Category: University of California

ACLU of New Mexico: Taser Use in Need of Regulation

August 10, 2010 by Democracy for N...

This is a guest blog by Laura Schauer, Managing Attorney, ACLU of New Mexico.

There is a disturbing pattern emerging here in New Mexico: inappropriate and excessive use of Tasers by law enforcement. Tasers are “less-than-lethal” weapons that use compressed nitrogen to fire two darts that deliver 50,000 volts of electric shock into the target’s body, causing temporary incapacitation. However, this “less-than-lethal” brand is far from certain. Amnesty International reports that over 350 individuals have died soon after having the weapons used on them.

Medical experts agree that Taser use is not without serious risk. Dr. Zian Tseng, a cardiologist at the University of California in San Franciso, believes that Tasers may be fatal if they discharge during the vulnerable period of the heart beat cycle, are used on particularly susceptible populations or are used multiple times for an extended time period. Tseng says, “I think they are dangerous ... You are shocking someone repeatedly. It becomes a bit like Russian Roulette. At some point, you may hit that vulnerable period.”