Features

• When fired, Tasers emit barbs propelled by nitrogen cartridges. The barbs send a 50,000 volt shock directly into the target's body, according to The Christian Science Monitor.
  
  

Controversy

• Although many police departments argue that Tasers are a safer alternative to traditional firearms and less-lethal weapons such as batons and rubber bullets, some physicians argue that being tased increases individuals' risk of ventricular fibrillation of the heart, a condition which can lead to death, according to Scientific American.
  
  

Considerations

• How a Taser is used, its setting, and the length of the shock administered all affect the weapon's safety. The size of the tased individual may also play a role in whether the shock will cause serious harm or death. The risk of ventricular fibrillation increases if the barb lands directly between a person's ribs and if the tased individual is very thin, according to the National Review of Medicine.