atxrocker
06-15-2006, 11:00 AM
http://www.kvue.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/061506dnnattaser.1f295.html
WASHINGTON – With more than 180 deaths in recent years among suspects subdued with stun guns, the government is taking a closer look at this law enforcement tool.
The review by the Justice Department, which will initially involve 30 cases, follows the rapid growth in the use of stun guns as a nonlethal alternative to bullet-firing weapons. The concern is about people who died after being shocked by the electronic control devices.
The department's research arm, the National Institute of Justice, said there have been 184 such deaths since 1986, the overwhelming majority since 2000. Amnesty International, which has called for a moratorium on stun gun use, says there have been roughly 160 deaths in the last five years.
The study will not look at whether the use of stun guns was appropriate, John Morgan, the institute's assistant director, said Wednesday. Instead, researchers will make medical assessments of the 30 cases, which include deaths that were attributed to a stun gun and some in which authorities could not determine whether a stun gun caused or contributed to a death, he said.
Two deaths occurred in 1986, one in 1990 and the rest since 2000, Mr. Morgan added.
Taser International of Scottsdale, Ariz., the largest maker of stun guns, said that the devices have saved more than 9,000 lives because police have been able to use the weapon instead of bullets.
During a February meeting in Dallas, the U.S. Metropolitan Municipalities EMS Medical Directors Consortium, composed of the top emergency doctors from the nation's 25 largest cities, agreed that Tasers can be used safely but recommended further study into their use.
what do you guys think about the use of taser guns?
WASHINGTON – With more than 180 deaths in recent years among suspects subdued with stun guns, the government is taking a closer look at this law enforcement tool.
The review by the Justice Department, which will initially involve 30 cases, follows the rapid growth in the use of stun guns as a nonlethal alternative to bullet-firing weapons. The concern is about people who died after being shocked by the electronic control devices.
The department's research arm, the National Institute of Justice, said there have been 184 such deaths since 1986, the overwhelming majority since 2000. Amnesty International, which has called for a moratorium on stun gun use, says there have been roughly 160 deaths in the last five years.
The study will not look at whether the use of stun guns was appropriate, John Morgan, the institute's assistant director, said Wednesday. Instead, researchers will make medical assessments of the 30 cases, which include deaths that were attributed to a stun gun and some in which authorities could not determine whether a stun gun caused or contributed to a death, he said.
Two deaths occurred in 1986, one in 1990 and the rest since 2000, Mr. Morgan added.
Taser International of Scottsdale, Ariz., the largest maker of stun guns, said that the devices have saved more than 9,000 lives because police have been able to use the weapon instead of bullets.
During a February meeting in Dallas, the U.S. Metropolitan Municipalities EMS Medical Directors Consortium, composed of the top emergency doctors from the nation's 25 largest cities, agreed that Tasers can be used safely but recommended further study into their use.
what do you guys think about the use of taser guns?