Taser manufacturer warns of safety risks

[Judi Lynn]

Aug. 5, 2005, 10:56PM

Taser manufacturer warns of safety risks
Houston Police Department forms a committee to look into the stun guns' use locally
By SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
St. Petersburg Times

TAMPA, FLA. - Taser International, maker of the controversial stun guns used by thousands of law enforcement agencies, including Houston's, has issued a training bulletin warning that repeated blasts of the Taser can "impair breathing and respiration."

For subjects in a state known as excited delirium, repeated or prolonged stuns with the Taser can contribute to "significant and potentially fatal health risks," says a recent posting on Taser International's Web site.

The three-page bulletin appears to counter instructions in a training manual Taser International issued last year.

It also departs from the manufacturer's previous dismissals of safety concerns raised by groups such as Amnesty International, which has documented 129 U.S. and Canadian deaths of people stunned by Tasers.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3298617
(Free registration required)

[truthisfreedom]

1. oops. ass-covering time for Tazer... but i wouldn't be surprised if it

backfires and people pull their stock money even faster.

[Kindigger]

2. Unbelievably....

a couple nights ago on my local news they were doing a piece about some fair or something. The cops (Bettendorf,IA?) had a booth set up, and were demonstrating those things on live people! The stupid reporter offered to take a couple zaps on camera.

:crazy:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. shocking, just shocking

of course, the dirty little secret that these things can kill almost did NOT make it out. Only because the Coroner's office in Chicago determined (over great financial and political pressure brought by Taser, inc) that a death was caused by thier product.

[Ms. Clio]

4. So multiple hits are dangerous? That became obvious dozens of deaths ago

To me, anyway. So where are the Taser lovers on this one?

[AX10]

5. I know! The "taserists" are no where to be found.

It's shameful that anyone could think this weapon is some magic wand. It's a powerful weapon and hurts quite some. As with any use of force, there is a real risk of injury/death.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

7. They'll be like Freeps with the WMD... They will refuse to believe the

truth and will continue to make up excuses.

[AX10]

8. Hi there!

Thanks for the support!
Tasers kill, period!

[AX10]

6. Taser lies, people die!

[Trillo]

9. Just a guess,

the deaths seem to be the result of nerve damage. Since some of the deaths have occurred 1 week later, this is unseen but persistent damage.

It seems like the forensic scientists could precisely determine where the damage is occurring in the humans who have died, but I haven't read of one news item that tells us this.

[AX10]

10. This is the line of thinking that I have been looking at.

Remember, the Taser produces a T-Wave, same as the body produces to function. This T-Wave can in fact adversly affect the human body.

[AX10]

11. Kick

This is WORTH reading!

[slaveplanet]

12. kick

[struggle4progress]

13. A move towards the "Everyone knew it was dangerous" defense. eom

[Canuckistanian]

14. "Do not point at people or animals, may be lethal"