Diplomacy: Scorned No More: It’s A Warm Holiday Season For Dictators
Most of Taser's publicity has come from lethal incidents involving the police. Since 2001, about 290 people worldwide have died after being Tasered. The United Nations called Tasers "torture devices" when a Polish man, Robert Dziekanski, died after being Tasered at a Canadian airport. That didn't stop Taser from selling 6,900 C2 units during its first few months on the market this year. By contrast, the much bulkier original personal-protection version sold only 125,000 units in a decade.
"We have customers who don't want to look like Dirty Harry," says Tom Smith, chairman and cofounder of the $1 billion Taser International. He says the U.N. assertion is "absurd" and that his company runs a background check on all buyers, who can be traced if they misuse the device.
Still, some are not convinced. "The potential for abuse is enormous," says Robert Gruder of Stinger Systems, which also makes police stun guns.
For now, hope you don't bump into a Taser carrier on the wrong day.
—Ashley R. Harris
© 2007
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Member Comments
Posted By: GerryWolff @ 01/07/2008 4:07:13 AM
Comment: The rather negative tone of your article about solar power from deserts ("The solar sands?", 2007-12-24) is not justified by the facts. The proposals outlined in the article have been the subject of intensive study by researchers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and cannot be dismissed as "half-baked green ideas". Indeed, a rather similar plan for the US has been published recently in the Scientific American ("A solar grand plan", SA January 2008).
Using the simple, proven technology of concentrating solar power (CSP), less than 1% of the world's hot deserts could generate as much electricity as the world currently uses. With the use of highly-efficient 'HVDC' transmission lines, it is feasible and economic to transmit solar electricity for 3000 km or more. 90% of the world's population lives within 2700 km of a hot desert.
Relevant reports from the DLR may be downloaded via links from www.trec-uk.org.uk/reports.htm . Further information may be found at www.desertec.org and www.trec-uk.org.uk .