false allegations and complaints that question their integrity and honor. TASER says that the officer will now have the ability to show administrators and even jurors exactly what he or she saw.

As TASER International fazes out its M-18 consumer line, the newest citizen model X26C takes its place.* Designed around the X-26 police model, the X-26C shares many of its design features. The consumer model comes in choices of yellow, black and clear body parts. The model uses cartridges that shoot up to 15 feet and uses the X-26 long life powering system. It also borrows the Central Information Display and the night light from the police model. This model is as much an advance from the M-18 as the X-28 from the M-26.

TASER devices are not considered firearms by the US Government. They can be legally carried (concealed or open) without a permit required in 43 states. Prohibited citizen use in DC, HI, MA, MI, NJ, NY, RI, WI, IL certain cities and counties. CT require a valid firearm license. Make sure you check local laws before purchasing or carrying electronic control devices including stun guns.

*X-26C TASER® should be in stock shortly.

TASER In The Media

We've written about TASER® guns before. We're surprised they cause so much media fueled controversy. More US and Canadian police departments are using them to good effect. It's another tool for police officers who are called upon to defuse out-of-control situations. Yes, some officers in the heat of a stressful situation will use the TASER inappropriately. A certain percentage of officers miss-use their firearms too but that causes needless loss of life.

A recent article in the Winston-Salem Journal on-line brought this home. In part it says,

"As the Winston-Salem City Council decides whether police officers should have Taser stun guns, it should consider the experience that the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office has had with them. Deputies have been using the electroshock weapons for about two years now, often when they're outnumbered in fights, whether in the jail or the schools, said Sheriff Bill Schatzman. The weapons protect the officers and the public, he said. It's better than using a baton or pepper spray, he said, because "it's surgical in deployment."

The article sites a recent case at the Mount Tabor High School when Deputy Tracy Steen used an electric shock weapon. He was trying to break up a fight in the cafeteria between two students where one refused to calm down, according to the sheriff's office. Tables were overturned, one landing on an innocent bystander.

After the incident was over, sentiment was overwhelming on the side of the police officer. That's weapons jargon for saying that the stun guns, if used properly, don't hit innocent bystanders. That apparently was the case just over a week ago at Mount Tabor High School when Deputy Tracy Steen used a stun gun. He was trying to break up a fight in the cafeteria between two students when one of them refused to calm down, according to the sheriff's office.

Many of the e-mails in response to Journal stories about the fight have supported the deputy. One e-mailer said that when she heard about the incident at her daughter's school, "my first reaction was concern about the use of Tasers in schools. But then my daughter came home from school and told me what she saw.... Tables were overturned, one landed on top of an innocent bystander.... This incident could have escalated into a tragedy...."

We don't condone the indiscriminate use of the TASER®. It's a tool. It can be used or miss-used. Users must be educated to the proper use of the device.

A couple additional comments: Notice how the media confuses stun guns and TASER® products! Even in the article quoted above, there is a mention of the device as stun gun. There is no such thing as a taser stun gun. TASER International disapproves of that appellation. A stun gun is a hand held device with two attached electrodes. The device must be held to the individual while the user presses the button. A TASER device projects two probes with two thin electrical wires attached that fly through the air to land on the perpetrator. The electrical charge is sent through the wires.

Also, TASER is not spelled TAZER. TAZER get almost as many hits on Google As TASER!

Police Take Aim For More Stun Guns

That was the headline in a recent Edmonton Sun newspaper article. It reports a Canadian police agency's view that conducted energy weapons are not harmful and cannot be traced to any death. Here is the article in part:


Police groups want to arm more officers with stun guns while opposition MPs renew calls to restrict use of the controversial weapons.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Police Association appeared in Ottawa yesterday to convince the public stun guns are essential tools that save lives.

"We are here to address the inaccurate and incomplete information that is circulating in the public related to the use of conducted energy weapons by police," said Thomas Kaye, vice-president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

"There is no evidence, either scientific or medical, that a conducted energy weapon has been the direct cause of death anywhere, at any time, on any person."


Our view:

We don't have the oversight that a police bureau would have in assessing stun gun and TASER usage and their effects. We can make the following points:

1. The media often confuses stun guns and TASERs as though they are one. Stun guns must be administered directly to a person's skin or clothing to be effective. TASERs emit two darts on tethered electrified wires that attaches on to a person's clothing or skin from a distance of 15-25 feet, depending on the model. Both emit a similar low amperage high voltage charge. It is the low amperage that makes these non-lethal and allows the general public to buy TASERs for self-defense.

2. In the highly charged atmosphere of a police-perpetrator encounter, adrenaline flows are high. This results in occasional over-zealous use of weaponry, both in firearms and so called non-lethal weapons such as stun guns, TASER and pepper spray. To think otherwise is not realistic.

3. In this same charged atmosphere, the perpetrator is sometimes agitated and out-of-control, high on stimulant drugs or sometimes simply delusional and acting wildly and inappropriately. This makes that person more susceptible to medical emergencies of the heart and nervous system when these conducted energy weapons are applied.

4. Any impartial reading of the data suggests one conclusion: TASERs have gained overwhelming acceptance in the western world's police agencies. It is the preferred alternative to lethal force in subduing an out-of-control suspect in many situations. Like anything, it not not 100% safe in all conditions. It must be used with restraint and with good judgment.

Carlisle, PA - Taser a Success

Here's one that almost got by us. And this is in our own back yard! The Carlisle PA Sentinal July 22 article quotes the Carlisle Police Department who said that after several years of use, the Taser gun can be termed a success.

Staff writer Heather Stauffer quotes Lt. Mike Dzezinski who said, "By the end of 2007, Carlisle recorded more than 140 Taser deployments, ranging from times when officers obtained compliance merely by displaying the laser sight and warning people to incidents in which they actually fired the probes." He continues,

“We’ve had deployments on everything from fleeing felons to public drunk arrestees who wanted to fight,” Dzezinski said. “The biggest benefit of the Taser is it gives us a gap between us and the bad guy.”

This comes on the heels of a Pennsylvania State Police announcement that it considered troopers first six months of Taser use a success. Before equipping 3,000 troopers with Tasers at the beginning of this year, state police Commissioner Jeffrey Miller said, state police conducted a two-year study. The results they are seeing reinforce the belief that “the Taser provides an excellent option to the use of deadly force,” Miller said.

That Tasers deliver 50,000 volts has been widely reported, Dzezinski said, but many people don’t realize the amperage of the weapon is what really matters.

“The amperage is very, very low in the Taser,” Dzezinski said, placing it at 0.0036 amps, “actually lower than the socket of a Christmas tree bulb.”

The majority of Carlisle officers have taken voluntary Taser exposures to understand what people experience when they fire the probes, Dzezinski said.