Police forces describe the taser gun as a safe alternative to brute force when detaining a violent or uncooperating suspect. The gun fires two needle-tipped darts connected to electric cables that stay attached to the gun. Having a range of about 20 feet, the taser gun delivers a 50,000-volt shock, which temporarily overrides a person's central nervous system, incapacitating a suspect. It is estimated that over 4,000 law enforcement agencies across the United States currently use tasers.

Since it was first issued to police officers in the late 1990s, the taser gun has been involved in dozens of inmate deaths. According to manufacturers, none of the deaths have been directly linked to the weapon, and several studies (conducted by manufacturers) have reportedly found that the high-voltage shock is harmless.

Interest groups, however, believe that because of the lack of proper data from independent studies, taser gun use should be suspended. Organizations such as Amnesty International believe tasers are often abused by officers, who use them inappropriately.

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