I had LAPD officers tell me after the Rodney King riots that NO it was NOT a good idea to get a taser to protect myself when I was working in skid row area of Los Angeles. They said it is not to be compared with pepper spray and more on a par with a fire arm.
I don’t have to stick my finger in an electrical socket to know it’s going to knock me on my butt and possibly stop my heart or breathing (especially at my age and other health considerations - but then again a cop looking at me may not care about that before administering the harmless little tool eh?).
It is much more dangerous to stick your finger in the outlet.
The taser generates a specific frequency that shuts down your motor control. It isn’t high amperage or voltage that does it.
You know, there is even a specific frequency that can be introduced to your body that will literally cause it to rip itself apart. It is technology not brute force.
Another way of thinking about it, it is like having your body hacked.
Yea, it stings but not like what you are imagining.
I think most people that aren’t used to it are just shocked more by the experience of not having any ability to even move their fingers during the process.