Opportunity for Rehabilitation of Less-Lethal Technology's Reputation Exists Even as Problems Mount for the Industry
Even as highly publicized questions linger surrounding stock listings and deaths following stun gun shocks, Robert Siciliano, president of StunGun.com, sees opportunities for competitors.


/Guns and Firearms News Articles/ - BOSTON, MA, December 02, 2005 - (StunGun.com) According to a security industry expert, news reports of the latest problems besetting the largest manufacturer of stun guns may mark a turning point in the industry's competitive makeup. Even as highly publicized questions linger surrounding stock listings and deaths following stun gun shocks, Robert Siciliano, president of StunGun.com, sees opportunities for competitors.

"Reports say a rival less-lethal weapon maker," said Siciliano, "is in talks to become the stun gun manufacturer of choice for Arizona's Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. Reports about a possible stock delisting cast the development, which is happening in the industry giant's own backyard, in a new light." Siciliano delivers presentations on security to Fortune 500 companies across the nation and is author of "The Safety Minute: 01."

The Arizona Republic and others have reported that Joe Arpaio, sheriff of Arizona's Maricopa County, has reportedly begun to test stun guns from another manufacturer, Stinger Systems Inc., a company that touts safety as one of its product's defining features. Writers at publications such as The Motley Fool have since weighed in on the situation.

According to wire service reports that have run on "ABC News," CNN, the New York Post, and elsewhere, Taser International Inc. has received a letter from the NASDAQ Stock Market. Articles claim that the stun gun manufacturer's stock may be subject to delisting because of the company's delays in filing a quarterly report and that the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company plans to attend a hearing on the issue.

"You have to wonder how often this sort of thing happens as a matter of course," said Siciliano. "Are the publicized plans to appeal merely savvy public relations in response to bad news, or is the company really in a bind? The question is critical, and the answer would reveal a lot about the situation."

Continued Siciliano, "A number of industry pundits have questioned whether other stun gun manufacturers have the clout on other stock markets to truly compete. If the NASDAQ delisting comes to pass, many people may end up going back to the drawing board."

Many of the same wire stories that reported the possible NASDAQ delisting also repeated an oft-cited Amnesty International statement that 129 deaths are related to stun guns. Human rights groups such as Amnesty, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference have all either issued statements or taken action in response to safety concerns over stun gun use.

On Nov. 28, The Miami Herald reported that a 35-year-old woman in Fort Myers, Fla., died shortly after showing no visible effects from the direct shot of a stun gun. The same day, "CourtTV" reported that a former Maricopa County deputy, Samuel Powers, has filed a liability case against Taser International. He alleges that a shock from the company's weapon in July of 2002 ended his 15-year career.

"Circumstances in the stun gun industry right now are ripe for a major market shake-up," Siciliano concluded. "The market really needs a stirring—and a positive one. More competition will keep this market honest, and well-publicized honesty is the only thing that will regain the public's and investors' trust when it comes to less-lethal technology. That public trust has been severely damaged by many months' worth of concerns over safety and profitability."

Further Related Resources:


Press Release Contact Information:

Robert Siciliano
StunGun.com
President
P.O. Box 15145
Boston, MA
United States 02215
Voice: 800-788-6486
Fax: 877-232-9669
Website: Visit Our Website