[Shadow_Group] AI Report on Use of Tasers (& PI Series)

[shadowgroup-l at lists.resist.ca]

If you've seen this morning's PI, there are 3 articles on the use and misuse 
of tasers in Seattle and King County, which is part of a series which will 
continue tommorrow.  As noted in the article, AI has just released their 
report on taser use by law enforcement agencies throughout the US and 
Canada, and is calling for their suspension until an independent study is 
done on their safety.  Press release below, with a link to the report 
online.

Relating to the racial profiling issue, while the issue was not mentioned in 
the PI article, I couldn't help but wonder about disproportionality since 
all the photos are of African-Americans.

Colleen

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Amnesty International" <ai-news at amnesty.org<mailto:ai-news at amnesty.org>>
To: <colleenr at speakeasy.net<mailto:colleenr at speakeasy.net>>
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 11:38 PM
Subject: USA / Canada: Pattern of abuse -- suspend use of taser guns


News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty 
International

AI Index: AMR 51/168/2004        30 November 2004

USA / Canada: Pattern of abuse -- suspend use of taser guns


More than 70 people in the USA and Canada have died since 2001, after being 
electro-shocked with taser guns. While coroners have generally attributed 
cause of death to factors such as drug intoxication, in at least five cases 
they have found the taser played a role.

"Tasers have been used by police officers against unruly schoolchildren; 
unarmed mentally disturbed or intoxicated individuals; suspects fleeing 
minor crime scenes and people who argue with police or fail to comply 
immediately with a command," said Amnesty International today as it launched 
two new reports examining the use of taser guns in the USA and Canada.

Evidence suggests that, far from being restricted to narrowly-defined 
circumstances in order to avoid lethal force, tasers have become the most 
prevalent force tool in some police departments. More than 5,000 law 
enforcement and correctional agencies in 49 US states are currently reported 
to be deploying or testing taser equipment, with the take-up rate continuing 
to grow. In Canada approximately 60 police departments have been issued with 
tasers.

Despite being widely deployed, there has been no rigorous, independent and 
impartial study into the use and effects of tasers, particularly in the case 
of people suffering from heart disease, or under the influence of drugs.

"Many experts believe taser shocks may exacerbate a risk of heart failure in 
people who are under the influence of drugs or suffer underlying health 
problems such as heart disease, risk factors present in many of the cases we 
examined," said Amnesty International.

Tasers have been purchased by the US army, including for use in Iraq. The US 
Air Force is reported to deploy tasers aboard aircraft carrying suspected 
al-Qa'ida members to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. While few details have been 
provided about the use of tasers by US military forces, one of the units 
deploying them in Iraq in 2003 was the 800th Military Police Brigade, 
accused of grave abuses in Abu Ghraib prison.

New generation tasers have also been purchased, or are undergoing testing, 
by police or military forces in other countries, many of them known for 
their poor human rights records. Countries currently using or testing tasers 
include: Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Malaysia, 
Mexico, Spain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

"Portable and easy to use, with the capacity to inflict severe pain at the 
push of a button without leaving substantial marks, electro-shock weapons 
are particularly open to abuse," said Amnesty International.

Amnesty International's report on the use of tasers in the USA (full report 
online at http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maacUSqabb7lwbfqFqCb/<http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maacUSqabb7lwbfqFqCb/> ) also 
cites several cases in which parents have been prosecuted for child cruelty 
after using stun weapons to discipline their children. Stun weapons have 
also been reportedly used during the commission of crimes, or as instruments 
of torture or abuse, including of women by abusive partners or former 
partners. Amnesty International's report recommends that the sale of stun 
weapons for private use be subject to strict controls.

Amnesty International acknowledges that there may be situations where tasers 
can effectively be used as "stand-off", defensive weapons as an alternative 
to firearms in order to save lives. However, it appears that in practice 
tasers are rarely used as an alternative to firearms in the USA and most 
departments place them at a relatively low level on the "force scale".

"The growing death toll underscores the urgent need for the US and Canadian 
governments to set up a serious, independent inquiry into the impact of the 
use of taser guns."

Such an inquiry should be carried out by acknowledged medical, scientific, 
legal and law enforcement experts who are independent of commercial and 
political interests in promoting such equipment. A report of the findings of 
such an inquiry should be made public promptly after completion of the 
study. All transfers and use of tasers should be suspended until such an 
inquiry is carried out.


Background Information

Taser guns are dart-firing electro-shock stun weapons designed to cause 
instant incapacitation by delivering a 50,000 volt shock. Tasers fire two 
barbed darts up to a distance of 21 feet (6.4 metres), which remain attached 
to the gun by wires. The fish-hook like darts are designed to penetrate up 
to two inches of the target's clothing or skin and deliver a high-voltage, 
low amperage, electro-shock along insulated copper wires. They can also be 
used without the darts, close-up, as stun guns.

Amnesty International includes information on 74 taser-involved deaths, 
based on a range of sources, including autopsy reports in 21 cases. Most of 
those who died were unarmed men who, while displaying disturbed or combative 
behaviour, did not appear to present a serious threat to the lives or safety 
of others.

For further media materials, visit: www.news.amnesty.org<http://www.news.amnesty.org/>

For a full copy of the reports, please see:

"USA - Excessive and lethal force? Amnesty International's concerns about 
deaths and ill-treatment involving police use of tasers": 
http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maacUSqabb7lxbfqFqCb/<http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maacUSqabb7lxbfqFqCb/>

Canada - Excessive and lethal force? Amnesty International's concerns about 
deaths and ill-treatment involving police use of tasers, please see: 
http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maacUSqabb7lybfqFqCb/<http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maacUSqabb7lybfqFqCb/>


Facts and figures:

USA / Canada: Excessive and lethal force? -- AI's concerns about deaths and 
ill treatment involving police use of tasers - Facts and Figures, please 
see: http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maacUSqabb7lzbfqFqCb/<http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maacUSqabb7lzbfqFqCb/>


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