The Safety of Tasers

The pistol-shaped, shock-administering weapons known as Tasers, or stun guns, are widely used by police departments across the United States, according to The New York Times. Shocking assailants with Tasers allows police officers to debilitate them without using excessive physical force or firearms.

Features

• When fired, Tasers emit barbs propelled by nitrogen cartridges. The barbs send a 50,000 volt shock directly into the target's body, according to The Christian Science Monitor.

Controversy

• Although many police departments argue that Tasers are a safer alternative to traditional firearms and less-lethal weapons such as batons and rubber bullets, some physicians argue that being tased increases individuals' risk of ventricular fibrillation of the heart, a condition which can lead to death, according to Scientific American.

Considerations

• How a Taser is used, its setting, and the length of the shock administered all affect the weapon's safety. The size of the tased individual may also play a role in whether the shock will cause serious harm or death. The risk of ventricular fibrillation increases if the barb lands directly between a person's ribs and if the tased individual is very thin, according to the National Review of Medicine.