Taser "Parties" Pitching Them To Women

Dana Shafman throws "Taser parties" to try to sell the weapons to women -- civilian women.

Shafman, 35, from Scottsddale, Ariz., remarked to Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez at one such party, "There's Tupperware parties ... and there's candle parties, and there's every other party, but there's no party that addresses safety."

The stun-gun-type weapons have proven controversial, even in the hands of law enforcement officers, but Shafman, who heads ShieldHer.net, says it's time they were sold to everyone. "I think," she says, "we rely on others to make us safe, versus actually thinking about how we can make ourselves safer."

Adding yet another layer of controversy is the attractive colors and packaging the Tasers now come in, about which Shafman says, "That's just so that the consumer market is more aware of the product and it's more appealing to them, because there is a level of fear associated with the product, because they've not had any hands-on use with the product, which is why we push the Taser party for the education portion of the product."

Women get to shoot Tasers at targets at the parties.

Rodriguez allowed herself to be on the receiving end and says, "I was surprised. I felt paralyzed almost and incredible pain."

For More Info