S. law enforcement agencies deploy the weapon. Although the manufacturers of the dart-firing electro-shock weapons insist that Tasers are a useful non-lethal replacement for firearms that save lives, its unchecked use by the police and a number of deaths purportedly caused by the weapon has put a question mark against its efficacy. As we saw in this essay, Tasers are far from "non-lethal," they are not always used as replacement for a lethal weapon, are over-used by trigger-happy law enforcers, causes severe pain, and can be used as a torture weapon. Its unchecked and increasing use in law enforcement needs a serious review. Works Cited

Budnick, Nick. "Is the Portland Police Bureau going TASER CRAZY?" Willamette Week online. February 4, 2004. November 25, 2006. http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3014/4795/

Excessive and lethal force?" Amnesty International. November 30, 2004. November 25, 2006. http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/AMR511392004ENGLISH/$File/AMR5113904.pdf

Feds Probe Stun Gun Deaths." CBS News. June 14, 2006. November 25, 2006. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/14/national/main1713614.shtml

Keays, Alan J. "Shocked by the shot." Times Argus. January 15, 2006. November 25, 2006. http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060115/NEWS/601150381/1002/NEWS01

May 4, 2004. November 25, 2006. http://www.local6.com/money/3266166/detail.html
Ripple, Amy C. "TASER Works, so its use increases." Orlando Sentinel. July 29, 2002.

Sturcke, James and Rosalind Ryan. "Police stun-gun may be lethal, firm admits." Guardian Unlimited. October 3, 2005. November 25, 2006. http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,2763,1583867,00.html

TASER (pseudonym for Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle) is actually the brand name for stun guns manufactured by Taser International, an Arizona-based company;it has become a common name for all stun guns because an overwhelming majority of such weapons are made by TASER International.

The Taser can be used in two modes: a) "the dart firing mode" in which the gun can be fired from a distance of up to 21 feet; b) "the touch stun mode" in which the Taser is used by touching a person on parts of the body

M26 and X26 are the two new generation Taser models currently in use

Taser International also claims that its devices have saved more than 9,000 lives since they were put to use because police officers have been able to the weapon instead of handguns that fire bullets

Tasers