Taser International

Infobox Company
company_name = TASER International Inc.
company_
company_type = Public (nasdaq|TASR)
foundation = 1993
location = Scottsdale, Arizona
industry =
revenue = loss $47.694 million USD (2005)
num_employees =
key_people = Patrick W. Smith, co-founder, CEO. Thomas P. Smith, co-founder, President.
products = Electroshock guns
homepage = [http://www.taser.com www.taser.com]

Taser International, Inc. (nasdaq|TASR) is a developer, manufacturer, and distributor of the Taser less-lethal [ [http://www.amnestyusa.org/us/document.do?id=ENGUSA20060328001 http://www.amnestyusa.org/us/document.do?id=ENGUSA20060328001] ] electroshock guns in the United States. It is based at Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. It makes Tasers, the most common brand of electroshock gun.

History of the company

The company was founded in 1991 (under the name Air Taser) by brothers Rick and Tom Smith. The Smiths were upset when two of Rick's former teammates in high school were murdered in a road rage incident in a resort parking lot in Scottsdale. In 1993, they began working with Jack Cover on a non-lethal weapon; eventually Cover first developed an early version of the Taser.

Taser takes its name after a fictional weapon: Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle. [cite web|url=http://www.taser.com/company/Pages/trivia.aspx|title=Company Trivia|publisher=TASER International, Inc.|accessdate=2008-09-04]

In June 1994, a non-firearm version of the Taser was developed, allowing it to bypass federal and state laws that only apply to firearms, and a tracking system (the "anti-felon identification" or "AFID" system) was created. This enables the Taser to disperse confetti with serial numbers when it is fired and links the specific Taser to the scene where it is used.

In 1998, the company adopted its current name, intending to emphasize the company's international expansion. In the same year, the company began marketing the weapon to law enforcement agencies and police departments, in addition to the private buyers who had bought Tasers for personal self-protection in prior years.

In 2001, Taser International developed its "Advanced Taser Electro-Muscular Disruption" system. In May 2001, they filed for an initial public offering and began trading NASDAQ under the stock symbol TASR. In May 2003, the company released its new Taser X26 model.

Rick Smith is the current chief executive officer; Tom Smith is the president.

Issues

Taser International Inc. has been criticized for their aggressive marketing tactics; and has been accused of misrepresenting the dangers of their product and subtly encouraging its use in improper situations. An article in the "Arizona Republic" newspaper revealed that company officials had claimed that a Department of Defense study was "independent" proof of the Taser's safety even though the company provided most of the research material used in the study and participated in three panels to determine the scope of the study, analyze data, and review findings.Fact|date=April 2007

The company also has met controversy about the relationship between it and the Taser Foundation, which gave monetary grants to police officers killed in the line of duty, after a "USA Today" report in April 2005.Fact|date=April 2007

Scrutiny regarding the safety of the devices sold by Taser International Inc. has prompted over 30 wrongful death lawsuits against the company since its inception.Fact|date=April 2007 Taser International maintains that its devices are safe, citing numerous proprietary and independently confirmed studies as well as medical opinion.Fact|date=April 2007 Currently Taser International is proceeding with a libel suit (January 1, 2005) against USA Today publisher Gannett Inc. concerning misinformation regarding the mortality risk of Taser devices.

According to Taser International, the company has not lost any product liability lawsuits:However, on June 6, 2008, the company lost its first product-liability suit. [ [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&refer=us&sid=aYJitFRQLpZk Taser Loses 1st Product-Liability Suit; Jury Awards $6 Million] ]

In late January 2008, the public safety committee of the current Canadian House of Commons launched an investigation into their use, after the death of Robert Dziekanski [ [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080130/taser_probe_080130/20080130?hub=Canada CTV.ca | Commons committee probes Taser use by police ] ] . The British Columbia government's Braidwood Inquiry is also currently underway.

Products

Taser

Taser's namesake product is a handheld electroshock weapon designed to incapacitate a single person from a distance.

XREP

XREP (eXtended Range Electro-Muscular Projectile) is a wireless Taser round that can be fired from a 12 gauge shotgun: see Electroshock weapon#Wireless long-range electric shock weapon. [ [http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-14-2006/0004281420&EDATE TASER International Successfully Demonstrates Wireless TASER(R) eXtended Range Electro-muscular Projectile to Military Officials] , PR News. Retrieved December 23, 2007.]

Notes

References

*Anglen, Robert. "Taser tied to 'independent' study that backs stun gun." "The Arizona Republic". May 21, 2005. [http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0521TaserDOD21.html]
*Johnson, Kevin. "Taser contributes to police families." "USA Today". April 24, 2005. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-04-24-coplobby-inside_x.htm]
*"Taser research marred by conflicts." "Vermont Huardian". May 23, 2005. [http://www.vermontguardian.com/dailies/0904/0523.shtml]

External links

* [http://www.taser.com/ Taser International official website]
* [http://www.taserfoundation.com/ Taser Foundation official website]
* [http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/news/special_reports/tasers/index.html "Palm Beach Post" special two-part report on Taser use]