Two weeks ago Las Vegas Police Chief Gary Gold announced that that Tasers would no longer be used in his department. ACLU-NM applauds this principled move on the part of the Las Vegas, NM Police Department, and in honor of their decision, we’d like to take a moment to talk a bit more about why other cities and counties should reexamine their policies on the use of this weapon as well.
Tasers are projectile weapons that use compressed nitrogen gas to propel two darts that deliver a 50,000 volt electric shock into the body of a target, causing temporary loss of muscle control and disablement. These weapons are marketed as a “less than lethal” alternative for police officers and armed security guards to incapacitate a dangerous individual. However, there is a growing body of evidence that puts this “less than lethal” brand in serious question.
Just for starters, Amensty International estimates that more than 350 individuals have died after being shocked by these “less than lethal” devices since 2001. They also warn that we know dangerously little about the probable health risks associated with Taser use:
Medical studies so far on the effects of Tasers have either been limited in scope or unduly influenced by the weapons' primary manufacturer. No study has adequately examined the impact of Tasers on potentially at-risk individuals -- people who have medical conditions, take prescription medications, are mentally ill or are under the influence of narcotics. Rigorous, independent, impartial study of their use and effects is urgently needed to determine what role Tasers may have played in the 351 deaths and to determine appropriate guidelines for future Taser use.In 2005, the ACLU of Northern California published an extensive study of Taser use in California entitled “STUN GUN FALLACY: How the Lack of Taser Regulation Endangers Lives,” which paints a compelling picture of how Tasers are used inappropriately and excessively in law enforcement. The report examines the deceptive marketing practices by the manufacturer (Taser International), lack of proper law enforcement training on the weapon’s use and a general lack of acknowledgement of the associated medical risks:
In light of these concerns and the rising death toll associated with Taser use, the ACLU of Northern California (“ACLUNC”)has conducted a thorough survey of 79 law enforcement agencies throughout northern and central California to determine how Tasers are being used. A close review of thousands of pages of policy and training materials used by departments reveals that, despite the growing number of deaths, increasing concern from medical and other experts about Taser safety, and extensive media coverage of problems associated with Taser use, the weapon remains largely unregulated. Of the 79 departments surveyed, 56 have added Tasers to their weapons arsenals. Of those, 54 provided their Taser-use policies and/or training materials to the ACLU-NC, which concluded the following:Tasers are certainly a legitimate alternative to conventional firearms in a life-threatening situation, but according to Amnesty International, 80% of the time they are used against people who are unarmed. Like the 14-year-old girl who was shot in the head with a Taser in Tucumcari, NM last year, sending 50,000 volts directly into her brain. Or someone like 72-year-old great grandmother Kathryn Winkfein, who was tasered by a Texas constable after refusing to sign a traffic ticket. Or like Anastasio Hernandez Rojas who died on May 28th after U.S. Border Patrol agents shocked him multiple times even though he was already restrained in handcuffs.
- Only four departments regulate the number of times an officer may use a Taser on an individual. The others place no restriction on the number of times a suspect can be shot. This is particularly troubling considering that several of the targets in California died after being jolted multiple times.
- Only four departments created any of their own training materials for their officers. The rest relied exclusively on materials produced by Taser International.
- The training materials produced by Taser International and relied on by local law enforcement grossly exaggerate the safety of Tasers, downplay their risks, and misrepresent medical studies on their effects.
If you would like to ask your local police or sheriff’s department to stop using Tasers or to reexamine their Taser use policies, you can sign this petition courtesy of the petitionsite.com.
