Tech company and US Marine Corps test long-range taser
Marie Donlon | June 29, 2020
Source: Harkind DynamicsTo address the range issues encountered by standard taser technology used by law enforcement, the United States Marine Corps is testing a long-range taser device.
Developed by tech company Harkind Dynamics, the small arms pulsed electronic tetanization at extended range, or SPECTER, can achieve a range of roughly 300 ft — whereas standard tasers only feature a 25 ft range.
Designed to be discharged from a standard 12-gauge shotgun, the SPECTER also features a mini-parachute intended to lower the device’s risk of inflicting blunt force trauma and reducing the potential for penetrating its target. The mini parachute deploys in the moments prior to impact, thereby halving the speed of the device.
The SPECTER is expected to complete phase 1 trials by early July 2020.
If it doesn't have any method of determining remaining distance to target, the deployment of the parachute can occur far too late to provide the intended speed reduction. Since most military weapons are designed to eliminate the "enemy" this isn't a "problem". However, since so many of these migrate into the "civilian" sector the potential for severe injuries or death may become an issue. All-in-all a bad idea.
--JMM