“Non-lethal weapons are a key tool to take care of people, most countries in the world use them. Political pettiness cannot be more important than people’s lives. A lot of strength to Maribel’s family. We are at your entire disposal”, were the statements of the Buenos Aires security minister, Marcelo D. Alessandroafter knowing the death of the agent Maribel Salazarbelonging to the city police.
The 36-year-old woman died after being shot by a man at the Retiro station on Subway line C. And various representatives of Together for Change renewed their demand for the City Police to carry non-lethal weapons, the most requested of these types of devices are those known as Taser pistols. The denomination TASER comes from the acronym of Thomas A. Swift’s Electric Riflewhich is based on the title of the novel “Tom Swift and his electric rifle”, whose authorship is due to Victor Appeltonwhich was a source of inspiration for the weapon’s design.
”Its misuse can lead to cases of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or even torture, in cases in which its use has not been justified or has had the intention of punishment. Cases have been documented in which the death of some people has even been related to the use of this type of electroshock weapon. Due to the consequences of using them,” he said. International Amnesty, organization in favor of human rights. The cases observed are verified in very old people and individuals with some disability or congenital condition.
The device TASER It is an electroshock weapon that, when used on the body of a person -or animal-, temporarily incapacitates. This non-lethal device fires electrified darts or can also be held directly against a person to immobilize them. The darts may or may not penetrate the skin, depending on the manufacturer. Although it is estimated that the use does not become lethal, the electrical discharges produced violently contract the muscles of the body, and can cause intense pain.
According to the publication Information Technology, the technology of TASER generates a temporary high voltage, low current electrical discharge to override the body’s muscle activation mechanisms. The recipient is immobilized through two metal probes connected via wires to the electroshock device. The person who receives the impact feels pain and is momentarily paralyzed while an electrical current is being applied.
The internal circuitry of most electroshock weapons is quite simple. Designed with electronic devices, usually include an oscillator, a resonant circuit, and a step-up transformer or a diode-capacitor voltage multiplier to achieve high voltage alternating discharge or direct continuous discharge.
The bottom wire shoots out at a twelve degree angle, which creates the probe spread. This propagation is important, because the electrical impulse that travels from one probe to the other is what generates motor dysfunction. So the more muscle groups there are between the probes, the more “lock” you get on your target, which is what you’re looking for.
When shot, people they are unable to control their actions due to high voltage trip. At that instant, the impact and discharge override voluntary muscle control. Most of the victims fall, so it is used to subdue people in police altercations. These types of weapons, within police departments, are used by security forces in different urban regions of the United States.
Like any weapon designed in the form of a pistol, when the safety is activated, the charge cannot be fired. The latest models of the TASER come equipped with an audio recording device which stores information about when the gun was fired or if the safety was off. This information is stored in a file to be used as evidence.
The amount of current generated depends on the stun abilities the user chooses to apply. In general terms, a TASER works by delivering high voltage, but low amperage. The pistol delivers a powerful, but temporary shock instead of a sustained, deadly charge.
The output voltage is in the 100 V range: current output intensity is calculated to be in the range of 100 to 500 mA; the individual pulse duration is in the range of 10 to 100 µs (microseconds); while the impulse frequency is in the range of 2 to 40 Hz; the supplied electrical charge is in the range of 15 to 500 µC (microcoulombs); finally, the delivered energy is in the range of 0.9 to 10 J.
by RN
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