TASERS'

1
Alex Halbritter Jordan Mangum present

• TASERS.
• Independent TASER Study Urgently Needed
• Since June 2001, there have been more than 270
  TASER-related deaths in the United States.
• AI is concerned that TASERs are being usedas
  tools of routine force, rather than as weapons of
  last resort.
• Rigorous, independent, impartial study of their
  use and effects is urgently needed.

2
What do we want?

• AI is calling for an independent, impartial, and
  thorough inquiry by scientific, legal and law
  enforcement specialists on the use and effects of
  arming the police with Tasers
• Why?

3
Abuse of Stun Gun

• Unnecessary weapon
• Fires up to 50,000 volts into its victim
• People are incapacitated for about 5 seconds and
  then usually need some recovery time to return to
  normal
• Potentially lethal (150 US deaths in past 5
  years)
• Police officers could use and abuse as a
  compliance tool
• Victims claim that its a tool for officers to
  get what they want, regardless of whether
  violence is a threat

4
Are they safe?

• Taser International, a company that makes the
  guns, says they are not risk-free but they
  among the safest use-of-force options for the
  police
• A weapon that causes 70-150 deaths is one of
  the safest options for the police?
• Amnesty warns they cause intolerable pain and
  may increase the risk of heart failure.

5
Lets see some videos.

• http//www.knbc.com/video/10328072/detail.html
• http//video.nbc6.net/player/?id157250videoid15
  7250