Call for data (M26 vs. X26)

I smell blood.

Initial (but limited) data seems to indicate a bias in the M26-vs.-X26 real-world Canadian taser-associated death rate.

[See Smoking Gun Number Three [LINK] for links to sources.]


According to CPC, the older (safer?) M26 taser was still the more commonly-deployed (actually used) taser version in the years from 2002 until 2007. By a 3-to-1 ratio.

And yet, reports indicate that all the taser-associated deaths in Canada in the years 2003 and 2004 (where we have data) were associated with the newer (more dangerous?) X26. [LINK]

X26 is reportedly 3 of 3 in 2003. X26 is reportedly 6 of 6 in 2004. Zero for the M26, in spite of it being used (actually deployed) three times more often.


For some reason, the taser model data pretty much dries up starting in 2005. Why?


What needs to happen is that we need to assign 'M26' or 'X26' to all the remaining taser-associated deaths in Canada where such data has not been listed. [LINK]


If this apparent bias towards the X26 can be further buttressed with more data points, then it will be highly revealing and would make for a very interesting year.


If you have data, please send it to the blog e-mail address listed in the right hand column (scroll down quite a bit).