Beatrice Lang
Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle, or TASER, is a non-lethal electrical weapon used by law enforcement to immobilize and capture individuals. The name TASER is derived from the initials of a science fiction novel, Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle, published in 1911, in which the protagonist, Tom Swift, invents an electric rifle that shoots bolts of electricity. The novel inspired Jack Cover, an aerospace scientist, to develop the TASER in the 1960s and 70s as a less violent alternative to traditional weapons used by police at the time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle |
| Acronym | TASER |
| Author | Victor Appleton |
| Publisher | Grosset & Dunlap |
| Series | Tom Swift |
| Genre | Young Adult Novel |
| Publication Year | 1911 |
| Plot | Tom Swift, an inventor, develops an electric rifle and embarks on an adventure to Africa, where he hunts elephants and encounters fearsome tribes. |
| Inspiration | The novel inspired the name of the non-lethal weapon "Taser," invented by Jack Cover and marketed by Taser International. |
| Electric Rifle Description | The rifle fires bolts of electricity, can be calibrated for range, intensity, and lethality, and can discharge a globe of light for night hunting. |
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What You'll Learn
The 1911 novel 'Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle'
The 1911 novel "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle", written by Stratemeyer Syndicate writers under the pen name Victor Appleton, is the tenth volume in the original Tom Swift novel series. The novel follows Tom Swift, a young inventor and mechanic, who dreams of African safaris while test-firing his new electric rifle. The rifle shoots invisible bolts of lightning and plays a crucial role in saving Tom and his friends from danger throughout their adventures.
While testing his invention, Tom accidentally burns a hole in his neighbour's dining room wall, leading him to add safety features to the rifle. Soon after, he encounters a famous African safari master, and together, they design and construct a new custom airship, the Black Hawk. Tom, along with his companions Ned and Mr. Damon, embark on a journey to Africa with the hunter, Mr. Durban, in search of ivory and adventure.
In Africa, Tom and his friends discover that some of their old friends are being held hostage by fearsome tribes of red pygmies. Tom's resourcefulness and bravery come to the fore as he builds two major inventions during this volume. The first is the aforementioned airship, The Black Hawk, and the second is his electric rifle, which proves to be a valuable asset in their dangerous encounters.
The novel is notable for its racist depictions of non-white characters, portraying African people as either passive and childlike or savage and violent, with descriptions such as "hideous in their savagery, wearing only the loin cloth, and with their kinky hair stuck full of sticks" and "wild, savage and ferocious... like little red apes". Despite the offensive racial attitudes, the novel is credited with assisting the success of American science fiction and inspiring several inventions, including the Taser, which takes its name from the novel's title: Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle.
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The non-lethal weapon developed by Jack Cover
Cover, a physicist and aerospace engineer, began developing the Taser in the 1960s in response to a series of emergencies in the news, including airplane hijackings. The scientific inspiration for the Taser came from a newspaper article about a man who had inadvertently touched a fallen power line and survived, though he was temporarily immobilized. This led Cover to wonder if there was a way to subdue people safely using electricity.
Cover's original Taser used compressed gas to fire two darts connected to wires, delivering an electric charge strong enough to override the body's neuromuscular system. The device was first marketed to law enforcement, with the Los Angeles Police Department becoming an early buyer in 1979. Over time, the Taser has become a key tool for police forces worldwide, offering a non-lethal alternative to firearms in high-risk situations.
However, the proliferation of Tasers has also made them controversial, as their frequent use has led to concerns about overuse and potential lethality. According to Amnesty International, at least 334 people have died since 2001 after being shot with Tasers by police officers. The American Civil Liberties Union is pressing to have Tasers classified as lethal weapons, but experts disagree on whether the stun guns directly caused the deaths.
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The Taser name and acronym
The TASER, commonly known as a taser, is a non-lethal electrical weapon used to immobilize and capture targets. The name "TASER" is derived from the novel "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle" by Victor Appleton, published in 1911. In the book, Tom Swift invents an electric rifle that can be used for hunting and adventure in Africa.
Jack Cover, the inventor of the TASER weapon, created the acronym TASER based on the initials from the book title (T.S.E.R) and added an "A" to make it easier to pronounce. The full form of the acronym is "Thomas Alva/A. Swift Electric Rifle," with some sources using "Alva" as the middle name, while others use "A."
The novel "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle" is part of the Tom Swift series of young adult adventure novels written in the early 20th century. The book follows Tom Swift, a young inventor, who develops an electric rifle that he wishes to test in Africa. The electric rifle is described as a powerful weapon capable of discharging bolts of electricity, with adjustable levels of range, intensity, and lethality.
The TASER weapon invented by Jack Cover operates by firing two metal darts attached to a fine wire, delivering a high-voltage electric current that causes the target's muscles to tense up involuntarily. Cover patented his invention in 1974 and initially faced rejection from law enforcement, military, and airlines. However, he persisted in refining the design, and eventually gained adoption by significant police departments in the late 1970s.
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The impact on police departments
The development of the Taser—named after Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle—has had a significant impact on police departments across the United States.
In the early 1900s, police departments began equipping their officers with firearms, but nightsticks remained an alternative option. In the 1960s, as civil rights movements gained momentum, police departments sought new weapons to control large crowds, often borrowing from military armaments such as tear gas. During this time, some departments began using electrical weapons like cattle prods, which were particularly offensive to many citizens, especially in the context of the Civil Rights movement in the South.
The invention of the Taser by Jack Cover in 1974 presented a new option for law enforcement. Cover, inspired by the Thomas Swift novel he read as a child, envisioned a non-lethal weapon that could be used by police. The Taser used a small gunpowder charge to fire two metal darts attached to a wire, delivering 50,000 volts of current to cause muscles to tense up involuntarily. Initially, police departments were not interested in the Taser, but Cover persisted in refining the design. Finally, in 1979, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) became the first major adopter of the technology, intrigued by the potential for a less-lethal alternative to firearms.
The adoption of the Taser by the LAPD came in the wake of a controversial shooting. On January 3, 1979, two LAPD officers responding to a dispute over an unpaid gas bill shot and killed 39-year-old Eulia May Love, an African-American mother. The killing garnered significant media attention and prompted the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners to recommend changes to training and shooting investigations. The department also began researching non-lethal weapons, which aligned with the Taser's capabilities.
Today, Tasers are widely used by law enforcement, with over 80% of US law enforcement departments adopting them or similar stun guns. The impact of Tasers on policing has been significant, providing officers with an alternative to firearms in certain situations. However, their use has also raised concerns and sparked debates about excessive force, pain compliance, and the potential for misuse or abuse by officers. Some individuals have shared their experiences of being tased by police, highlighting the potential for psychological trauma and PTSD associated with the use of these weapons.
Overall, the development and adoption of Tasers, inspired by Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle, have had a notable impact on police departments in the United States. It has offered a less-lethal option in certain situations, but its introduction has also brought to light important discussions about the appropriate use of force and the potential for misuse or abuse of such technology.
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The book's racist depictions of non-white characters
The novel "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle", published in 1911, inspired the name of the Taser (Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle). The book depicts its non-white characters in a racist light, portraying black people as either passive, simple, and childlike or animalistic and capable of extreme violence. This depiction of people of colour as immoral savages in need of civilising was common in texts from the British, Belgian, and French empires. Authors often used dialect to signify a lack of intelligence, illustrations to portray people of colour as unclean and animal-like, and exaggerated personality traits to suggest laziness and immorality.
The book's portrayal of black people as childlike or animalistic is not unique among literature of its time. For example, Tintin au Congo, published in 1931, has been criticised for its racist portrayal of Congolese people as infantile, unintelligent, and ape-like. Similarly, children's books from the early 20th century often depicted people of colour as immoral savages, using faulty scientific studies to justify discrimination. These books contributed to a long legacy of racism in Western countries, negatively shaping children's perspectives on people of colour and perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
In addition to these explicit racist depictions, modern literature often exhibits more subtle forms of racism. For example, the absence of people of colour in stories set in diverse places like New York City can be alienating for readers of colour. Another example is the use of food to describe people of colour's skin colour, perpetuating stereotypes and reducing individuals to simplistic characteristics. Furthermore, the appropriation of Black English or ebonics in literature by non-Black authors perpetuates the idea that Black English is a corrupted form of standard English, ignoring its rich dialectical nuances.
The impact of racist depictions in literature is significant, influencing readers' perspectives and contributing to harmful stereotypes. Literature has historically been written by and for privileged people, reflecting and reinforcing their biases. However, it is important to acknowledge that literature can also be a tool for positive change. Following the Civil Rights era, children's literature began to reflect a more inclusive attitude, with African American authors creating stories that celebrated Black culture and history and actively dismantled racism.
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Frequently asked questions
Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle is a fictional weapon from the 1911 novel 'Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle' by Stratemeyer Syndicate writers under the pen name Victor Appleton.
The novel is about Tom Swift, a young inventor, and his adventures in Africa with his electric rifle.
The electric rifle is a gun that fires bolts of electricity and can be calibrated to different levels of range, intensity, and lethality.
The novel inspired the name of the Taser, a non-lethal electrical weapon developed by Jack Cover in the 1960s and marketed by Taser International.
The Taser uses a small gunpowder charge to fire two metal darts attached to a fine wire, delivering 50,000 volts of current. When both darts hit a person, their muscles involuntarily tense up.
