Advisability or Non-Advisability of Releasing

¶ … advisability or non-advisability of releasing the TASER technology to the public. More specifically, the TASER has been in use throughout many elements of the law enforcement community for years with considerable praise from many law enforcement agencies. In principle, it provides a useful form of "less lethal" force that enables police officers to subdue combative subjects without resorting to deadly force and without deploying other forms of less lethal force that can be problematic in some circumstances. When used appropriately and properly, the TASER can be a very effective means of gaining compliance from non-compliant subjects of valid arrest by police and other law enforcement and security authorities. In that respect, the TASER is also completely consistent with policies promoted by international human rights campaigns in relation to the use of force by police and in connection with the objective of reducing the perceived need of police officers to escalate to the use of deadly force in situations where less lethal technologies would be viable alternative options for ensuring officer safety in subduing combative subjects.

The manufacturer is now considering making TASER technology more available, specifically, by providing it to members of the public in addition to law enforcement authorities. The concerns are that even when used correctly, the TASER has been the cause of many injuries and fatalities. More importantly, there is a legitimate concern that members of the public might deploy TASER weapons in circumstances where doing so is inappropriate and excessively dangerous and violent. In fact, there are already numerous reports available of precisely such occurrences.

Questions

3. Given the warranty and liability issues, potential government regulation, and potential opposition from groups like Amnesty International, would you recommend or not recommend TASER making its products available to the public?

Making TASER products available to the general public is a very bad idea. The evidence already suggests that TASER technology can be deadly even when used by highly trained police officers. Moreover, police officers are also highly trained in decision making and in de-escalating potential conflicts rather than allowing them to escalate further. In the hands of untrained members of the public, it is highly likely that TASER products would be deployed in situations where it is inappropriate. Furthermore, the general public is not trained in minimizing the harm to individuals properly subdued by the TASER or in responding to medical emergencies caused even by its appropriate and justified use.

5. Specifically, what community outreach programs might TASER International institute in order to indirectly support its products in the consumer market?

The only conceivable community outreach programs that the organization might pursue to support its products in the consumer market might be those promoting its use in situations where highly trained civilians are already authorized to use deadly force, such as certain site-security professionals, bodyguards, bounty hunters, etc. In principle, any situation where the TASER can be substituted for lethal force options might be viable marketing opportunities. Conversely, it is inadvisable to promote the use of the TASER products in any situation where deadly force options are not already in effect.

6. If you could talk with Tom Smith, president of TASER International, what would you say to him about the ethics of offering his TASER products to the public?