Fears over Taser gun expansion

[TheNorm]

Previously the 50,000-volt devices could only be used by firearms officers.
The year-long trial in 10 forces will allow officers to fire the guns if faced with violence or threats.
Up to now, they could only be used by officers when confronted by an armed person.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/200709...fa6b408_2.html

The police seem to be assessing this device in a very measured way, which is to be congratulated.

I can only imagine what is must be like to be confronted by a drug-crazed violent yob at the end of a long tiring shift on a Saturday night. A zap with 50,000 volts must be more effective than a thump with a truncheon!

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by TheNorm

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/200709...fa6b408_2.html

The police seem to be assessing this device in a very measured way, which is to be congratulated.

I can only imagine what is must be like to be confronted by a drug-crazed violent yob at the end of a long tiring shift on a Saturday night. A zap with 50,000 volts must be more effective than a thump with a truncheon!

Having recently been involved in holding down a drug-crazed violent yob I believe the police do need something to deal with people who are violent towards authority.

I guess it makes it safer for the police officers to arrest and take these people to court, but I wonder if the result of less assaults on police officers because they get the taser on them before they can, will mean less criminals are convicted.

Safer to get them to court so the namby pamby courts can let them off.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by TheNorm

I can only imagine what is must be like to be confronted by a drug-crazed violent yob at the end of a long tiring shift on a Saturday night. A zap with 50,000 volts must be more effective than a thump with a truncheon!

It's not fun! And when you consider some people (especially ex-forces) almost immune to CS and you don't want to get within baton-ing range of someone with a knife having something that applies 50,000 volts would be very welcome.

Originally Posted by Escapee

I guess it makes it safer for the police officers to arrest and take these people to court, but I wonder if the result of less assaults on police officers because they get the taser on them before they can, will mean less criminals are convicted.

Nah most of the time (In Scotland anyway) the Police assaults, unless serious injury occurs, are including with the main charge and most of the time are pled away in deals between the prosecution and defence.

[Osem]

Heard an expert on the radio this morning explaining that the voltage actually administered could be far less than the 50,000v always quoted in the media. Apparently the amperage involved is extermely low too.


http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....811&highlight=

[SMG]

Get them issued & use em when needed. The best clip I saw of the use of a Taser was in the film "Meet the Fockers" where a smart cop zapped the leading actors with the phrase,

"Sir, do not struggle, 50,000 volts are passing through your body................"

[Xaccers]

You need approx 100mA across your heart to stop it (look up the case of the US Navy electrician who killed himself with a 9v multimeter)

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

You need approx 100mA across your heart to stop it (look up the case of the US Navy electrician who killed himself with a 9v multimeter)

As the old saying goes, 'Its Volts that jolts, but Mills that kills'

[Xaccers]

Anyone know how many amps pass between the spikes when they've pierced the skin?

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by SMG

Get them issued & use em when needed. The best clip I saw of the use of a Taser was in the film "Meet the Fockers" where a smart cop zapped the leading actors with the phrase,

"Sir, do not struggle, 50,000 volts are passing through your body................"

Totally agree. Get the god dam things issued and let the police use them without fear that some human rights dick will try to sue them.

Ah, the "Human Rights" issue peeps over the parapet once again........

When in doubt, disparage the HRA.

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Anyone know how many amps pass between the spikes when they've pierced the skin?

The first port of call would be to find out the resistance of blood, the battery would be able to provide a very high level of current for a very short period and I guess milliseconds is all we are talking about here.

I would of thought the blood resistance is fairly low due to the salt content, and I would have a guess that it also varies considerably from person to person.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Anyone know how many amps pass between the spikes when they've pierced the skin?

Quote from the link I posted:

"The output of the TASER X26 is 0.003 amperes"

Just been listening to an A&E Consultant on the radio who who's subjected himself to the device 12 times. He's apparently done extensive research on the subject an contends that although some 200 people (out of 250,000) have died worldwide after being 'zapped' none did so immediately as a direct result of the shock (which lasts up to 5 seconds) and all were in risk groups which made them equally vulnerable to any alternative form of detention.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Ah, the "Human Rights" issue peeps over the parapet once again........

When in doubt, disparage the HRA.

You got it

[Xaccers]

http://van.physics.uiuc.edu/qa/listing.php?id=6793

A rough value for the internal resistance of the human body is 300-1,000 Ohms.

I=V/R

50,000/1000=50A
50,000/300=167A!!!

Depending on the person, the resistance of dry skin is usually between 1,000-100,000 Ohms.

50,000/100,000=0.5A
That's 500mA, 5 times the amount required to stop your heart.

For 1000Ohms, 3v will give 0.003A

Am I getting something wrong?
The electricity should flow at a current as high as it possibly can depending on the resistance of the material it's passing through right?

[CycoSymz]

Normal skin resistance is usually greater than 300,000 Ohms.