Frequently Asked Questions

 

1.  WHAT DOES TASER STAND FOR?

The acronym T.A.S.E.R. stands for "Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle".  Tom Swift, whos middle name is actually unknown, was a fictional character depicted in a series of childrens books created by Stratemeyer Syndicate in the early 20th century.  The fictional electric rifle used by Tom Swift in the book series was capable of firing adjustable bolts of electricity.  The TASER that we know today was invented by Mr. Jack Cover, a researcher for NASA in 1974.  Though the original TASER used gunpowder as the propellant which caused the device to be classified as a firearm by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.  Later models called the Air TASER and then the Advanced Air TASER, incorporated compressed gases as the propellant which enabled the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to declassify the ADVANCED AIR TASER as a weapon on November 30, 1993.

2.   CAN A TASER BE RETURNED FOR A REFUND IF I DO NOT LIKE IT?

Regretfully, similar to a firearm, a TASER is registered to a specific individual via TASER^® Internationals background check and registration process.  But, unlike a firearm there is not a medium in place at this time to transfer that ownership from one individual to another.  Thus, returns for TASERS are not accepted unless the product has been deemed defective within the warranty period.

3.   MY STATE ONLY ALLOWS PURCHASE OF A TASER THROUGH A LICENSED GUN DEALER OF MY STATE.  IS IT POSSIBLE TO STILL PURCHASE A TASER FROM STUNGUNMALL.COM?

Yes.  StunGunMall.com has Federally Licensed Firearms dealers on staff, thus a dealer to dealer transfer of a TASER is possible.  Our FFL must ship and transfer ownership of the TASER to a local gun dealer in your area.  This allows the gun dealer to transfer the TASER to your ownership through whatever means is required by local laws in your state of residence.  Generally an FFL will require a separate transfer fee for this service.  Check with your local gun dealer for actual cost for this service.

4.   HOW DOES AN ADVANCED TASER WORK?

 Upon firing, compressed nitrogen projects two ADVANCED TASER probes 15, 21 or 35 feet (21 & 35 foot cartridges for law enforcement only) at a speed of 180 feet per second. The probes are connected by thin insulated wire back to the M26. 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. ADVANCED TASER uses an automatic timing mechanism to apply the electric charge for 5 seconds.

5.   HOW CAN THE ADVANCED TASER BE SO EFFECTIVE YET NON-INJURIOUS?

 The ADVANCED 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 ADVANCED TASER 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.

6.   DOES THE TASER AFFECT THE HEART OR A CARDIAC PACEMAKER?

 The ADVANCED 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, Dr. Robert Stratbucker tested the M26 at the University of Missouri and 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 ADVANCED TASER’s output. The ADVANCED TASER current of 1.76 Joules is well below the 10-50 joule threshold above which cardiac ventricular fibrillation can occur.

7.   ISN’T HIGH VOLTAGE LETHAL?

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 output of the ADVANCED TASER M-26C has been tested and shown to be safe; its power supply consists of 8 AA alkaline 1.5-Volt batteries capable of supplying 26 Watts of electrical power for only a few seconds.

8.   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. Over 1,000 individuals have personally tested the ADVANCED TASER.

9.   WHAT ARE THE AFTEREFFECTS?

 The ADVANCED TASER will briefly immobilize a subject, and its low electrical amperage and short duration of pulsating current ensure a non-lethal charge.

A person hit with an ADVANCED TASER will feel dazed for several seconds. Recovery is fast and the effects stop the very instant that the M26 shuts off. Some will experience critical response amnesia and others will experience tingling sensations afterwards. The pulsating electrical output causes involuntary muscle contractions and a resulting sense of vertigo. It can momentarily stun or render an indiviudal immobilized.

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 that similar TASER technology leaves no long term injuries (compared with 50% long term injuries for gun shot injuries).

10.   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. Both probes need to contact the body or else contact clothing and be within two inches of the body to stop an attacker.

11.   WHAT IF THE PROBES MISS?

 The ADVANCED TASER can work if one probe hits a human and the second falls on grass or dirt as the power grounds. However, the results depreciate substantially if the second probe lands on concrete, asphalt or not all on wood floors. Otherwise, the ADVANCED TASER can be used in a touch-stun mode. The user is thus provided with two backups. A secondary Air Cartridge is available that holds a backup cartridge below the ADVANCED TASER’s handgrip. A final backup if the probes miss the target is the touch stun feature. Should the user miss or engage a second attacker, the ADVANCED TASER can applied directly to the target and it will work like a powerful touch-stun device.

12.   WILL THE ADVANCED TASER BE RELIABLE, EVEN IN RAPID, DANGEROUS SITUATIONS?

 Yes - the ADVANCED TASER is designed to be effective as possible, including back-up options, to ensure that violent subjects can be subdued

The ADVANCED TASER is most effective when fired into the torso. Both probes need to contact the body or else contact clothing and be within two inches of the body to stop an attacker. The ADVANCED TASER can work if one probe hits a human and the second falls on grass or dirt as the power grounds. However, the results depreciate substantially if the second probe lands on concrete, asphalt or not all on wood floors.

The ADVANCED TASER provides two backups. A secondary Air Cartridge is available that holds a backup cartridge below the ADVANCED TASER’s handgrip. A final backup is the touch stun feature. Should the user miss or engage a second attacker, the ADVANCED TASER can applied directly to the target and it will work like a powerful touch-stun device.

13.  CAN THE ADVANCED TASER CAUSE FIRE?

 The ADVANCED TASER will not ignite standard solids or even black gunpowder. However, the spark from an ADVANCED TASER can ignite some flammable liquids, vapors, meth labs or sensitive explosives. The ADVANCED TASER should not be used anywhere that cigarettes are forbidden for fire safety reasons. The ADVANCED TASER 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.

14.  WHAT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF EYE INJURY FROM THE ADVANCED TASER?

 The ADVANCED TASER should always be aimed at the attacker’s torso, since both probes need to hit some part of the body to be fully effective.

The torso provides the largest surface area to hit. The ADVANCED TASER should never be aimed toward an attacker’s 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 to the cornea.

15.  HOW WILL THE ADVANCED TASER PREVENT CRIMINAL USE?

 TASER^® International's 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 ADVANCED TASER 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.

16.  DOES TEMPERATURE HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE ADVANCED TASER?

 Yes. The weakness to the system is not the ADVANCED TASER. The batteries limit the effectiveness in cold and extremely hot temperatures.

Alkaline batteries perform poorly at freezing temperatures. However, Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries can be substituted in a freezing climate, as their performances are better suited in colder climates. The heat issue is only an issue if the ADVANCED TASER were left sitting in the sun, once again adversely affecting the batteries. As for the Air Cartridge, it utilizes compressed nitrogen (an inert gas). The ADVANCED 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 ADVANCED TASER. In addition, the temperature will not effect the T-Wave. However, as with any product containing polycarbonates and other thermoplastics, the ADVANCED TASER and Air Cartridges should never be left in direct sunlight.

17.  WHAT IS THE BEST-SHOT AT MAXIMUM RANGE?

 As long as the spread of the probes is at least four inches, the ADVANCED TASER will be extremely effective. To ensure that the spread is greater than four inches, the ADVANCED 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 using a 15-foot cartridge.