Taser manufacturer warns against shooting at chest
Tasers, a popular brand of stun-gun used by police, have generally been seen as a non-lethal alternative to the standard sidearm. In the wake of hundreds of deaths, however, the question of just how safe Tasers are is in question and now Taser International is issuing warnings to law enforcement officers.
According to an AP report, an Oct. 12 training manual released by the company warns against firing at a suspect’s chest and acknowledges there is a risk of negative effects on the heart.
Since stun-guns have become commonplace in recent years, 350 people have died after being shot by them. Many of these deaths were heart related and in at least 50 of these cases a medical examiner has said the shock emitted by the stun-gun played a role.
The statement by Taser International marks a big change in the way stun-guns are viewed. As stated above, most police and security companies view tasers as a safer alternative that will subdue a suspect without causing long-term personal injury or death. Demonstrations have even been given where officers or even television reporters are voluntarily shocked.
Law enforcement agencies often tell their employees to use tasers only when the suspect is threatening to cause severe harm to the officer or another civilian. In practice, though, we have seen officers use the guns excessively and in situations where the suspect is not a threat.
One similar case occurred here in Missouri last year. Stanley James Harlan, 23, died after being hit twice with a taser by police after being pulled over on a suspected DUI. If Harlan was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he should have been arrested and faced charges, but this alone does not justify the use of deadly force. This is just one of countless horror stories surrounding the use of stun guns.
Despite all the deaths and question marks about safety, personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits have been largely unsuccessful due to the perception that tasers are non-lethal instruments. Dozens of suits against stun-gun manufacturers have been dismissed with Taser International losing only a single case, which is under appeal, according to the AP. Sovereign immunity rules also make it hard to recover damages from police departments.
This recent concession by a major stun-gun manufacturer may be a sign that the perception of these devices is changing. If you have lingering effects of being shocked or have lost a family member to a taser incident, contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your case.
