A Taser Epidemic?

    In light of last week’s taser incident at the University of Florida, Farewell Freedom felt it appropriate to provide a prompt and concise response to this and other current taser-related information.

Wheelchair-bound woman dies after being tasered 10 times.

    With the recent rash of taser-related stories (the above links being some of the most extreme in recent memory), one can’t help but wonder why this is happening. It would be perfectly reasonable to assume that last week’s UF taser incident has simply caused the media to pay more attention to this issue, and that this sudden media focus is merely creating the appearance of an epidemic. Conversely, it seems equally possible that the UF tasering has finally sparked the much needed attention to what may in fact be an alarming and increasing trend in law enforcement. With UK officials condoning the use of tasers against children earlier this September[1], the controversial tasing of UCLA student Mostafa Tabatabainejad in November of last year, the alleged taser-related death of Emily Delafield at the hands of the Green Cove Springs Police Department(reported just days after the UF incident)[2], and Amnesty International reports that Tasers have been potentially responsible for at least 152 deaths(figure circa 2006)[3], it is at the very least appropriate, if not essential, to reexamine the use of these purportedly less-than-lethal weapons.

    Though nothing conclusive has been reported, the industry term “less-than-lethal” is certainly more apt than the colloquial “non-lethal.” In 2005, cardiologists warned of the potential lethality of tasers under certain circumstances. Dr. Dr. Zian Tseng (University of California) warned that, in some cases, the electricity from a taser could induce ventricular fibrillation, a fatally chaotic state caused by interruptions to the heart’s rhythm.[4] As stated before, Amnesty International alleges that at least 152 deaths may have been the result of tasers. In March 2005, a Chicago medical examiner cited two taser jolts, in combination with methamphetamines, as resulting in 54 year old Ronald Hasse’s death. It may be true that, in a number of cases, that tasers as a contributing factor in death has been broadly contested by both the industry, law enforcement officials, and a number of people in the medical community. And granted, any device designed to incapacitate a person for any amount of time will never be without any inherent risk to the target. However, even without questioning potential lethality (which would be reckless mistake), there still remains the issue of responsible use.

    Just when should such a device be employed? TASER International claims that its product is safe for use on targets 60 lbs and up, and with the recent approval of stun-gun use against children by UK law enforcement[1], as well as the 2004 tasing of a first-grader[7], alarm over the alleged growing misuse of tasers has been and remains valid. Furthermore, with so much doubt still present on the potential lethality of Tasers among both the medical community and general population alike, coupled with the growing fear over alleged misuse of the device, giving the green light for use against minors seems like a dangerous step in the wrong direction. -Hooded Soldier, FF

[1]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.
html?in_article_id=479341&in_page_id=1770

[2]http://www.local6.com/news/14147512/detail.html

[3]http://www.amnestyusa.org/document·php?lang=e&id=ENG
USA20060328001

[4]http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/207168_tasers10.html

[5]http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/11/14/children.tasers/index.ht
ml

[6]http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/07
30taser30.html

[7]http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,13848 8,00.html