"An electric gun is intended for self-defense, not for killing."

PalmThe death of a man in Palma The incident of a man being subdued with a Taser has sparked debate about the health risks associated with these weapons and when they should be used. It also raises a question related to the same event: Can a Taser kill someone? "Yes, but it's extremely rare. Most exposures are not fatal, although they are never completely risk-free," says public health expert Juan Carlos March, explaining that a Taser "is designed for self-defense, not as a tool for killing." However, March warns that a Taser discharge can be "very dangerous and can even cause death" in people with heart conditions, low muscle mass, the influence of drugs, or who are pregnant.

Other influencing factors include the number of shocks delivered, their duration, and their intensity—three factors that vary depending on the weapon model (more modern models offer greater reliability and better internal electronics). "One or two shocks are fine, but more than five can be very dangerous, even if the person has no health problems," he explains. The area of ​​the body where the shock is delivered also plays a crucial role, especially if the person has pre-existing health conditions. He also points out that sometimes, a person can die from the way they fall after being discharged. "If they fall after the shock and hit their head, they can die. Often (in situations without weapons), people fall, hit their head, and die." Given all the health risks associated with using a stun gun, March notes that the police recommend minimizing both the number and duration of shocks to avoid harm. Only law enforcement and security forces are authorized to use stun guns, according to sources within the National Police. The protocol for using the weapon is "very broad and very strict" and applies to "highly violent and aggressive" situations, they explain.

More stun guns

The National Police and the Civil Guard now have 3,400 stun guns, according to data from the Spanish government. The government has specified that the National Police has 3,000: 1,600 have already been distributed and 1,400 have been received and will be distributed in the coming months. The Civil Guard has 400 and is processing an acquisition request for another 800 between 2025 and 2028, approximately 200 stun guns per year. With this data, the Spanish government refers to the recommendations of the United Nations, which urge the use of means that replace force and firearms, such as "the peaceful resolution of conflicts, the study of crowd behavior, and techniques of persuasion, negotiation, and mediation." What are the regulations?

Although regional and municipal regulations may stipulate that electric weapons are standard equipment, the Spanish government believes that these laws should establish "provisions" regarding their use. These provisions, in the executive's view, should take into account that the catalog of weaponry to be used by regional and local police forces "must be appropriately proportionate to the functions that, within their respective areas of competence, correspond to these bodies." Similarly, officers must receive adequate training and possess additional authorization for their use, granted by the regional or local authority, especially when dealing with this type of exceptional weapon.