Don't tase me, bro
A 20-year-old Maryland man died yesterday after being tasered by police who were trying to break up a fight. (WP) A police department spokeswoman claims that "it is the first incident in the county in which the use of a Taser might have resulted in someone's death."
Really? Amnesty International counts more than 150 U.S. deaths since 2001 in which tasers were a contributing factor. The risks of tasers made the news in Canada just a few days ago, when a Polish immigrant who seemed to be distressed, but not dangerous, was killed by taser in the Vancouver airport. (National Post) In Canada, since 2003, 18 people have died after being tasered by law enforcement. (Chicago Tribune)
If you're going to encourage use of non-lethal weapons, you'd better be darn sure they really aren't lethal. Amnesty International's calling for more independent study of tasers' effects.
Really? Amnesty International counts more than 150 U.S. deaths since 2001 in which tasers were a contributing factor. The risks of tasers made the news in Canada just a few days ago, when a Polish immigrant who seemed to be distressed, but not dangerous, was killed by taser in the Vancouver airport. (National Post) In Canada, since 2003, 18 people have died after being tasered by law enforcement. (Chicago Tribune)
If you're going to encourage use of non-lethal weapons, you'd better be darn sure they really aren't lethal. Amnesty International's calling for more independent study of tasers' effects.
posted by Waage on Monday, November 19, 2007
1 Comments:
I think that the Taser itself isn't lethal. Just as pepper spray isn't lethal, or a baton used properly isn't lethal. Do people die from less lethal weapons, yes, they do... but rarely.
No, that doesn't help the people who suffered and died, but it's true.
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