If all efforts to verbally de-escalate the situation are exhausted or are not feasible, the use of a dart-firing stun gun may be ______.

• A. Unnecessary
• B. Warranted
• C. Prohibited
• D. Mandatory

Answer: (B)

Use-of-force decisions hinge on necessity and proportionality. When verbal de-escalation is exhausted or not feasible, a dart-firing stun gun is considered warranted if there is a reasonable belief that it will stop an imminent threat and prevent harm, and if less forceful options have failed or are impractical. This option provides a controlled, less-lethal means to create an opportunity to disengage while aiming to minimize harm. It isn’t universally required or always used, and it isn’t prohibited; its use depends on the specific threat, distance, and policy-guided criteria. Training and guidelines outline exactly when the scenario supports this choice.