What is the purpose of the small barbs on the probes?

• A. They will attach through clothing to the skin, allowing current to travel down the wires into the body.
• B. They are used for measuring distance.
• C. They emit light signaling when deployed.
• D. They retract after deployment.

Answer: (A)

The barbs are meant to grip the target and secure the darts so they stay in contact with clothing or skin. This anchoring creates a reliable electrical path between the two probes through the body, allowing the taser’s pulses to travel effectively and incapacitate. If the barbs didn’t latch, contact could be lost as the subject moves or their clothing shifts, reducing the electrical effect. The other options don’t fit because probes aren’t for measuring distance, they don’t emit light, and they don’t primarily retract after deployment—the crucial role is to maintain stable contact for current flow.