Taser International's new XREP includes "Hand Trap" feature that violates new Targeting Guidelines

Man-oh-man. What a cock-up...

(Taser International is going to hate me for making this observation public.)

As we've seen, Taser International recently released the new Taser Man taser targeting guidelines that clearly emphasized their considered advice to avoid shooting the taser anywhere on the subject's chest, while subtly including the arms too (for self-evident reasons, at least for the left arm...).

Well, guess what?

The new Taser XREP shotgun-fired, self-contained taser electroshock device specifically includes a feature (the "Hand Trap" wire) that is specifically intended to deliver the taser waveform current via the arm if the opportunity presents itself.

Fair Use / Fair Dealing claimed

Marketing nause: "...In fact, if the subject even grabs the tether, a live hand-trap wire makes a connection and the NMI effect is delivered through the hand, preventing the subject from letting go." [found in original marketing material]

There's a design-intent that some fraction of the subjects hit by the Taser XREP will instinctively reach for the device and thereby create a new current pathway that runs through the arm. It's a design feature put there for that very purpose.

To summarize, Taser International strongly advises that taser electroshock not be applied to the chest (and arms), shortly after introducing a new product (the XREP) the includes explicit features intended to apply the taser electroshock into the subject's hand (...arm, shoulder, chest).

Awkward, eh?

PS: Taser International also advises avoiding repeated X26 5-second cycles. But the XREP cycle is 20 seconds each. I've not seen any data on the waveform, but their marketing compares the XREP to the X26, implying the waveform currents are comparable in magnitude.


(Why-oh-why am I the only person on Earth that is reviewing this stuff and uncovering these sorts of obvious issues. I'm like a one-man government ECD Regulating Agency.)


UPDATE: On 12 October 2009, Taser International issued Revision 2 of the new guidelines. They've reinstated the hands and arms as preferred taser target regions. [LINK] They've not explained this change. But it does avoid having to recall all the XREP products.