SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 12, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TASER International, Inc. (Nasdaq:TASR), the market leader in advanced electronic control devices (ECDs), releases the following statement from Rick and Tom Smith, co-founders of TASER International, on the passing of John H. "Jack" Cover. Cover, the original inventor of the TASER(r) technology, passed away at the age of 88 at his home near Los Angeles, Calif. on February 7, 2009, due to Alzheimer's.
"Jack Cover was one of the most influential inventors of modern times," said Rick Smith, CEO and founder of TASER International. "His memory will live on through the lives of hundreds of thousands of law enforcement officers and private citizens who are positively affected by the life-saving technology he invented nearly 40 years ago. "His dream of reducing violence through the TASER technology is being realized every day. Jack was a brilliant scientist and an important part of our lives and the founding of TASER International. He will be greatly missed."
About Jack Cover
Cover was a physicist who in the 1960s read about President Lyndon Johnson's Blue Ribbon Crime Commission report that urged the development of non-lethal weapons development to combat airplane hi-jacking, riots and civil unrest occurring at that time. Around that same time, Cover, who was the Chief Scientist for NASA's Apollo Moon Landing program while at North American Aerospace, read a Los Angeles Times story of a hiker who survived for several hours "frozen" to a fence that was connected to a downed high-voltage power line. Cover's research into an electrical based weapon that focused on pulsed high-voltage but low-power current eventually led to the first generation of TASER technology.
The name TASER(r) is registered trademark and an acronym derived by Cover from "Tom (A.) Swift and his Electric Rifle," a reference to Cover's favorite childhood novels written by Victor Appleton which chronicling the adventures of fictional character Tom Swift.
Donation to Alzheimer's Association
To honor the memory of Jack Cover and his important contribution to helping the world become less violent, TASER International has made a donation to the Alzheimer's Association to help further their research efforts.
About TASER International, Inc.
TASER International's products protect life. TASER provides advanced Electronic Control Devices (ECDs) for use in the law enforcement, medical, military, corrections, professional security, and personal protection markets. TASER devices use proprietary technology to incapacitate dangerous, combative, or high-risk subjects who pose a risk to law enforcement officers, innocent citizens, or themselves in a manner that is generally recognized as a safer alternative to other uses of force. For more information, please call TASER International at (800) 978-2737 or visit our website at www.TASER.com.
The TASER International logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2931
Note to Investors
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including statements, without limitation, regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking information is based upon current information and expectations regarding TASER International. These estimates and statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied, or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.
TASER International assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release. These statements are qualified by important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those reflected by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to: (1) market acceptance of our products; (2) our ability to establish and expand direct and indirect distribution channels; (3) our ability to attract and retain the endorsement of key opinion-leaders in the law enforcement community; (4) the level of product technology and price competition for our products; (5) the degree and rate of growth of the markets in which we compete and the accompanying demand for our products; (6) risks associated with rapid technological change and new product introductions; (7) competition; (8) litigation including lawsuits resulting from alleged product related injuries and death; (9) media publicity concerning allegations of deaths and injuries occurring after use of the TASER device and the negative effect this publicity could have on our sales; (10) TASER device tests and reports; (11) product quality; (12) implementation of manufacturing automation; (13) potential fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; (14) financial and budgetary constraints of prospects and customers; (15) order delays; (16) dependence upon sole and limited source suppliers; (17) negative reports concerning the TASER device; (18) fluctuations in component pricing; (19) government regulations and inquiries; (20) dependence upon key employees and our ability to retain employees; (21) execution and implementation risks of new technology; (22) ramping manufacturing production to meet demand; (23) medical and safety studies; (24) field test results; and (25) other factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, those factors detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Form 10-Qs.
The statements made herein are independent statements of TASER International. The inclusion of any third parties does not represent an endorsement of any TASER International products or services by any such third parties.