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Taser International, makers of - you guessed it! - Tasers, have unveiled, or possibly unleashed, new and upgraded versions of their electric stun weapons. Link here.
One is a long-range piece called XREP designed to be fired out of a shotgun(!) with a range of about 30 metres, the other is a "scattering" six dart launcher called [drumroll] Shockwave which fires darts in a 20 degree arc.
From the article in New Scientist:
Neil Davison, head of non-lethal weapons research within the peace studies department at Bradford University, UK, points to potential hazards of XREP. "It combines the well-known dangers of impact projectiles – inaccuracy, potential for serious injury – with a Taser shock four times longer than usual, which also carries an increased risk to the health of the victim," Davison says.
and he says of Shockwave:
Again, Davison sees a risk that targets may be hit more than once. "My overall concern with all three developments is that they would further remove the process of human interaction, negotiation and reasoning from the decision by police to use force," he says.
Dr. Davison can be found in the U of Bradford's Non-Lethal Weapons Research Project. They've got what looks like very interesting papers on this topic. Peruse at your leisure, folks. |
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