“Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turn, Nor hell a fury like a woman-scorned.” The quote from William Congreve’s 17th-century play The Mourning Bride has been the most notable statement to encapsulate the essence of an angry woman. It’s lasted 310 years for a reason. TASER International’s legal department would do well to remember it.
Fresh off the factory line, TASER’s new C2 product takes aim at female consumers by combining fashion and portability with a 50,000-volt shock that zaps the brain and incapacitates a target. For as little as $299, women everywhere can render any man speechless (or at least any man within 15 feet) without beauty aids or salon visits. And since the new C2 comes in four designer colors, a woman can maintain her social status by not mismatching her accessories. It’s a crying shame the company couldn’t secure the product as an add-on to Apple’s iPhone.
What does TASER plan to do to prevent its product from being abused? Don’t get me wrong. I applaud any woman who takes the initiative to protect herself. But we live in an age where even the most highly trained female astronaut will pack her fury in a suitcase, put on adult diapers, and take a road trip to confront her man’s lover. What is to keep other women from tasering their way to vengeance? And what happens when a child gets hold of the weapon? The shiny purple handle of the C2 doesn’t really scream, “Danger!”
Since TASER weapons do not kill, people are more comfortable with pulling the trigger. With guns, there are consequences. A situation as benign as carrying a gun without the right permit can score you a one-way ticket to a county jail cell. With TASER guns, what consequences exist?
Enter the lawsuit. According to TASER International’s 10-K annual report, the company is already busy with lawsuits related to the misuse of their products. It settled a class action lawsuit in 2006 that set the company back about $21.75 million. I am stunned to see that TASER’s legal department signed off on the C2 product launch.
Are you kidding me with this? When the majority of women who are murdered are killed by MEN – men who claim to love them – and you think WOMEN shouldn’t be allowed a *non-lethal* weapon? What does Smith & Wesson plan to do to prevent its product from being used? Glock? Why are you not calling out gun manufacturers?
You, Ms. Taylor, need a clue. Why don’t you start by googling murder stats for women in the US, so you can see who the real offenders are.
I am in no way saying that women should not protect themselves. I just don’t think that any weapon should be made available to the general masses in cotton candy pink.
The taser has made quite a name for itself, partially due to the large amount of people that have been victims of its misuse. The gun is not treated as a deadly weapon. As result, it is often used in instances where force isn’t necessary. If trained police officers have problems holding back, how will TASER International insure that consumer users treat the weapon with respect.
A Youtube and Google search will yield a hefty amount of articles and videos that provide examples stun gun misuse. There are even videos of people using the weapon as a source of entertainment (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCUEoHCcoUQ).
I hardly think the color of the taser is relevant here. Clearly you believe that the taser is marketed to women, and women shouldn’t carry them for that reason. A black taser is equivalent to a pink taser. Yet you clearly focus on women as the market for this, which is a red – or, pink – herring.
If women are so stupid and irrational (cute how you are now trying to argue that tasers should not go to “the general masses” to cover up for your gender bias/sexism) then why are you even writing? In fact, by your logic, you as an “irrational” female shouldn’t even go outside of the house. You should stay home and vaccuum and bake a pie for your hubby like a good girl….. :/
Right, so men already use guns, knives, fists, etc. to rape and beat and kill us and that’s not worth a mention, but heaven forbid some ladies buy some tasers to fend off the violent abusive jerk males they have to interact with every day. Sheesh.
The color of the taser is relevant. Women should take control of their security, especially considering the statistics. I just don’t think weapons should made to look like toys. In saying that, do I mean that a person (woman or man) should not buy a taser, or any weapon to protect themselves? Absolutely not!!!
My question isn’t about whether women should secure themselves, but rather the companies decision to launch a harmful weapon that could easily be mistaken for a toy. If in some way you found text in the original post offensive, please accept my sincere apologies for it was not my intention. I just find it odd to see the bullet point, “Available in four designer colors,” as a main selling point for a weapon.
So, basically, the infantilization of the colors is what’s bothering you, correct? How is this different from http://feministphilosophers.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/what-working-women-want/? Marketers have long been lazy/discriminatory and simply changed the color of appliances/technology to pink in order to appeal to women (because apparently, that’s all it takes to improve such items for the female half of the population, don’t lets actually ask women what improvements/changes to the actual performance of such items they’d appreciate…) If this is the case, how can you ignore the fact that toy guns are produced to look exactly like the real, and lethal, thing? Are then the gun and toy gun manufacturers not responsible for accidental shooting deaths? But I digress. You are simply wasting your time with this argument.
Besides, your real argument is this: “What does TASER plan to do to prevent its product from being abused?” (What faith you have in women.) As other commenters have said, what do the gun manufacturers plan to do? Nothing–they rely on our law-enforcement officials. And anyone unjustly assaulted with a Taser has the right to report the assault and have the assaulter held accountable by law.
And thanks, by the way, for your obvious support of your fellow ’silly and frivolous’ women. That’s sarcasm, in case you get confused.
Just offhand, without googling, can think of a dozen famous male wackos, by which I mean serial killers who loved to kill just women and rapists. How many famous female killers and rapists can you think of, offhand without googling? And you think that giving women a non-lethal deterrent would just be too much for their brains and might be dangerous to the one poor, poor schmuck who encountered a crazy lady. Hon, you need some help with your brain.
But oh, how much freer I’d feel if I knew men were scared stiff they might get a jolt if they didn’t behave the way they should. mmm. delicious. You go on acting the way men want you to act. Tow the line sweetie pie. I’m sure it will work great for you, baby cakes.
You need to grow up. Perhaps when you live a little longer… your opinion will change about this. Maybe then, you will respect the right for women to be able to defend themselves. Give mothers a little respect, most are very protective and cautious around their children. They are not going to target practice w/their daughters and are less likely to leave the weapon at a child’s reach! Don’t forget that a lot of women carry guns too. When was the last time you heard that a child shot him or herself by taking a gun out of their mom’s purse!
I would just like to say that as a college student, I would feel much safer knowing that I could taze the crap out of a potential rapist, mugger, killer or whatever. At big universities such as mine, stories of harassment, rape and abuse are not uncommon. God forbid I should be able to protect myself, pink taser or black.
So…let me see if I’ve got this… men carrying guns= staunchly protected 2nd amendment right. Women carrying non-lethal defense mechanisms= a valid cause for concern?
If your problem is solely based on the toy-like appearance of the items in question, maybe you should be more concerned with the culture of violence that our children are growing up in. Maybe we should ban all toys that LOOK like weapons, or maybe all the video games that promote violence, against women or anyone else. Why don’t we worry a little more about Grand Theft Auto, a game that involves the beating of prostitutes by the game’s main characters, instead of a tool that could potentially save a woman’s life.
Priority check?
Also, how many times have women been beaten, raped, killed, whatever your pleasure, because of a jealous lover? Then one female astronaut goes a little berserk and now we’re all unbalanced crazies. Nice.