Stun Guns

Guest: Robert Kane, PhD, Professor and Department Head of Criminology and Justice Studies at Drexel University  As concerns over police shootings grow, TASERS have become the key law-enforcement alternative. Instead of a bullet, TASERS shoot two metal probe darts at the end of 15-foot threads that deliver a brief 50,000 volt burst of electricity. If the person being “TASED” has heart problems, the shock can be deadly. But on the whole, Tasers are considered “one of the preferred less-lethal weapons” and are so widely used by police the TASER company says one is deployed every two minutes.  However, very little research has looked at how TASER exposure affects a victim’s brain and ability to make rational decisions.  Research funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and published in the journal Criminology & Public Policy finds being “TASED” could prevent someone from understanding their rights at the point of arrest.