HOW CAN THE AIR TASER® Weapon BE SO EFFECTIVE YET
NON-INJURIOUS? The AIR TASER® Weapon 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 AIR TASER® Weapon is
non-destructive 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(R) .
WHAT HAS TESTING REVEALED REGARDING THE AIR TASER?
Anesthesiologist and specialist in medical electronics, Dr. Frank Summers, MD of St.
Josephs Hospital, Orange, California, directed tests of volunteers at St.
Josephs in 1971 and 1974. Dr. Summers stated, "...We undertook this [volunteer
test] in the operating rooms at St. Josephs 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."
DOES THE TASER® Weapon AFFECT THE HEART OR A CARDIAC
PACEMAKER? The AIR TASERs 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 AIR
TASERs output. The AIR TASER® Weapon current of 0.3 joules is well below the 10-50 joule
threshold above which cardiac ventricular fibrillation can occur.
ISNT 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 AIR TASER
power supply consists of an alkaline 9-Volt battery that is capable of supplying less than
three watts of electrical power for a few minutes.
WILL THE TASER® Weapon 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. AIR TASER, Inc.s president has been
stunned by an AIR TASER® Weapon while standing in water to emphasize this point.
WHAT ARE THE AFTEREFFECTS? A person hit with
an AIR TASER® Weapon 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 AIR TASERs low electrical amperage and
short duration of pulsating current, ensures a less-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.
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.
WHAT IF THE PROBES MISS? The AIR TASER® Weapon 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.
CAN THE AIR TASER® Weapon CAUSE FIRE? Yes. The AIR
TASER® Weapon will not ignite standard solids or even black gunpowder. However, the spark from an
AIR TASER® Weapon can ignite some flammable liquids, vapors, or sensitive explosives. The AIR
TASER® Weapon should not be used anywhere that cigarettes are forbidden for fire safety reasons.
The AIR TASER® Weapon should never be used on anyone who has been sprayed with an alcohol based
chemical spray including some alcohol based pepper sprays -- which could ignite.
WHAT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF EYE INJURY FROM THE AIR
TASER? The AIR TASER® Weapon should always be aimed at the attackers chest or back,
since both probes need to hit some part of the body to be effective. The torso provides
the largest surface area to hit. The AIR TASER® Weapon should never be aimed toward an
attackers face. This is a serious self-defense device and should be treated as
such. Moreover, putting any sharp object into an eye is potentially dangerous.
HOW WILL THE AIR TASER® Weapon PREVENT CRIMINAL USE?
AIR TASER, Inc.s corporate mission is to ensure technology can play a positive role
in our society. To that end, an Anti-Felon Identification (AFID) system is used so
criminal use of the AIR TASER® Weapon can be traced from evidence dispersed by the device itself
to provide the exact identification of the Air Cartridge purchaser. No other
self-protection device in the world -- guns, chemical and pepper sprays, touch-stun
devices or batons -- can be traced from evidence at the scene of the crime directly to the
registration of the user.
WILL THE PROBES STICK TO BULLETPROOF VESTS?
Yes. Bulletproof vests are made specifically to stop only bullets and gun shot projectiles
-- not knives or sharp devices such as syringe needles. Should the probes attach to
clothing in front of the soft body armor, the T-Wave can penetrate with near full-effect.
Although most bulletproof vests are made to stop bullets, the vests are porous and will
not stop the flow of electrons. A bulletproof jacket with metal shock plates can cause the
probes to bounce off the target. However, some companies have reported that there is soft
body armor that has filled the porous material with rubber and/or plastics, which may
prevent the T-Wave from penetrating the body armor.
WHAT IS THE BEST-SHOT AT MAXIMUM RANGE? As
long as the spread of the probes is at least six inches, the AIR TASER® Weapon will be extremely
effective. To ensure that the spread is greater than six inches, the AIR TASER® Weapon 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.
DOES TEMPERATURE HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE
AIR TASER? No. The AIR TASER® Weapon utilizes compressed nitrogen (an inert gas). The AIR
TASER® Weapon 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 AIR TASER. In addition, the temperature will not effect the T-Wave. However, as with
any product containing polycarbonates and other thermoplastics, the AIR TASER® Weapon and Air
Cartridges should never be left in direct sunlight.
SUMMARY POINTS:
- AIR TASER® Weapon is less-lethal
- AIR TASER® Weapon cant kill or maim innocent bystanders
with stray bullets.
- AIR TASER® Weapon is a defensive device, and cant penetrate
walls or doors.
- AIR TASER® Weapon is far more effective than other less-lethal
self-defense devices, such as pepper sprays.
- AIR TASER® Weapon is designed to prevent criminal use and has
proven successful to date.
- AIR TASER® Weapon is much safer than a gun to keep around children.