AIUSA and Taser International to Go Head to Head @ Claremont College, 3/9

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AIUSA and Taser International to Go Head to Head

3/8/2005 8:03:00 PM

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To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: Edward Jackson of Amnesty International USA, 202-544-0200 ext. 302 or 202-251-3894 (mobile)

News Advisory:

-- Amnesty International USA Executive Director and Taser International CEO To Debate Safety and Abuse of TASERs at Claremont McKenna College

Dr. William F. Schulz, Executive Director Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), will debate Rick Smith, CEO of Taser International, at Claremont McKenna College on Wednesday, March 9, at 6:45 PM PST.

The debate is the first face-off between the heads of the world's largest, grassroots human rights organization and the leading manufacturer of electro-shock weapons used by police. AIUSA has long maintained that TASERs have the potential to be an useful tool for law enforcement; however, the organization is calling for a moratorium on their use by law enforcement until independent, comprehensive medical studies can be conducted to determine the risks associated with using the devices. Amnesty International reports that there have been 93 TASER-related deaths in the United States and Canada and has documented the rampant abuse of TASERs, stating that some situations rise to the level of ill-treatment and torture.

WHERE: CLAREMONT McKENNA COLLEGE, Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum, 385 East Eighth Street, Claremont, Ca.; Phone: [phone]

WHEN: Wednesday, March 9, 6:45 p.m. debate, followed by Q&A

CALIFORNIA CONTACT: Evie Lazzarino, CMC Director of Public Affairs, [phone] office; [phone] cell

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For more information on Amnesty International's TASER report, please visit:

http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/usa/Taser_report.pdf

For more information on and directions to Claremont McKenna College, please visit:

http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/mmca/temp_fn.asp?volumeFN=20&issueFN=09&typeFN=f#article3

http://www.usnewswire.com/