Tasers save lives when they are used by police as a less-lethal alternative to handguns. Unfortunately, that is not how they are being marketed or employed. Police do not treat tasers as lethal weapons and consistently use them inappropriately, causing death and injury. 

Amnesty international estimates that tasers have caused the death of over 351 people since widespread use by police in 2001 and that only 10 percent of those tased were carrying a weapon. Countless others have suffered injuries and pain from unnecessary tasings.

Manufacturers, police, and consumers regard tasers as semi or even non-lethal "electronic control devices." In most states anyone over 18 can buy and carry a concealed taser. This misclasisifcation has lead to deaths, injury and general abuse of this dangerous weapon.

Taser misuse stems from a lack of federal regulation. The bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms still uses the 1968 definition of a firearm as a weapon using gun powder. This outdated definition allows guns like tasers to be marketed, sold and used unregulated by the federal government.

Tasers need to be regulated and regarded as the potentially lethal weapons they are. Only then will they be able to truly save lives.

Photo Credit: Jungle Cat