Mission Statement - De-Spinning the Pro-Taser Propaganda

Yeah right, 'Excited Delirium' my ass...

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The primary purpose of this blog is to provide an outlet for my observations and analysis about tasers, taser "associated" deaths, and the behaviour exhibited by the management, employees and minions of Taser International. In general, everything is linked back to external sources, often via previous posts on the same topic, so that readers can fact-check to their heart's content. This blog was started in late-2007 when Canadians were enraged by the taser death of Robert Dziekanski and four others in a short three month period. The cocky attitude exhibited by the Taser International spokespuppet, and his preposterous proposal that Mr. Dziekanski coincidentally died of "excited delirium" at the time of his taser-death, led me to choose the blog name I did and provides my motivation. I have zero financial ties to this issue.



Sunday, January 3, 2010

Repost: And speaking of 'textbook' examples...

(Report from Tuesday, December 22, 2009) LINK

Textbook - Business Ethics: Case Studies and Selected Readings
By Marianne Moody Jennings
Unit 10 "Business and Government"
Case 10.15 "Taser and Stunning Behavior"

The narrative describes how Taser International essentially infiltrated [my choice of word] police departments and used TASR stock options to buy access to decision makers. The textbook then asks four potentially-awkward questions that many eight year olds would be able to answer correctly.

When 'a certain company' literally (!) becomes a case study in business ethics, it's really time for governments at all levels to start backing away.

You really couldn't make this sh_t up.


Seriously, Taser International is literally a case study in business ethics.

3 comments:

Critical Mass said...

In the very early days of the stun gun industry around Phoenix AZ, there were reports that the officers currently in charge of the company, performed their own animal experiments with stun guns, in their family home or garage. This can't be confirmed, but the following article from 2005, detailing "illegal" animal experiments in 2002, much closer in the time-line, might lend some credibility to the rumors around Scottsdale Arizona of "certain company founders" killing and torturing defenseless animals to "tweak" their stun gun technology:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ingrid-newkirk/do-dastardly-deeds-at-the_b_5938.html

Although you point to the "business ethics" case, it is more accurately called "A TOTAL LACK OF ANY ETHICS", business, medical or otherwise.

I very personally believe the principals at "that certain company" are what I would call "Moral Vacuums/Moral Zeros".

Have fun with the above linked story!

Excited-Delirium.com said...

PETA Calls on USDA to Investigate, File Charges

For Immediate Release: June 22, 2005

Phoenix — PETA has uncovered disturbing evidence that two top-level officials of the Phoenix-based stun-gun manufacturer Taser International have violated the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) by conducting illegal experiments on animals. PETA is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate the charges and, if they are confirmed, to prosecute those responsible.

Taser Research and Development Vice President Max Nerheim testified in a sworn deposition in a case in Arizona Superior Court last month that he and Taser International’s CEO, Rick Smith, shocked live pigs with Taser stun guns in "secret" tests on two separate occasions in 2002. Mr. Nerheim stated that the first occurrence took place during the fall of 2002 in his home garage and that the second took place several months later at an unnamed "horse facility" in Phoenix. In both cases, the pigs were repeatedly stunned with electric currents over several days. PETA believes that these tests may violate the AWA, since it appears that no approval was obtained from the USDA to conduct the experiments.

...


http://www.peta.org/MC/NewsItem.asp?id=6633

I guess nothing came of it.

I wonder why?

Critical Mass said...

I wanted to feed you that 2005 Huff Post story, because there is tons of interesting stuff contained therein.
Knowing your style and research abilities, I suspect you will have "tons of fun" with the other information in that story.

Tasers Kill, and it seems that top officers at "that certain company" have no scruples that would prevent them from using stun-gun torture on defenseless animals. It is that "mindset" which troubles me most. Once you are willing to torture animals, it isn't a giant leap to rationalize homicide or murder.

The comparison I draw, is to the Tobacco Litigation drama, where the CEO's of several Major Corporations **knew** their products could result in severe health risks, including death. It took decades to determine and define the truth about tobacco, as it will take some more time to define The Truth About Tasers.

Good luck!

BTW, does "h/t" stand for "hearty thanks"?

If so ..... H/T for your Blog and your efforts!