Stun Guns Becoming Part of Popular Canadian Culture

Stun guns are now used by most law enforcement agencies across Canada. Predictably, along with their increased use, there is also increased controversy. In a variety of situations stun guns have been linked in some way to a number of deaths.

In virtually every situation the use of such non lethal weapons did not comply with established departmental procedures. In other situations where death occurred, underlying medical conditions or substance abuse problems exacerbated the situations and were generally held to be the cause of death.

Police officials coast to coast constantly point out the value of having an intermediate step which can be used as an intervention before resorting to lethal force. Nevertheless, Amnesty International has continued its objections to any usage of stun guns because of possible cases of the weapons being used improperly or to torture.

Due at least in part to all the controversy, the subject of Tasers and stun guns has appeared in the media in a new way. The hit television series Corner Gas devoted two episodes to the subject of acquiring a Taser, then the circumstances under which using it would be socially acceptable. Predictably, the bumbling sheriff even managed to stun himself by accident.

In their tongue-in-cheek way, however, Corner Gas alluded to the very real value of stun guns when used as non lethal intervention in situations of escalating violence.