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From: mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.flame,net.legal
Subject: Re: A new self-defense idea!
Message-ID: <468@cybvax0.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 15-Apr-85 10:18:17 EST
Article-I.D.: cybvax0.468
Posted: Mon Apr 15 10:18:17 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 16-Apr-85 00:53:15 EST
References: <355@idis.UUCP> <1602@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Reply-To: mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz)
Organization: Cybermation, Inc., Cambridge, MA
Lines: 27
Xref: watmath net.politics:8525 net.flame:9278 net.legal:1558
Summary: 

In article <1602@ut-ngp.UUCP> mercury@ut-ngp.UUCP (Larry E. Baker) writes:
> An interesting thought.  Like you said, though:  it won't be useful 'till
> someone can come up with an immobilizing agent that not only works nearly
> instantaneously, but can't overdose and/or kill the victim accidentally.

Great.  Just what we need.  Then anyone who wants to commit a crime will
simply shoot first, walk up to you, and do whatever he or she wants.

> I personally like the 'taser' devices that have come out not-all-that-
> recently.  A *very* bright light attached to a little device that
> shoots little wires into the assaliant and runs something like 40,000
> volts through him.  It looks like a pocket flashlight.  I've seen it
> demonstrated; it seems to be pretty effective against a single assailant.

This has the advantage that it's not as versatile a weapon as a gun, so
it won't be taken up much for commiting street crime.  Disadvantages
include the possibility that it could be lethal, depending upon the
condition of the zapee (though I haven't herad of anyone dying from
these yet.)  There's also the obnoxious possibility of its use for
torture, though there's no shortage (ugh, a pun) of electric cattle
prods and other such items which can also be used.

I think the quest for safety through an ideal personal weapon is a fantasy,
because your potential opposition will have access to the same weapons.
-- 

Mike Huybensz		...decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!cybvax0!mrh