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Taser Tells Cops: Don't Aim at Chest

Company cites 'extremely low risk' but insists stun gun is safe

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 21, 2009 11:35 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Stun gun maker Taser has issued an advisory to police departments suggesting cops not aim at a suspect’s chest because it poses an "extremely low" chance of triggering an "adverse cardiac event." The company insists its product is safe, but if something goes wrong, "it would place the law-enforcement agency, the officer, and Taser International in the difficult situation of trying to ascertain what role, if any, the Taser” played, the bulletin reads.

About 400 deaths have occurred following Taser incidents in the US since usage began in 2001, and critics see this as a major reversal. The company does not. “We have not stated that the Taser causes (cardiac) events in this bulletin, only that the refined target zones avoid any potential controversy on this topic,” an exec tells the Arizona Republic. The advisory says “back shots remain the preferred area when practical."

Chairman and co-founder of Taser Tom Smith demonstrates the use of a Taser X26 law enforcement electronic control device.
Chairman and co-founder of Taser Tom Smith demonstrates the use of a Taser X26 law enforcement electronic control device.   (AP Photo)
Stephen Tuttle, vice president of communications at TASER International, holds up the TASER X26, bottom, and the new TASER C2, top.
Stephen Tuttle, vice president of communications at TASER International, holds up the TASER X26, bottom, and the new TASER C2, top.   (AP Photo)
A Taser.
A Taser.   (AP Photo)
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This bulletin confirms what critics have said for years: that Taser has overstated its safety claims. . . . (It) has to be read as if Tasers can cause cardiac arrest. - Mark Silverstein, Colorado American Civil Liberties Union

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 16 comments
bewilderbeast
Oct 22, 2009 10:18 AM CDT
JoeQ you got it right. A simple, fair solution. And you just showed why the Golden Rule is often written about, seldom practiced.
riffran
Oct 22, 2009 6:32 AM CDT
under NORMAL conditions, the likelyhood of a Tazer killing you is damn near Nil.....BUT, the people who are getting tazed (in general) are not the most chemical free people..be it alcohol, cocaine , crack, meth , PCP , or even prescription grade "other" , when you combine that along with at risk behavior, it is a recipe for trouble. The risk of an event is much greater. What the article does not say (at newser) is how many people are tazed and have no side effects...so who knows
riffran
Oct 22, 2009 6:24 AM CDT
@joeQ..."THAT had ta hurt...20k?.....YOU got lucky...I knew a "silent key" (dead ham radio operator)...that bought the farm with much less voltage....yikes

 
Arizona • ACLU • American Civil Liberties Union • heart attack • cardiac arrest • Colorado • Taser • stun gun • police department

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