Advantages of Technology

One of the new technology police officers are taking advantage of are the Stun Guns. “Stun gun, hand-held electronic device that produces a high-voltage pulse that can immobilize a person for several minutes with no permanent damage in most cases. It is powered by ordinary batteries, which supply power to a circuit containing transformers, oscillators, capacitors, and electrodes. “A Taser works by creating an electrical circuit, a closed path through which electricity travels. A battery in the gun supplies the electricity. When the gun is not in use, the electricity can't flow through it and complete the circuit, because the two darts are not in contact with each other. But when the darts hit a person, they can stick to skin or clothing. The person's body then closes the circuit, and electricity flows through it, delivering a powerful shock. A series of shocks can be delivered to the same person, once the darts have implanted them-selves.

A Stun Gun making an electrical arc between its tw...

Advanced M26 TASER Stun Pistol - The United States...

Electric weapon

The strength of an electric current is measured in two ways. One measure, called amperage, is the amount of electricity that flows in the circuit. Amperage is like the amount of water that flows through a hose. The second measure, called voltage, is the amount of force behind the electricity. Voltage is like the pressure of water in a hose. Stun guns are designed to be non-lethal--to have a high voltage but a low amperage. In other words, the guns put a lot of pressure behind low-intensity electricity--like a hose that shoots a thin stream of water. The high voltage allows the current from the darts to jump through even thick clothing, but the low amperage limits the amount of electricity flooding through the body” (Jozefowicz, 2006). “Supporters say that electroshock guns are a safer alternative to devices such as firearms. TASER International...