Taser X26C stun gun for the rest of us

Oh happy day. We can't tell you how long we've been waiting to get our hands on a Taser-brand stun gun to give us the same incapacitating firepower as the cops, and Taser has met our request with the new X26C model for personal use. Even though it's meant for Joe Citizen, the X26C still packs a mighty punch, delivering 50,000 volts of pain from two tethered darts up to 15-feet away. Taser must imagine that you're going to go a little wild with this thing, seeing how they include six dart cartridges and a battery good for 150 shots with the gun. Also included for your $1000 are a holster, paper target with outlined "kill zones," instructional DVD, and a certificate for free one-on-one training in the black arts from a certified killing machine instructor. Taser has also thoughtfully manufactured the guns to release confetti emblazoned with the particular unit's serial number when fired, so criminals will have to start carrying around dustbusters if this becomes a new tool of their trade.

[Via The Denver Channel]

[John Gilman @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

The confetti is also released by the law enforcement-ish Tasers. Each cartridge is registered by the Taser folks to the owner so that there's no question of who zapped whom.

[Jazzay @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Hi John, i feel like being a grammar nazi so i thought I'd let you know if your going to be proper enough to use "whom", the "who" following "of" should also be a "whom" because it follows a preposition. At least you knew the second whom would be a direct object of zapped, good job with that ;).

So sorry, my english teach has drilled that into my head by now.

[tiuk @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

So, if I buy and register a Taser, and someone steels it and zaps someone's eyeballs out, I'll get the blame?

[Discfree @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Anyone want to make a bet on how long it takes for the first person to fry themselves on accident?

[Jazzay 2.0 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Hey Jazzay,
you should have written "if you're going to be proper" not, "if your going to be proper."

Not only are you a jerk, but you're also ignorant. More of a grammar mall cop than a grammar Nazi, I should say.

Now can we return to our regularly scheduled program?

[Zhuuu @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

No, you'll get questioned. Much like if someone stole your gun and shoots someone's eyeballs out with that.

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

My thoughts exactly #3. The the unique signature of each regular old handgun is usually pretty good for linking a particular gun to a particular bullet and thus a particular incident in much the same way as this confetti will be. But that doesn't in ANY way prove who fired the weapon.

Kinda funny, if you assume the registerd owner is the only one who will fire the taser, what happens if I try to defend myself with one, a struggle ensues, my 300lb 6'10" assailent relieves me of my precious taser and shoots ME with it, when the police arrive and find me beaten, and unconcious on the floor with those dang probes stuck in my BACK will the police assume I shot myself ?

Add to the taser that fingerprint id lockout feature that they were testing a few years ago for police weapons and I think the assumption might stand up in court. It's true, some ELSE can use your taser pretty easy, but it's a little harder for someone else to use your HAND to pull the trigger...

[fierywater @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I'll take the laser posted before, thanks.

[tiuk @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Thought so, Zhuuu. The dustbuster comment just seemed a bit out of place (criminals often don't shoot someone with their own registered gun, they steal one).

[Terry @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Julian will not care that the confetti emblazoned with the particular unit�s serial number makes users of the Taser more accountable. He will still demand the use of bullets, because he feels bullets are safer then a shock. He must be confused that a Taser [IS] designed not to be deadly weapon, where no such claim is made for a gun that fires bullets.

[Derrick @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I don't understand why this has been all over the news. Taser has had a X26C version for personal use for quite some time. My roomate bought his like 2 years ago. The only difference is that the personal version doesnt shoot as far and usually you can only buy a cloth holster. He bought the law enforcement version by calling Taser International and complaining. NOT NEWS!

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Turk, You can zap people's eyes out?

I WANT ONE!!

[Dick Davies @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Cool. So weapons are now consumer electronics? That's ok then. Sheesh.

I also like how the demo video showing the police happily zapping people who have clearly already surrendered.

[TZK @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I still like the laser gun you guys resported about yesterday better. Even though those have been around longer. :)

[o0adam0o @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I can already see a new article on hackaday.com

All you need:
1 Backpack
2 Car batteries
1 medium super soaker
6 Gold feces covered darts
1 dustbuster

[Phug @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

this is such a rip off. I've had stun guns for over 2 years that put out more voltage(600,000), for less money ($30), that is much smaller and runs on a simple 9V battery.

[MaHe @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I hate weapons. I can tell you - that ISN'T going to be mainly used for "self-protection". When this **** gets popular every "bully" will have one. Every robber. Just because people are paranoid. Stop living in such world. There are more chances to get hit by a car than get killed by someone else (because you didn't have a stun-gun, right?).

God bless America (and the whole world). I guess.

[Steven @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

No kidding this is a ripoff...I bought a S&W 9mm and a 9mm Beretta for $200 less than this (even after 7% tax!) I'd trust my beretta and her friends (jacketed hollow points) way more than one of these tasers any day. I just really don't get the point, if you're gonna protect yourself then protect yourself well.

[Rusty Shackleford @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Stun Guns don't Kill People. The Government Does.

Me, I'll just stick with my trusty .45. It's effective at far greater range and never needs recharging. And I can put it in any holster I like.

[Google Nazi @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

This thing looks pretty sweet! Just the looks of it makes me want it haha! I really wish it shot plasma instead of elecric needles. God i hate needles... (don't we all?)

We are one more step towards cooler weapons but yet this thing will get banned for a retarded reason in america like anything else that is cool...

Hell the green laser was banned for freag sakes!

[JRM @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I'd still rather have The Mountie's "shock-stick"

[brian welch @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

#10 JK "I don't mind a little grammar Nazism, but next time make damn sure you're right."

Indeed. #2 Jazzay - I believe you mean "you're".

*(;=

-bw

[TheSkinsFactory @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I just bought mine about 5 days ago. It feels great in your hand - small footprint and light but still feels strong and durable.

Phug: you clearly have no clue about the difference between what you have and the X26c. The stun gun you have works most likely only on the sensory nerves where the X26 works on sensory and motor nerves. Instead of just causing pain like yours does it actually stops the brain from sending messages to the muscles. I would bet on the X26c to stop some freak on drugs over a stun gun any day. The technology is much more advanced.

So why have this over a shotgun? A matter of preference of killing someone over incapacitating them.

[Song0330 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

TheSkinsFactory already stated what I was about to say. I'd definitely prefer to use a taser than a lethal weapon that could quickly escalate into criminal and civil matters. Of course, I'd prefer to keep both the X26 and a baby Glock within reach.

Also, this came out over a year ago. Why is it news now?

[Bible and Apologetics Teacher @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

#23 - Doesn't sound like it would be fun at all to get shot by one of those. How long does it take to recover?

[WillJ @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

What a retarded personal weapon. Whats with the paranoia. Do you people get mugged often? If you feel you need to carry around a stungun I dont think you should be going out into the real world. If people in the US just chilled out and trusted each other there might be less violent crimes. People get Robbed/Shot/Run Over/ Killed on a plane crash. Part of life. Get over it and be glad its not you.

[TheSkinsFactory @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Willj: "if people in the US just chilled out and trusted each other there might be less violent crimes"

You mean like in Paris (8 days and counting of riots) or at the South America conference (riots again)?

I can't speak for other people but i don't carry mine around. It's in my nightstand and will be used if someone breaks in while i'm at home. If people like me were truly "violent" we would buy a gun so we could shoot the intruder. I like to think people who buy Tasers are less prone to violence since the idea is to incapacitate rather than kill.

[Bible and Apologetics Teacher @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

The philosophy of trusting others to reduce crime assumes a certain view of human nature. People have tried to build utopias based on trust before that didn't work very well.

[benny @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

What are the laws on carrying this around the streets of California? Would it be counted as a concealed weapon?

How about in my car?

[Joe Citizen @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I've owned Taser products for several years. I currently own the M18L, which I've only ever carried when visiting New Orleans (prior to Katrina, but the aftermath of that should give you an idea why I carried it). While it does disperse the confetti, that confetti (both clear and fluorescent bits) is a protective mechanism. If someone steals my weapon, they won't be able to buy more cartridges, as the cartridges have to be registered to the unit, and the unit would have been reported stolen. It's not like you can buy the cartridges at Wal-Mart. Taser International actually encourages you to fire the weapon, which has a 30-second discharge timer, then drop the weapon and run. That discharge is enough to incapacitate a large person for some time (watch the actual-use videos on the law enforcement section of their site). If, when you return with the police, the perp has woken up, regained his senses, and stolen your weapon, presentation of a police report to Taser International will result in them giving you another weapon for free.

Non-lethal weaponry is a good decision, in my opinion, although I also feel that if you ever have to shoot a firearm, it's a bad time to learn. The Taser poses a nice middle-ground for those who don't want a firearm in the house, but still want to be protected in the event of a break-in, or while out in unsafe parts of the town/country.

FWIW, the Taser is not classified as a firearm by the ATF, which makes it legal for concealed civilian carry in most states (except CA, NY, NJ and some others with higher than normal crime rates), without any special permit or registration with any government agency.

For the person who compared this to a handheld stun gun, you can't compare the voltage to the effectiveness of the weapon. For your stun gun to do any damage to a person, you have to be close enough to them to maintain physical contact with them for an extended period of time. During that time, what is your attacker doing to you? What if you're a 110-pound woman in a parking garage? Do you think that you're going to keep that 250-pound drunken rapist off of you with that little 600,000 volt stun gun? The Taser discharges a specific electrical current that blocks your nervous system's motor signals, at the same time that it floods it with signals of excruciating pain. It's discharge will penetrate 2 inches of leather, or a kevlar vest. It has a 15-foot range and a laser sight, and the same effective stopping power as a .357 Magnum, but it won't kill you.

I'll gladly take that over anything from Radio Shack.

[Joe Citizen @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Correction - it appears now to be legal in CA, but perhaps not in specific cities. Check your local laws, or contact Taser International for information.

[Gxxxr1130 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Dear WillJ,
You have just won the award for the dumbest person on this page, and quite possibly the world.

"What a retarded personal weapon" - You are right, the fact that it doesn't kill, maim, and cause a pool of blood makes it dumb.

"Whats with the paranoia" - Another brilliant comment. Some people happen to live in areas with high crime rates. I know your small brain is thinking "why don't they move," but the answer would be rhetorical.

"If people in the US just chilled out and trusted each other there might be less violent crimes" - This one should win an award in itself. I suppose "paranoid" people such as mothers and young women are the true cause of crime, so we should deal with them first. I think you posting that comment will magically make people less fearful over criminals and people like you. It's because of you and others like yourself that we should carry weapons.

"People get Robbed/Shot/Run Over/ Killed...it's part of life" - Yes, I agree the getting robbed, shot, and raped is part of life. It happens to me everyweek, but for those us who don't like getting raped (can't include you) we choose to not let it happen. Maybe if you daughter (if you have already contaminated the world with your seed) has been raped you wouldn't be so ignorant.

People like you make me sick, but if there weren't idiots like you I wouldn't make so much money and there wouldn't be anyone to pay to clean my toilet.

[Gxxxr1130 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Dear WillJ,
You have just won the award for the dumbest person on this page, and quite possibly the world.

"What a retarded personal weapon" - You are right, the fact that it doesn't kill, maim, and cause a pool of blood makes it dumb.

"Whats with the paranoia" - Another brilliant comment. Some people happen to live in areas with high crime rates. I know your small brain is thinking "why don't they move," but the answer would be rhetorical.

"If people in the US just chilled out and trusted each other there might be less violent crimes" - This one should win an award in itself. I suppose "paranoid" people such as mothers and young women are the true cause of crime, so we should deal with them first. I think you posting that comment will magically make people less fearful over criminals and people like you. It's because of you and others like yourself that we should carry weapons.

"People get Robbed/Shot/Run Over/ Killed...it's part of life" - Yes, I agree the getting robbed, shot, and raped is part of life. It happens to me everyweek, but for those us who don't like getting raped (can't include you) we choose to not let it happen. Maybe if you daughter (if you have already contaminated the world with your seed) has been raped you wouldn't be so ignorant.

People like you make me sick, but if there weren't idiots like you I wouldn't make so much money and there wouldn't be anyone to pay to clean my toilet.

[Manny @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

You can buy this type of products at my web site

[Tasers @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

You can buy this type of products at my web site click on taser above

[Tasers @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

You can buy this type of products at my web site click on taser above