Report Cites 103 Taser-Related Deaths 2001-2005

[Bluebear]

PHOENIX - There were 103 Taser stun gun-related deaths in the United States and Canada between June 2001 and March 2005, according to an Amnesty International report released Friday. In the first three months of this year, there were 13 Taser-related deaths — compared with six during the same period last year, the report said.

The stun guns have been touted as less lethal than other ways of subduing combative people in high-risk situations, but Tasers have come under increasing scrutiny as a number of deaths have been blamed, at least partially, on the devices.

"No confrontation is risk free. The Taser is the safest way to end violent confrontations for law enforcement," Taser International Inc. President Tom Smith said Thursday.

"This is just a further example of how out of touch this organization (Amnesty International) is with the law enforcement community," Smith said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=25&u=/ap/20050401/ap_on_re_us/tasers_deaths

March 21, 2005
Former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik is stepping down as a director on the embattled stun gun maker Taser International Inc.'s corporate board, the company announced Monday.

In a news release, Taser said Kerik was resigning "to focus on his consulting business." He will be replaced by former Montana Gov. Judy Martz.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0321taser-kerik21-ON.html

[Up2Late]

1. And yet, Taser is bringing a "personal" Taser to market.

This was a story on NPR's "All Things Considered" last night, and MOST "Law Enforcement" are NOT happy about it. Reporter Laura Sullivan actually agreed to be tasered for 1 Second on Tape. And while the Taser Rep compares it to a "physical workout," She described it "...like somebody reached into my body to rip my musels apart with a fork."

Taser Looks to Expand Market for Stun Guns

by Laura Sullivan

All Things Considered, April 1, 2005 · Taser International, the maker of stun guns, has been hit recently with shareholder lawsuits and questions about its guns' safety. But rather than shrink into the background, the company is launching a nationwide marketing blitz next week to introduce a new "personal" Taser to the general public.

and also this one,

The Taser Gun's Physical Effect

by David Kestenbaum

All Things Considered, April 1, 2005 · Your body uses electricity to move your muscles. A Taser essentially overwhelms that system, causing temporary paralysis. But few independent studies have been done on the weapons.

[A Simple Game]

2. It will be interesting to see

how the first person to seriously injure or kill someone with a personal Taser is charged. Will it be assault or assault with a deadly weapon?

Taser International may see some serious lawsuits from the marketing of this personal Taser.

[Up2Late]

3. But, More not so good news, Tasers can penetrate Bullet proof vests

Like the ones the Police ware. The NPR story says that the FOP are most afraid that a criminal will use one of these on a cop, then steal his Guns and possibly even his Police car.

To bad these things are only Self regulated my Taser.:banghead:

[mtnester]

4. Sad...it tooks less deaths than that to have the "chokehold" maneuver

removed from the arsenol of force law enforcement could use.

Of course, Tasers let you get away with absolutely no human contact, therefore reducing a human being to less than ameoba in the eyes of SOME law enforcement personnel.

My father, who teaches law enforcement tactics and was an officer his entire life, says these things need to go. I agree with him.