Taser International
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Taser International, Incorporated is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based corporation that produces Tasers, the most common brand of electroshock gun.
[edit] History
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.
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.
[edit] Criticism
Taser International Inc. has been criticized for their aggressive marketing tactics; some say that the company misrepresents the dangers of their product and subtly encourages their 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.
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.
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. All lawsuits to date have been unsuccessful or dismissed. Taser International maintains that its devices are safe, citing numerous proprietary and independently confirmed studies as well as medical opinion. 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.
[edit] External links
- Taser International official website
- Taser Foundation official website
- Palm Beach Post special two-part report on Taser use
