A BRIEF REVIEW OF TWO REPORTS ON NONLETHAL WEAPONS IS FOLLOWED BY DETAILS OF THE TASER OPERATION AND DISCUSSIONS OF THE ELECTRONIC 'STUN GUN' AS BOTH A DEFENSIVE-OFFENSIVE AND AN OFFENSIVE WEAPON. THE AUTHOR'S MAIN CRITICISM OF THE WEAPON IS THAT, WHILE NO POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE REPORTED USING IT AS THE MEANS TO APPREHEND A CRIMINAL, IN THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS IT CAN CAUSE DEATH BY INDIRECT MEANS IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR A CORONER TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF DEATH.