Axon, the company that owns TASER, has several models currently out with most being geared towards the public safety market. They also have several specifically meant for the civilian market with one in particular: The TASER Pulse. So why is it being discontinued? First lets talk about the concept behind the Pulse and what it is.
What is the TASER Pulse?
Many people are familiar with the ubiquitous and highly recognizable X26 and X26P from Taser, but what about their little brother? The X26 series has shown on countless occasions that it can be an effective tool used for self defense or gaining control over a person that might be dangerous, so of course regular people looking for a self defense tool that don’t want to or can’t carry a firearm might be interested in one as well.
Only issue is, it’s big. The X26 series is not compact by any means and is often larger than full size duty handguns. Not exactly an easy thing to conceal or have readily available when the time comes. Cue the Pulse. It’s compact, lightweight and can even be used in open carry and concealed carry holsters. From the Taser Website:
“TASER Pulse is an effective, less-lethal defense tool that can immobilize attackers for up to 30 seconds. Packing the same knock-down punch trusted by law enforcement, it was built with civilian self-protection in mind. Weighing in at just 8 ounces, this high-tech, intuitively designed device is revolutionizing the self-defense market.“
Yes, you read that right. 30 whole seconds. I have taken the 5 second ride several times in my career as a police officer and I can tell you, that’s a very long 5 seconds. I can not even begin to imagine what 30 continuous seconds would feel like. The idea behind the 30 second ride is that the longer neuromuscular incapacitation or NMI, would give the user time to run away and seek help or to gain access to another weapon if need be. Kind of like fire and forget.
But wait, my Taser Pulse is still back there?
Axon (TASER) offers a full replacement of your unit if you use it and lose it in a self defense situation. I have mixed emotions about this. I think it’s great that they replace a unit that’s been used by the customer to protect themselves, I wish more gun companies would offer something similar like Sons Of Liberty Gun Works. My hang up on it is this, you just gave that attacker another weapon. There is nothing stopping that person from getting up after the 30 seconds, grabbing your Pulse and taking off into the dark. All they have to do then is order a new cartridge and maybe a new battery and they are back in business. It’s all great if the police response of other intervention happens right away like it should in a perfect world, but it doesn’t. Police response times in certain areas are longer than they ever have been due to staffing, call volume and other variables.