| Acronyms can be a great thing. Otherwise when | | | | Taser Guns are also able to be used in direct contact |
| buying a Taser Gun you'd have to go into your local | | | | with the target if such a situation is deemed more |
| licensed firearm dealer and ask to purchase a Thomas | | | | practical than using it from a distance. It should be |
| A. Swift's Electric Rifle. Or when you're leaving the | | | | noted that this method of use does not incapacitate |
| house and making sure you have everything, you'd | | | | the target in the same way that happens when firing |
| have to think "did I remember my Thomas A Swift's | | | | the Taser Gun's wired electrodes; instead it causes |
| Electric Rifle?" | | | | the target pain and is often used as a method of |
| Sounds ridiculous, but that's exactly what Taser Gun | | | | coercion. |
| stands for. NASA researcher Jack Cover first initiated | | | | There are models available to law enforcement only, |
| development in the late 60's and named the device | | | | with the main difference being that they can be |
| after his favorite literary character, Tom Swift. His | | | | effectively used at a greater distance from the target |
| early model required gunpowder to fire which caused it | | | | than civilian models. All Taser Guns deliver a stun of |
| to be considered a firearm. | | | | 50,000 volts. |
| Around twenty years later, brothers Rick and Tim | | | | As with any device of this kind, there are proponents |
| Smith experienced the shooting death of two friends. | | | | and opponents to such technology. Taser Gun-related |
| This led them to research an alternate means of | | | | deaths are constantly being scrutinized by people on |
| self-defense, one that was safe for citizens and | | | | both sides of the issue, but there has yet to be solid, |
| non-lethal, but would give individuals a fighting chance | | | | indisputable evidence that a Taser Gun was or was |
| when confronted with violence. They worked closely | | | | not the direct cause of death. The debate will likely |
| with Jack Cover to develop a Taser Gun that was | | | | rage on as long as the technology exists, but it's also |
| electrically-powered to avoid being classified as a | | | | quite possible that as science progresses, new |
| firearm, and by the mid-1990's they had achieved their | | | | technology will come about that puts an end to the |
| goal with the release of the Air Taser Gun Model | | | | argument about whether Taser Guns are safe. |
| 34000. A feature of significant importance was the | | | | In the meantime, Taser Guns should rightly be kept |
| "anti-felon identification system," which was the | | | | under the microscope, just as firearms are closely |
| expulsion of numerous small pieces of paper with the | | | | monitored. Taser Guns should be used only in |
| Taser Gun's serial number on it. This was intended to | | | | self-defense, and stiff penalties should apply for |
| prevent criminals from using the device, as a | | | | misuse. When Jack Covey first envisioned Thomas A |
| background and criminal check was required to | | | | Swift's Electric Rifle, surely he wasn't intending to |
| purchase a Taser Gun. | | | | develop a weapon used to promote violence with |
| Taser Guns have progressed impressively in a little | | | | reckless abandon. Tim and Rick Smith certainly didn't, |
| over a decade. They are now available in various | | | | rather, they were trying to curb it. Hopefully someday |
| shapes, colors, and with multiple options including a | | | | man's conscience will catch up to his intelligence and |
| laser sight, LED light, and varying durations of stun. | | | | align for the greater good. |