Taser International unveils Taser C2 Personal Protector

While we've yet to hear of any mishaps or hijinks, the folks at Taser International are apparently braving the crowds at CES to show off their latest bit of non-lethal weaponry, the Taser C2 Personal Protector. Available in your choice of black, silver, blue, or pink, the C2 has a range of up to 15 feet for long-range attacks and can also be used as a contact stun device if you fail to get the jump on your attacker. Those looking to trick out their Taser beyond the basics can also opt for a model with an integrated laser sight, although many of the other options available on higher-end Tasers, like the Taser Cam interface, have been eliminated from the C2 to keep costs down, with the base model starting at just $299. According to Taser, you should be able to get your hands on one sometime this April, though you'll have to wait 'till you complete a background check before they'll give you the code to activate it.

[Thanks, Richard D]

[Brent @ Jan 8th 2007 4:31PM]

I find this news quite shocking.

[David @ Jan 8th 2007 7:00PM]

Thank goodness that it comes in pink. What I means is that I really do think that this color will be the deciding factor for most of the ladies who visit engadget.com and styledash.com as to whether or not they should get it!

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jan 8th 2007 7:04PM]

So here is my question: Can it be used as a contact stun-gun AFTER it has been fired? It has always seemed to me that the main flaw with Tasers, is that they are only really useful against a single assailant, and after you have 'shot your wad' you are defenseless. If it can still be used as a contact stun-gun, immediately after being fired, with no need to reload another cartridge, then that would at least somewhat solve that problem.

[wabguard-email @ Jan 8th 2007 7:56PM]

Yup sure can. They can be used as a stun gun before (no cartidge) and after firing. If you ever seen one in action or been tazed, you will marvel at how well it makes you care about NOTHING except making it stop. :P

[Tim @ Jan 11th 2007 5:10PM]

It can be used for drive stunning after the cartidge has been fired then removed.

[Michael @ Dec 11th 2007 7:38PM]

Yes the Taser may be used for a DRIVE stun if the cartidge misses (or if only one probe misses.

[SporkRocker @ Jan 8th 2007 8:23PM]

These can't be legal to own without a license?

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jan 8th 2007 9:45PM]

Why can't they? You can do a hell of a lot more damage with a baseball bat or kitchen knife, and you don't need a license for those.

[Shadow Lord @ Jan 8th 2007 8:52PM]

Hmm... I am guessing the folks at UCLA will be ordering a few dozen of these... You know to keep control over those unruly terrorist/gangbangers/students causing problem by studying in the library without an ID...

[jc_atl @ Jan 8th 2007 8:52PM]

This has to be a joke. Mugging/carjacking/etc just got a lot easier for the bad guys.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jan 8th 2007 10:14PM]

Ignoring all the measures this device has that make it unsuitable for criminal activity, would you rather be knifed in the gut or shot? Personally, if someone is going to steal something of mine, I would rather they do it in a non-lethal way than just kill me.

I really don't understand all these comments about how bad it is for the average citizen to have a Taser. I would rather get shocked than knifed, hit over the head with a baseball bat, hit with a tire iron, or any of a million other things people could do to you with everyday items.

[gryzor @ Jan 9th 2007 4:59AM]

Well, the problem is that it makes violence much easier, brings potential into the hands of many more who would otherwise not contemplate actually doing something of the sort: "Ooh, look, I can steal in a safe way without having to fear I'll kill the poor bastard!"

[Paul @ Jan 8th 2007 10:48PM]

Very nice. I always liked their regular tasers, but they seemed too big to carry around. These are a nice improvement.

[chef @ Jan 8th 2007 11:05PM]

"non-lethal"

[Daniel @ Jan 8th 2007 11:46PM]

Who's the attacker? The one with the taser or the one without?

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jan 9th 2007 5:22AM]

Thing is, from a criminal perspective, it is a weapon that not only leaves the person alive, so that they can identify you, but it also showers them with confetti that is unique to that weapon, and that the police can track back to the exact gun, and purchaser of said gun. All in all, I think your average criminal is still going to go with the anonymous $10 knife or $50 baseball bat, instead of the $350 Taser that leaves your name, address, phone number, and witness at the scene of the crime.

You are right that it makes "violence" much easier, but I would argue that the more realistic scenario where it "brings potential into the hands of many more who would otherwise not contemplate actually doing something of the sort" would be the girl who would have let herself be raped, because the guy had a knife, but now she can just knock the guy out and run, or the guy who would have handed over his car keys because there were two assailants, who can now Taser one, and contact stun the other.

Criminals don't need help finding weapons, they are criminals! It doesn't bother them that it is illegal to carry a gun or assault someone, that is why they are called criminals. It is the average person who doesn't want to break the law that needs a little help if they are going to defend themselves from the criminals.

[rleonhardt @ Jan 9th 2007 12:03PM]

L.M. Lloyd makes completely valid points. I think it's cool that these are available at a reasonable price and am now really considering one for home protection. Great alternative to keeping a gun in the house. The one thing that does mildly concern me about these is being non-lethal this is may become a much more likely protection measure for the average consumer. I worry about the poor bastard who gets shocked while jogging by the college co-ed for being too black and running at her. That being said, I don't have too much knowledge of whether these exist at this low of a price point today and make assumption that something like this would go mass market.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Jan 11th 2007 9:50PM]

Yeah, there will without a doubt be misuse of them, just like any other item. However, I would rather accidentally get Tasered because someone had an itchy trigger finger than get shot for the same reason.

[Ron @ Jan 18th 2007 12:29AM]

The playing field just became a little more level. Now the average person can legally have this means of self protection right in their pocket. Bet alot of bad guys think twice BEFORE they rob,rape, or car jack or even worse.

[Bill Petersen @ Jan 19th 2007 10:33AM]

A real delema, I like the basic idea of PROTECTION but as with anything else, in the wrong hands this is bad stuff. Justifiable homicide if I shoot the bastard if he even comes at me and triggers the charge so I can see the electricity surging from contact points, this ain't no toy!!! Don't you still need a safety class to obtaing CS gas but all you need for this is a background check??? It's gonna be interesting, look out brother officers.

[fortressman @ Jan 20th 2007 4:50PM]

Are all police officers scared of citizens with self-defense options? Come on guys, why in the world would I take the time, spend the money on a Taser, pass the background check, and then go use it on an officer? You guys need to worry about the felonious bastards that get their illegal weapons off the street, not legitimate self-defense by civilians. We all can't rely on you to be there when we need you. I legally carry a concealed pistol, but there's a lot of people I would much rather be carrying around a Taser device. Oh yea, the C2 feels great! I volunteered for an exposure, and it's not something I care to do every day.
www.fortressenterprise.com

[Paul @ Feb 13th 2007 2:22PM]

I would suggest some of you actually read the feature section on this product.
Some of the safety features are:

Tazer will not work till a background check has been done, and the owner has been given an auth. code to unlock the tazer.

When the taser is discharged, along with the probes, it releases 20 to 30 anti-felon tags that are about the size of hole punch chads that spread out around the area that has the serial number of the taser that it was discharged from, meaning it can be traced back to the purchaser.

Optional laser pointer to know for show you hit where your aiming.

I just don't understand what is going on in this country these days, you shot and kill someone trying to break into your house and you yourself can be charged with murder or at the least have a civil suit brought against you by the bad guys family....You have every right to defend yourself and your family, and if the bad guy dies in that process, it sounds to me like he has chosen the wrong profession. The bad guy put himself in that situation, so he must suffer the conciquences of his own actions.

[Al Caggiano @ Sep 30th 2007 12:39PM]

How do I go about getting A backround check? Do you do it or do or do I?

[Chris @ Nov 7th 2007 3:40PM]

A lot of good points. I doubt this will be a device criminals will be using. Not so much because of the afids program. There are way too many ways around that. But for the simple fact you have to buy the reload cartridges from Taser itself.

What is curious, why does Taser require a background check? Other than for PR reasons, to instill a false sense of security, and to portray some sort of corporate responsibility. They've gone to great lengths to get this product listed as a "non-fire arm". Which means it's not restricted for anyone (including felons) to purchase and/or own. So by law, anyone they refused to sell to would be a case of discrimination.

Also, seeing how it's not a tracked or regulated device, what would be stopping someone from buying 3 or 4 and selling those to people who didn't pass Taser's "background check"?

Just some food for thought. Either way, I like the fact that the option is out there. Will I buy one?? Perhaps, if they remove this "background" check requirement.

I don't like opening my life to the gun store people, but the law says I have to, so I do. At least the gun stores are limited by the govt. as to what they can research (limited list). These tasers aren't regulated, which means Taser Inc. can look at and go as far into your personal business as they see fit. Not a selling point if you ask me. Amounts to the same as buying a lawn mower at Home Depot and handing your SSN card over to the clerk and telling them to have fun with it.

[jose mario @ Jan 17th 2008 11:41PM]

bem eu vi esta arma"letal" na revista epoca daeditora globo aqui no Brasil. aonde poderia se comprar uma destas? seria pelo preço de r$ 299,00 com ou sem o frete?qual seria voltagem dele?
será necessario uma licença tb?
bem espero que universalizem logo essa licença!

abraços
dr. jose mario
Phd economia
Harvard University