Intangible assets - Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, Gross Carrying Amount	$ 3,970,038	$ 3,884,602
Not amortized intangible assets, Carrying Amount	1,872,132	1,854,110
Amortized intangible assets, Gross Carrying Amount	2,097,906	2,030,492
Accumulated Amortization	(637,517)	(567,433)
Intangible assets, net carrying amount	3,332,521	3,317,169
Net Carrying Amount	1,460,389	1,463,059
TASER Trademark [Member]
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Not amortized intangible assets, Carrying Amount	900,000	900,000
Patents and Trademarks Pending [Member]
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Not amortized intangible assets, Carrying Amount	972,132	954,110
Domain Names [Member]
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, Gross Carrying Amount	139,431	139,431
Accumulated Amortization	(109,789)	(103,840)
Net Carrying Amount	29,642	35,591
Amortized intangible assets, Useful Life	5 years
Issued Patents [Member]
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, Gross Carrying Amount	1,553,951	1,528,955
Accumulated Amortization	(404,770)	(362,032)
Net Carrying Amount	1,149,181	1,166,923
Issued Trademarks [Member]
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, Gross Carrying Amount	404,524	362,106
Accumulated Amortization	(122,958)	(101,561)
Net Carrying Amount	$ 281,566	$ 260,545
Minimum [Member] | Issued Patents [Member]
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, Useful Life	4 years
Minimum [Member] | Issued Trademarks [Member]
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, Useful Life	9 years
Maximum [Member] | Issued Patents [Member]
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, Useful Life	15 years
Maximum [Member] | Issued Trademarks [Member]
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, Useful Life	11 years