Every company has its garage story. Ours also has a baby pool.
In 1993, Rick Smith founded what would become Axon out of a garage in Tucson, Arizona. His motivation was deeply personal: after two of his classmates were tragically killed in a road rage shooting, Rick became determined to find a better way to resolve conflict with technology. His mission was ambitious but clear—to design a personal protection tool that could stop a threat without taking a life.
That vision launched the Air TASER consumer weapon, a device that would grow into the TASER technology we know today. In a now-legendary demonstration, he volunteered to experience the Air TASER himself while standing barefoot in a plastic baby pool, showing the world his confidence that this was a device built for civilian safety, not destruction. It was both a bold and slightly humorous way to underscore a serious truth: TASER devices were built to protect life.
While law enforcement quickly recognized the potential of TASER technology as a less-lethal option in their toolkit and that became a key emphasis for decades to come, a core part the story from the beginning has always been personal safety. From the very first model designed for consumers to a portfolio that today we call TASER Self-Defense, these solutions were created for everyday people, giving individuals the power to feel safer when walking to their car at night, protecting their families at home, or responding to a threatening situation. Personal protection wasn’t an afterthought; it was the starting point.
Today’s models are sleeker, smarter, and more powerful than that first garage-built Air TASER, but their purpose hasn’t changed. They’re still here to give people a safer option in moments that matter most.
As we celebrate Founder’s Day, we look back with gratitude for those garage and baby pool beginnings. They remind us that TASER devices have always been about more than technology—they’re about protecting the life you’ve built. Axon continues to stand for personal safety and defense, just as it did on day one. And as a special thank you to our community, all of our TASER Self-Defense products on TASER.com are 25% off on September 7th in honor of Founder’s Day.
