Activists want to stop Columbia PD from buying Tasers

Opponents include the local ACLU, NAACP and a group called GRO -- Grass Roots Organizing. Snip from the Tribune:

The panel suggested a moratorium on local Taser use by officers until the issue could be further studied. GRO member Ed Berg said there is no scientific evidence to suggest Tasers are safe.

"We don’t know," he said. "There’s been no real scientific evidence one way or the other."

Actually, Ed, if you were up on your Crime Scene, you'd know the National Institute of Justice, a DOJ research outlet, has found that Tasers aren't necessarily deadly -- so long as the users don't repeatedly zap the target and can refrain from hitting the pregnant, elderly or coked-up.

Comments

[Keith G in P.V.]

A Dallas victim is unconvinced of the innocence of a man convicted in a 1992 abduction, robbery and sexual assault case. This despite confessions, and DNA and polygraph evidence by 2 men who admitted to carrying out the crime.

Originally, the Dallas DA's office had opposed the DNA testing. They now claim it was the judge's fault for accepting their arguement at that time.

Meanwhile, on the left coast, a drug trial ends abruptly when a surveillance tape exposes arresting officers' lies and misstatements.

Maybe stories like these are why law enforcement claims about the safety of Tasers are disbelieved.