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, April 11, 2010

Springfield, IL - the poster child for the taser problem

The State Journal-Register: A question of force: Tasers can be deadly but also can save lives [LINK]

(Note - "Tasers can be deadly")


Last year, Springfield police and Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies used tasers on people 125 times. ... The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, whose deputies were involved in both fatal incidents, has seen a decline in Taser use since the death of A. Paul Carlock after an altercation with county jailers on Nov. 16, 2007. Springfield police say the number of times they have used Tasers also has leveled off in the past two years. The sheriff’s office deployed Tasers 57 times in 2007, shortly after it first started using them. That number dropped to 51 times in 2008 and 44 in 2009.

Sheriff Neil Williamson said there has been no change in the department’s policy on Taser use; he said he wasn’t sure why the numbers have gone down.

Hey Sheriff. Maybe if you think about it you'll figure it out (late-2007 taser death, usage dropped in 2008). Duh. It's not difficult to figure it out. Most police officers know what's going on with the safety claims of Taser International.


The most recent Springfield man who died after being shot with tasers — Patrick Burns, in January - was shocked as many as 21 times. ...the 50-year-old man lost consciousness and died after Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies arrested him and shot him with a taser while he was in handcuffs Jan. 23. According to reports, deputies deployed their tasers against Burns 21 times.

Those involved in tasering-while-subject-handcuffed should read this and quiver in fear: [LINK]

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