Several Local (Dallas area) PDs Are Banning Tasers as Evidence Mounts They Kill People

[TexasTowelie]

Evidence has been mounting for years that Tasers are more dangerous than their manufacturer and law enforcement officials, who tout the weapon as a nonlethal alternative to firearms, have claimed.Over the past dozen years, 540 people, most of them unarmed, have died after being tased by police, according to a report from Amnesty International. Last year, the American Heart Association published the first scientific, peer-reviewed study showing that the devices can cause heart attacks and death.

In 2009, Taser International changed its safety warnings to suggest that users not aim for the chest, a seemingly minor tweak that nonetheless signaled the company's concern about its liability in wrongful death suits. This year, the company tweaked its safety warnings once again, this time to include language that using its products "could result in death or serious injury."

In response, several local police departments are permanently holstering their Tasers. Fox 4 reported over the weekend that the departments in Burleson, Crowley, Mansfield and Richland Hills have all decided to ban the devices.

In Mansfield, a police spokesman told CBS 11 that Chief Gary Fowler made the decision after discussing the matter with the city attorney. The station reports that the city of Murphy has previously implemented a ban.

More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/09/several_local_cities_are_banni.php .

[Fantastic Anarchist]

1. K&R!

[Th1onein]

2. It's about time!