NYT-Justice Dept. Begins Study of Safety of the Taser Electric Gun(Kerik)

[maddezmom]

~snip~

Tasers are pistol-shaped weapons that fire electrified darts up to 21 feet, shocking suspects with a charge that temporarily causes severe muscle contractions so they can be apprehended. More than 5,500 police departments and prisons now equip their officers with Tasers, compared with only a handful five years ago.

Human rights groups and independent scientists have criticized the use of Tasers, saying their safety has not been properly studied. But Taser sales have continued to rise, along with the stock of Taser International.

Taser International's stock price has risen 100-fold in two years, enriching its executives and directors, who have sold $140 million in stock since November 2003. Among the biggest gainers is the former New York police chief, Bernard B. Kerik, a Taser board member who has been nominated as the next secretary of homeland security.

A spokesman for Taser said he could not comment on Fort Wayne's decision and did not know whether the Justice Department was encouraging departments to examine the risks of Tasers. Joseph G. Estey, president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, said that the association had not taken a position on Tasers. The group was working with the Justice Department to examine issues surrounding the weapons, Mr. Estey said.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/07/business/07taser.html

:eyes:

[maddezmom]

1. Eyes on Kerik, sells 5 million in stock of Taser and sits on the board

Former Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik recently sold $5 million of Taser stock amid speculation in some law enforcement circles that he is being considered to succeed Tom Ridge to head the Department of Homeland Security.

Kerik's sale of Taser stock coincides with that of Taser's chief executive and co-founder Patrick Smith and Smith's brother, Taser president Thomas Smith. Kerik has sat on the board of the stun gun company since 2002.

more: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/nyc-nyker014061153dec01,0,1345296.story?coll=ny-nynews-headlines

[struggle4progress]

2. TASERs Linked to Human Rights Abuses (AI)

The rampant proliferation of TASER electro-shock weapons among United States law enforcement agencies is contributing to widespread human rights abuses. The report details 74 TASER-related deaths that have occurred in the United States and Canada since June 2001, providing additional support for Amnesty International’s long-standing call for a suspension of the use of the electro-shock weapons until it can be determined if they are killing people.
Press release | Report | Facts & figures | Action Kit »

http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/usa/index.do

[DeepModem Mom]

3. kick

[maddezmom]

4. Kerik Made Millions From Agency Contractor

Partnering with former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (news - web sites) and also operating independently, Kerik has had business arrangements with manufacturers of prescription drugs, computer software and bulletproof materials, as well as companies selling nuclear power, telephone service, insurance and security advice for Americans working abroad.


The man who led the New York Police Department on Sept. 11, 2001, has been effusively praised by Senate Republicans and Democrats for his management during and after the attacks. He served the Defense Department in Iraq (news - web sites) in 2003 as interior minister under the former U.S. occupation authority.


Federal ethics rules state that executive branch employees should avoid participating in decisions where their impartiality could be questioned, unless they receive approval from an agency ethics official.


Kerik's office said he was not available for comment for this story, but a White House spokesman, Brian Besanceney, said the nominee would avoid any possible conflict of interest.


"Commissioner Kerik is committed to the highest ethical standards and will divest all his holdings in Taser upon Senate confirmation to avoid a conflict of interest," Besanceney said. "In order to avoid even the appearance of a conflict he will comply with all ethics laws and rules to avoid actions that affect former clients or organizations where he served as a director."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=703&e=8&u=/ap/20041209/ap_on_go_co/kerik_s_stock_options