The incident occurred at the beginning of the week at Bolesławiec market square. A group of four boys, probably speaking Ukrainian, was walking through the city centre. One of them was holding a Taser, an electric incapacitating device. He fired it every now and then. From time to time, he ran up to one of his friends and tried to shock him through his trousers.
Stun guns are relatively safe. No permit is required to possess low-powered ones. Nevertheless, they should not be waved around in the city centre or used to frighten passers-by.
An electric stun gun, also known as a Taser, is a device used to temporarily immobilise or incapacitate a person by means of an electric discharge. It works by transmitting high-voltage, low-current electrical impulses through the air or by direct contact with the body. When these impulses reach the body, they disrupt normal electrical communication between neurons in the nervous system, leading to rapid but usually temporary muscle paralysis and intense pain.
The device generally consists of two parts: an electrical pulse generator and electrodes. In projectile-firing versions, the Taser shoots small electrodes over a short distance; they attach to the target’s body by means of thin wires. An electrical pulse is then transmitted through the wires. There are also contact models that require direct contact with the person.
The use of a Taser is intended to provide the person operating the device with a safe distance from a potentially dangerous or aggressive individual, while minimising the risk of serious injury. Despite this, using a stun gun may pose health risks, particularly for people with pre-existing health problems.