I usually tell nutty antigunners that I would love to have a StarTrek phaser for self defense.
If it could instantly incapacitate while having unlimited range and accuracy, it would be better than a firearm which rarely can instantly incapacitate. It is my search for that instant incapacitation which leads me down the path to maximizing lethality and the higher likelihood of it stopping a threat more quickly. Hard logic to argue against.
But I carry a taser every day for work. It is a force option but it is a far cry from being anything close to a StarTrek phaser, which is how some people look at it. It is basically a fancy unreliable stun gun which may or may not work. Largely a pile of garbage.
Should they be available? Yes. Are they a good idea to own and if they should be a force option within the home? Not sure.