Chris Larcovic was amped when she learned she could buy a Taser.
"I would definitely buy one," said Larcovic, 59, of Lawrenceville, who has owned a gun since being mugged 25 years ago. But she's still wary of carrying her gun. "If I hear someone walking behind me, I'm still afraid."
Tasers have been the focus of three highly publicized police incidents in Pittsburgh and Swissvale in the past month. One man died after being shocked by Swissvale police, although it's still unclear what role the Taser had in his death.
But police aren't the only ones permitted to carry the device.
A gun shop in West Mifflin sells Tasers off the shelf, as does hunting and outdoor gear giant Cabela's on Interstate 70 in Wheeling, W.Va.
Taser parties -- modeled after Tupperware parties -- have popped up in states across the Midwest and on the West Coast and could arrive here soon.
Common folks, it seems, are getting a charge out of Tasers.
Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Taser International has sold more than 176,000 devices to citizens since 1994. The company has sold about 16,000 units this year alone, well ahead of its annual average, spokeswoman Hilary Gibeat said.
The most popular model, the Taser C2, costs between $250 and $350.
Much of the company's marketing is geared toward women, which helps explain why some Tasers come in hot pink and leopard-skin colors.
The Tasers are designed to be used in the same manner as pepper spray -- for self-defense, Gibeat said.
"The ones that are used for the general public are to get people out of harm's way," she said.
Bill McCall, co-owner of Anthony Arms & Accessories in West Mifflin, said he's sold about a dozen Tasers this year. That's on par with previous years. Most customers were women, he said.
Ibrahim Kurdieh, 26, of the South Side, doesn't think anyone should have a Taser.
"If you have a knife or a bat, I can see the self-defense component in it," he said. "A Taser can be used for self defense, too, but Tasers seem like they're taken lightly. I'm worried it might become like a toy."
Ken Potter, owner of several northeast Maryland-based companies that sell self-defense and home-protection products, recently launched a new company, Taser C2 Parties, which specializes in home-based events similar to those held with Tupperware or Mary Kay cosmetics.
"You get a handful of people in the room and go over safety stats in their area," he said. "We let a person fire the Taser at a target to get a feel of how the unit fires and how it feels."
Potter, whose company holds parties within 100 miles of its headquarters in Elkton, Md., said he has started recruiting consultants to host events in other states, including Pennsylvania.
Tasers are a viable alternative to guns, said Susan Eaton, 51, of Salter Path, N.C. In 2006, she launched www.womenonguard.com, a Web site that sells self-defense products and offers defense tips.
"If you were in a situation and your self-defense weapon got taken away, the worse that could happen is that you could be Tased," she said. "If you had gun, they could shoot you."
Additional Information:How Tasers work
A Taser uses compressed air to shoot two barbs. The battery-powered Taser needs 50,000 volts to create a spark that will transmit electricity through as much as 2 inches of clothing. A shock carries .002 amps of current and between 400 volts.
Citizen Taser
Shock cycle: 30 seconds
Volts: 400
Range of barbs: 15 feet
Pulse: Variable
Amps: .0021
Police Taser
Shock cycle: 5 seconds
Volts: 3,400
Range of barbs: Up to 35 feet
Pulse: Steady
Amps: .0036
Source: Taser International
Additional Information:Activating your Taser
Taser buyers can take the device home on the day of purchase, but it's inoperable until an activation code is entered into the unit.
The person must pass identity confirmation and background checks. Buyers pass the checks if they have no felony convictions and are at least 18 years old.
The background check differs from that for a gun, which is done through a state or national instant check system. Under Pennsylvania law, those who are not permitted to own a firearm may not own a Taser. The devices are illegal in eight states and some cities, including Philadelphia.
Source: Taser International
