John Webster, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, plans to study the effects of stun-guns on pigs. "If the hypothesis is correct that Tasers do not electrocute the heart, " Webster said, "then why are people dying in custody after they have been shot by Tasers? [...] We intend to answer that question. Our goal is to save lives."

Webster believes that the deaths are a cause of a combination of medical conditions. The study will involve three groups of 10 pigs each, specially bred with malignant hyperthermia. One will be given cocaine, one will be tasered, and one will both be given cocaine and tasered. All the pigs will be given anesthesia, so that they will not feel pain, and they will be euthanized after the experiments.

Webster's study will be the first independent study of the effects of tasers on pig hearts, all other studies having been performed by Taser International, whose results show that an electric charge 15 times stronger than the devices they sell is needed to actually kill someone. Taser International is interested because their Taser product is marketted as a non-fatal alternative to firearms. "We welcome Professor Webster's research as it can provide continued independent research concerning the safety of our life-saving Taser technology," said company spokesman Steve Tuttle.

Obviously, animal rights activist are against this study. "Subjecting pigs to cruel experiments is not the way to go on this," said Laura Yanne of PETA, and suggests that scientist rather focus on studying the humans who have survived Taser shocks and the autopsy reports of those who died.

UW-Madison professor Eric Sandgren, who heads a committee that oversees animal research, believes that "this is an outstanding example of one of those questions that can only be answered using animals. Boy, there's been a lot of deaths from this. If the alternative is to go back to using bullets, let's find out how to make this safe."