Amnesty International: US Taser Deaths Up

[Judi Lynn]

Amnesty International: US Taser Deaths Up
Amnesty International: 156 Deaths in U.S. After Taser Use by Police

By MARK SHERMAN

WASHINGTON Mar 28, 2006 (AP)— The number of people who have died in the U.S. after being shocked by police stun guns is growing rapidly, Amnesty International says in a report that catalogs 156 in the past five years.

Deaths after the use of Taser stun guns have risen from three in 2001 to 61 last year, the international human rights group said. Fourteen have died so far this year, it said, citing police and autopsy reports as well as press accounts.

The rise in deaths accompanies a marked increase in the number of U.S. law enforcement agencies employing devices made by Taser International of Scottsdale, Ariz. About 1,000 of the nation's 18,000 police agencies used Tasers in 2001; more than 7,000 departments had them last year, according to a government study.

Police had used Tasers more than 70,000 times as of last year, Congress' Government Accountability Office said.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1775000&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

[951-Riverside]

1. Who is the CEO of Taser?

[Judi Lynn]

2. I just found out: Rick Smith is the co-founder and CEO.

Rick Smith: He's no Albert Schweitzer

[rodeodance]

3. police have a new toy--and they want to keep it.

[Robb]

4. Just curious

Anyone know where to find U.S. police shooting deaths for the same period (2001-2005)?

[Copperred]

5. Ya these things have to be banned...they killed a bunch of people

this year. I noticed it too. Just way to many. I am all for law enforcement having ways to subdue people, but these thigns to often kill when they meant to just immobilize. They are not consistent enought to let the police use.

[Crayson]

6. How to evade a taser

1) Don't get hit (1 of the two electrodes miss you)
2) keep out of range
3) close in to the shooter.
The two electrodes spread in a V pattern from the gun. The farther apart from each other they hit your body, the more of your body is under the effect of the current.
If you are too close you can't be tasered since the electrodes are too close to each other and therefore the current doesn't to much stunning.

[monktonman]

7. Talked to the local cops the other day.....

I overheard them talking about tazing someone and laughing about the result. After stating my displeasure with this young mans obvious sick sense of humor, he assured me that no one has ever died because of a tazer.
The police would never lie so I believe it.
Almost got my ass kicked too!

[BiggJawn]

8. Every time the Taser Stings....

Bernie Kerik's Cash Register rings....


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