Q. and A. for TASER C2
Dialog - The following is a typical conversation between a salesperson and someone interested in purchasing a C2 device.
Buyer: Can you tell me about the C2?
Sales: Sure. This is an electronic control device like the one carried by over 10,000 police agencies in the U.S. It works by shooting out 2 probes on wires a distance of 15 feet. The probes can stick in either the clothing or skin of the attacker and deliver a scientifically designed electrical signal that makes the person's muscles lock up and temporarily incapacitates them so you can get to safety. They come in Black, Blue, Silver and Pink. Each C2 comes with one air cartridge.
Buyer: So what happens to the person?
Sales: Their muscles lock up and they will fall to the ground. The person will just lay there and ride out the 30 second cycle.
Buyer: What do you mean probes?
Sales: They are two small barbed fish hooks that make the connection.
Buyer: That sounds like it hurts.
Sales: Actually they penetrate so quickly they won't feel a thing and once the electric signal is delivered it is the least of the bad guys' worries. One more thing to remember that was the person who meant to do you harm.
Buyer: You said that the probes can stick into the clothing so they don't have to go into the skin.
Sales: Correct. The C2 like all TASER devices uses 50,000 volts of electricity to arc through the clothing. I know 50,000 volts sounds like a large number but in fact it is only enough to make the electricity jump 2 inches. For example, a Vander graph generator like the one the at the science center that makes your hair stand on end emits 20 million volts. Voltage is harmless by itself. You may have heard the old saying it's not the volts but the amps that get you, well it's true.
Buyer: What if they are wearing a really thick jacket much thicker than 2 inches?
Sales: This is covered in the training DVD that comes with the C2 but TASER recommends you aim for the legs since those types of jackets normally don't cover much past the waist.
Buyer: How does it shoot out the probes?
Sales: The air cartridge uses compressed nitrogen to launch out the probes. The cartridge is a one time use system and delivers the probes at approximately 100 MPH. The electrical charge sets off a small primer that presses a cylinder filled with compressed nitrogen onto a hollow puncture pin. The nitrogen flows through the holes of the puncture pin and are amplified a lot like the nozzle on a hose strengthens the water flow launching the probes and AFID tags out.
Buyer: So it's like firing a gun?
Sales: No not exactly. There isn't a kick or recoil with a TASER but you will hear a loud pop like a balloon popping. That's why you may want to purchase the twin pack of air cartridges so you can practice once or twice and keep one just in case. Once you fire the TASER a couple of times you'll realize there's nothing to it and feel much more comfortable carrying it.
Buyer: What are AFID tags?
Sales: AVID stands for Anti-Felon Identification Tags and each air cartridge contain 20-30 of small confetti-like tags that have the serial number of the cartridge on them. This can be used to identify the owner in the event the TASER is misused and the police come across the tags.
Buyer: So I have one shot and that's it?
Sales: No. In the event you do miss the end of the C2 has a powerful drive stun capability. For example if you miss with one probe and you hold the end of the C2 against the attacker it acts like the second probe and will complete the circuit. Or in another example if there are 2 attackers and you shoot one and the other charges you press the C2 against them and they will receive a painful shock too. What usually happens in LE where these devices see the most action is the second person runs once his friend has been knocked to the ground. But if he doesn't run and continues to come at you every time you hit the button to defend yourself the person on the wires lying on the ground goes for another ride too. Eventually the person on the ground will tell the other one to stop helping.
Buyer: How much are extra cartridges?
Sales: You can buy a twin pack for $49.95 for a four pack with the foil target for $99.95.
Buyer: What about giving the person a heart attack or if they have a pace maker?
Sales: To begin with the heart is deep in the chest cavity and well protected from this small amount of electricity. Secondly, pace makers are built to withstand the hit from a defibrillator and those put out around 300 joules of energy in order to stop the heart so it can begin a regular beat again. The TASER emits less than 1 joule of energy.
Buyer: Then what about all of the people that die after being tased?
Sales: The TASER has never been named as the direct cause
of death in those cases and most of those were unfortunate drug overdoses
or people that struggled so violently with police that many different methods
of restraint were needed to be used and the TASER was just one of them.
The TASER has been used over 500,000 times by either TASER or by law enforcement
without a single death. To put that in perspective you can't give peanut
butter to 500,000 people without having at least one negative reaction.
Buyer: So I can just buy it and take it home?
Sales: The C2 is shipped to us inactive and you will need to pass a background check to get the activation code. TASER has taken on the task of screening the purchasers to make sure convicted felons can't activate these units. You can do this over the internet of if you don't have a computer you can call the toll free number and a trained operator will help you. If you complete the background verification on the internet and run into trouble you will get a dispute resolution number and a phone number to call. Most of the time these types of errors are just typos or address verification issues and can be cleared up in a few minutes by calling the toll-free number. The operator will then give you the code that is unique to your C2 to unlock it. Once the C2 is unlocked you will never need to do it again.
Buyer: How do I put the code in the C2?
Sales: The directions are in the packaging but you will slide back the safety and press the button the correct number of times for the first number and then slide the cover back locking in the first number. For example if the first number is 3 slide the safety back and press the button 3 times and close the safety. You will repeat the process for each number and then the indicator link will blink 5 times quickly and turn green and you can then spark the unit to see if it is activated.
Buyer: What about the battery? How long is it good for? If it is low how will I know?
Sales: The battery is called LDPM for Lithium Digital Power Magazine and it has a shelf life of 10 years. If the battery runs low the indicator light located under the sliding safety will turn yellow from red warning you the battery needs to be replaced. The battery can provide 50 thirty second cycles so you should be OK for a while unless you are showing all of your friends how it works. In that case you may want to purchase a second one.
Buyer: What is this Lifetime Guarantee on the package all about?
Sales: In the event you have to use the C2 or any TASER
product TASER device on airplanes or take them into public buildings like
courtrooms or schools. There are seven states that have old laws on the
books that prohibit citizens from possessing TASER devices and they are
NY, NJ, RI, Mass, WI, MI and HI. You have to be at least 18 years old.
There are a few cities that prohibit them like Washington DC and Philadelphia.
There is more information online at www.Academy.com.
Buyer: What about flying with it or going out of the country?
Sales: TASER devices need to be placed in your checked
bags and not carried on the plane. Also do not try to take it out of the
country. Leave it at home if you are traveling abroad.
Does the TASER work on animals?
Sales: Yes it will work on animals although its original intent was for a human that is why the probes come out vertically and a dog's body is horizontal to the ground. The best thing to do is turn the C2 sideways so the probes come out horizontal to the ground. If you think this is going to happen to you even more of a reason to purchase the extra 2 pack of cartridges. There have been many documented cases of law enforcement using the TASER on dogs and even small bears.
Buyer: Very good. I don't think I have anymore questions now what color should I get?
