Q: In articles about the deputy reserve officer in Oklahoma, they say that he used his stun gun. Are a stun gun and a Taser the same? If not, what’s the difference?
—Diane Baggett, Winston
A: A Taser works on the same principle as a stun gun, but they differ on how the electrical charge is delivered.
A Taser, which is the name of a company, is held like a handgun and fires two barbed electrodes that penetrate the clothing or skin of the person at whom it’s aimed. The device sends an electrical signal through the wires that results in neuromuscular incapacitation, which “temporarily incapacitates individuals with minimal risk of injury,” Taser.com states.
Some Tasers have a range of up to 25 feet, according to Taser.com, but most can be used up to 15 feet.
A stun gun, a handheld device, has to be in contact with a person or animal to administer an electrical pulse. They also deliver an electrical charge to incapacitate individuals.
Stun guns come in a variety of sizes and sometimes are designed to look like a flashlight or cellphone. They generally are cheaper than Tasers.
People will not be affected if they’re in contact with someone receiving a shock from a stun gun or a Taser.
The Tulsa (Okla.) World has reported that Robert Charles Bates, a 73-year-old reserve deputy with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, thought he was holding a Taser, not his handgun, when he shot Eric Courtney Harris on April 2.
Harris died about an hour later.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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