Gizmodo: stun gun

Judge Rules It's Legal To Taser Someone For DNA Sample, As Long As It's Not Done "Maliciously"

Sean Fallon — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:40:00 EDT

As long as it is not done "maliciously, or to an excessive extent, or with resulting injury," Niagara County, NY Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrazza ruled that using a Taser to obtain a DNA sample is legally valid.

In the case of one Ryan S. Smith, accused of shooting and a gas station robbery:

Smith was handcuffed and sitting on the floor of Niagara Falls Police Headquarters when he was zapped with the 50,000- volt electronic stun gun after he insisted he would not give a DNA sample.

He already had given a sample, a swab of the inside of his cheek, without protest the previous month. But police sent it to the wrong lab, where it was opened and spoiled. Prosecutors who had obtained a court order for the first sample went back to Sperrazza, who signed another order without consulting the defense.

To be fair, Sperrazza cited several precedents of her own to justify the ruling—including one case in Wyoming where it was deemed legal for the police to Taser a suspect to force him to open his hand for a search. The state's own Criminal Procedure Law also states that the use of reasonable force is legal to carry out a court order. Is refusing to give up a DNA sample on the same level as being violent? That is to say, should it be a Taserable offense? [Buffalo News via HardOCP Image via Flickr]

Taser X12 Stun Gun Freezes People From 88 Feet Away

Mark Wilson — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:40:00 EDT

There's a new stun gun called the X12. And it's pretty much a freeze ray without the ice.

The X12 fires a jolt through the air (wirelessly) through nonlethal bullets that can cut through clothing to paralyze a perpetrator within an effective range of 88 feet. Apparently this paralysis occurs without pain (though I wonder if that's a relative idea), meaning that freeze tag just got a whole lot more fun, though ever so slightly less fair.

Authorities will receive their first shipments of the X12 in June. The endless pranks will begin sometime thereafter. [Taser via Yahoo via The Raw Feed]

Victor Mouse Trap Is Really an Electrocution Dungeon

Mark Wilson — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:20:00 EST

Just listen to this announcer. Have you ever heard someone so happy, nay, spiritually fulfilled over rodent control? We're pretty sure he was paid to do this voice over for the Victor Multi-Kill Electronic Mouse Trap, a $100 mini chamber that electrocutes 150 mice per set of batteries, but we're also pretty sure that the announcer turned around with his paycheck from the spot and picked up a unit for himself. Maybe he was just sick and tired of eating his mice sandwiches cold, which is fair. [Victor]

Thunder Stun Gun: 750,000 Volts for 13 Bucks

matt buchanan — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:30:00 EDT

You know, there are certain things you just shouldn't cheap out on—headphones, condoms, HDTVs, and I'm guessing stun guns. But since it's probably more of a risk for the guy you're zapping, why not? The Thunder Stun delivers 200,000-750,000 volts for just 13 bucks. I'm sure it'll be fine, really. What could possibly go horribly, horribly wrong? [Surplus Computers via Gear Diary]

Taser Tape Turns Anything Into a Taser, Like Riot Shields or Underpants

matt buchanan — Tue, 13 May 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Every year, Taser demos their latest and greatest in a mock prison riot at an old penitentiary in West Virginia. This year's star is peel-and-stick taser tape, that'll turn any surface into a fully electrified no-no zappy zone. On the practical side, this stuff will be rolling out by the end of the year to instantly upgrade cops' riot shields into serious business, no taser wand-waving necessary, like an instant force field. On the other hand, consumerized taser tape could become the best thing since sliced electric bread: Keep asshole roommates out of your beer fridge! Shocking revenge on your soon-to-be-ex who gave you the herp! [Prime Newswire via Danger Room]

Lipstick Stun Gun Comes In One Shade: Frazzled 'Nads

Kit Eaton — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:19:05 EDT

Forget DIY camera stun guns: they're just a stunt. If you want real pocket protection, these charmingly disguised stun guns can deliver 350,000 volts of agony to an assailant. Will they think it looks like you're just brandishing a tube of lippy at them? Probably not an experiment to try. They have an LED flashlight built-in, and come with a charger. If carrying this around in your purse makes you feel safer, they're available for a paltry $49.95 in a variety of shades and shapes. So you can, you know, coordinate your electro-shock defense with your outfit. Weird. [Red Ferret via Gizmodo UK]

Guy Who Uses Stun Gun on Son to Toughen Him Up Jailed, Unsurprisingly

Kit Eaton — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:40:50 EST

The father of an 18-month-old child is off to jail for four years after being found guilty of using a stun gun on the boy. His reason for using the 100,000-volt Dragonfire, which resulted in muscle damage to the kid's heart, was because he wanted his son to be "the toughest cage fighter ever." Yeah, the toughest heart-damaged, cage-fighting 18-month-old ever.

According to the Deputy DA in Portland, Ryan Wittman had made comments to witnesses saying he wanted his child "to be tough." When first questioned, the dad's genius response was to say that the two of them had been "playing peekaboo." Hmm, that'll be the special version of kilovolt peekaboo we've never heard of, then.

The 100,000-volt weapon Wittman used is, apparently, more powerful than police tasers. Wittman's excuse for the incidents? Arguments with his wife. It took just 20 minutes for the court to decide that Wittman should be sent down for four years. [CNN]

Women Ditching Tupperware Parties for Taser Parties?

Matt Buchanan — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:05:55 EST

Local 6, who brought us the Spider-Man pepper spray bracelet, today is all over the trend of women dumping Tupperware parties for Taser parties—there's still wine and cheese, but they're groping "light, stylish" metallic pink Tasers which are a "must for any modern woman" instead of boring kitchenware.

While we've questioned the need for gadgets to be small and pink for girls to get on board, to answer the question at the end of the video, yes, women should totally be arming themselves with Tasers. It's kind of hot, plus we have protection, so it's cool. [Local 6 via Tech Digest]

Make a "Fun" Stun Gun for Under 10 Bucks

Matt Buchanan — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:20:53 EDT

I found the skull-poundingly monotonous drum beat combined with a complete lack of voiceover and "oh my, you're dumb, home viewer" finger-pointing a teensy bit annoying. But! It's super easy to follow and it looks simple enough to build your own ghetto stun gun, so much so that I might whip my own up to put my four-year-old cousin in place when she's bothering me by acting like a small child. [Metacafe]

Immobilizer Cameraphone Stun Gun (Also Works as Flashlight)

Mark Wilson — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:33:10 EDT

While the Immobilizer's cameraphone exterior is not so functional, its 900,000-volt stun gun works just fine. Packaged with holster that is realistic enough to make you look like a douche, the feature that we most appreciate is the 12 LED flashlight, allowing you to closely inspect your victim for ID, cash, credit cards, etc. after stunning him for "looking suspicious" buying that donut.

We take that back. Our favorite feature is that a few users will surely electrocute themselves while trying to use the phone functions. Our second favorite feature is the creepy victim-inspector flashlight. $85 [product via therawfeed]

Wallet Sized Stun Gun Good for Zapping Muggers

Brian Lam — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:13:17 EDT

This stun gun, dubbed the small fry, could easily pass for a wallet in a dark alley. I'd imagine it could be used in a mugging where instead of handing over your wallet, you hand over 1,000,000 volts.

It manages both its tiny size (its the smallest on the market) with its powerful punch (the company claims the highest volts of any comparable system) by losing the 9v batteries that most tasers use for what I'd guess is a nicad or lithium battery. That also means you can recharge the little bugger. Not bad for $80. I wonder if there's a way to turn an old iPod's lipoly battery into something like this with a capacitor? [PersonalSecurity via Red Ferret]

Dragon Fire Rechargeable Stun Gun Puts Lighting in Your Pocket

Charlie White — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:45:00 EDT

The Dragon Fire Rechargeable Stun Gun packs a powerful punch, smacking down bad guys with 650,000 volts of electro-devastation. Small enough to conceal in the palm of your hand, they won't know what hit 'em. And, you can blind them first with its built-in LED flashlight. But wait a minute here. I've never seen a stun gun this cheap.

This $79.99 stun gun is on sale for $25.99, making it a lot easier to procure. Does this mean everyone will be packing one of these mini-monsters someday soon? It could be those 650,000 volts won't be sufficiently powerful to knock down the biggest badasses—maybe it'll be just enough to piss them off. If it doesn't shoot actual dragon fire, we'll pass. [CrunchGear]

Blast Knuckles Stun Gun Delivers a Shocking Experience, Up Close and Personal

Charlie White — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:15:00 EDT

If a Taser is a bit impersonal for you, put on these Blast Knuckles that pack a 950,000-volt punch up-side the head. The Blast Knuckles Stun Gun is a $69.95 weapon powered by lithium batteries that lets you slam dunk and smack down any miscreant who might try to help him- or herself to your stuff or junk.

Also works like a champ on that lovable yet playfully bloodthirsty dog next door. It's banned in some of the wussier states. – Charlie White

Product Page [Hollywood Gadgets, via Coolest Gadgets]

Electro-Weapon: 800,000-Volt Lightning Rod Stun Pen Flashlight

Charlie White — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 10:42:00 EST

If you're looking for a flashlight that'll make you feel more secure, maybe that smoke alarm torch we touched upon earlier is not the answer. How about 800,000 volts at your fingertips? This Lightning Rod Stun Pen and LED flashlight uses a couple of 3V lithium batteries to put the hurt on those miscreants who might lay unwanted paws on you.

Its makers say this 6-inch weapon is the highest-voltage pen-type stun gun you can get, assuring you that any attackers will be in for a shocking experience. The thing is said to make an intimidating electrical crackling noise, which might itself be scary enough to send those bad guys running for cover. It packs quite a punch for $34.95. – Charlie White

Product page [24 Corporation]

CrustaStun Kills Your Lobsters Humanely

Jason Chen — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 13:00:11 EST

Instead of lobbing your lobsters into hot water and have them boil to death like one of the Baldwins in Backdraft, use the CrustaStun. This shellfish killer zaps lobsters with 2 to 5 amps (that's a lot) at 110 volts, which first knocks them unconscious, then kills them through sustained current. More humane than searing hot water, which is good if you care about the way the animals you eat are killed.

The CrustaStun's targeted more towards restaurants than your home, but if you're a frequent lobster eater, go nuts. – Jason Chen

Product Page [CrustaStun via Coolest Gadgets]