The Disadvantages of Tasers

Limited Range

• Unlike firearms, tasers have an extremely limited range, meaning that a victim must close with his attacker before he can use one. Yet because they must be fired, a taser still requires the wielder to aim and hit his target properly (some tasers are equipped with laser sights for this purpose). That makes them most effective against assailants with hand-held weapons, such as knives or blackjacks. A handgun, however, can be used at range, allowing the victim to fend off assailants with similar-ranged weapons.

Legality

• Tasers aren't classified as firearms and thus aren't bound by licensing and other restrictions. However, their use is still limited in a number of areas, including most countries outside the United States. Within the U.S., Hawaii, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Wisconsin place limitations on their use, and some cities and counties curtail their ownership as well. When traveling by plane with a taser, you need to check it with your luggage, and you normally won't be allowed to enter a courthouse or public building with one. (Sporting arenas and stadiums often prohibit people from carrying tasers as well.) Check the laws in your local area before make a purchase, and know what the statutes are in any area you need to travel to when carrying your taser.

One Shot

• While firearms carry multiple shots, and stun batons carry numerous charges before needing replacement, a taser is a one-shot weapon. After it's used, the wiring needs to be repacked and the air cartridges need to be replaced. The operation takes time -- more than most people can afford when fending off an attacker. Some types of tasers include a fall-back option: a stun gun that can be fired directly against an attacker multiple times -- but even then, the weapon relies on careful aim and a successful first shot to incapacitate an attacker. In the case of multiple attackers, its usefulness declines even further.