Last month a California court found that Taser International, the maker of Tasers and other non-lethal self-defense weapons, shared blame on one death. Such a finding is rare for the Scottsdale, Arizona Corporation.

Despite the high voltage, the low amperage of shocks delivered by Tasers only interferes with the body’s ability to do what the brain tells it to do. Penetration and impact are not needed in order for the Taser to be effective. The pulsating electrical output interrupts the communication between the brain and the muscular system is unable to perform, resulting in loss of control. Nevertheless, no damage is done to nerves, muscles, and other body elements. It merely interferes with the natural mode of functioning.

Amnesty International maintains that Tasers can cause serious injury or even death. According to their numbers, they have caused around 300 fatalities around the world. Nevertheless, those accidental deaths are still far less than have been caused by ordinary firearms designed to be lethal weapons.

While Tasers are not the complete answer to the problem of police shootings, they do provide alternatives to lethal force. Tasers are a conservative but effective alternative for crowd control or keeping order during political demonstrations. In fact, the St. Paul, Minnesota police force has plans to equip its officers with the non-lethal weapons in time for the Republican National Convention in September.