Police doubt Taser as public self-defense option

First there was Mace, then pepper spray. For individuals concerned about personal safety in Missouri, it's legal to carry a concealed firearm with a permit.

Now there are personal Tasers. Tasers are legal in Missouri and in all but seven states. Personal Tasers became available as a result of the growing popularity of Tasers in law enforcement.

Sgt. Rick Schmidt of the Cape Girardeau Police Department, a certified Taser instructor, said he sees the Taser's value for police work, but doubts it will catch on as a self-defense tool.

They're not readily available. Tasers are legal in Missouri, but the only place private individuals can buy the weapon is directly from Taser International of Scottsdale, Ariz., or through its Web site. The police department buys its Tasers from Ed Roehr Safety Products. A spokesman for the St. Louis company said Ed Roehr sells only to police departments.

Personal Tasers are also expensive. They range in price from $399 to $999, according to Taser International, plus the cost of cartridges and other accessories. The price of the Taser includes the cost of a one-hour training session. Other Web sites also offer Tasers for about the same price.

The cost doesn't compare to handguns.

"You can get a handgun from a pawn shop for $100," Schmidt said.

Personal Tasers differ from the ones law enforcement officers use, Schmidt said. Police Tasers can shoot up to 21 feet, the newer instruments can shoot as far away as 25 feet. Tasers for the general public shoot at a range between 9 feet and 12 feet.

Tasers are favored by police departments for immobilizing unruly suspects without deadly force. They stop suspects by delivering metal barbs attached to a cartridge. The barbs stick to the victim and administer 50,000 volts of electricity at five-second intervals -- enough time for an officer to apprehend and handcuff the suspect before pulling out the barbs.

Law enforcement Tasers have a higher pulse rate, 19 pulses per second for a duration of five seconds compared to 10 to 17 pulses per second over 10 to 30 seconds for a personal Taser.

"That gives the person time to throw the Taser down and run to the car and get away," Schmidt said.

And leave an expensive Taser to be stolen.

But if a Taser owner were to take the weapon with him, Schmidt said, disengaging it would shut it off and he would put himself back in danger.

Schmidt said he has not been asked to teach anyone outside of law enforcement how to use a Taser, but acknowledges that someday that could happen. Once the public begins using them, he said, it will open up liability questions concerning their use that only lawyers will be able to answer. They appear to be attracting attention, he said, because they're new. He said he sees the Taser as just another useful law enforcement tool.

"I've seen stuff on TV where it appears Tasers will solve everything," he said. "We know it won't."

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160