In memory of our brother and son, Robert Bagnell, who died after being tasered by police in Vancouver, British Columbia on June 23, 2004
taser-Related Deaths = 310
ONE person has died in the US in December after being tasered. ELEVEN North Americans, including TWO Canadians, died in November. In October, TWO people died in Canada and FOUR in the US. ONE person died in September in Canada and FOUR people died the US. NINE people, a bear and a dog died in August. SIX people died during the month of July. THIRTEEN people died in May. At least 310 people have died in North America proximal to taser use since 2001. The taser has been identified as either a cause or contributing factor in many of the deaths. TWENTY people have died in Canada since 2003 after police used tasers on them.
What we believe:
1) The safety implications of Tasers require urgent independent and unbiased study. 2) Until such time as independent and unbiased study into the safety implications of Tasers has been properly completed, a moratorium must be imposed upon these weapons. 3) If, after independent and unbiased study has been completed, the Taser is going to remain in the police arsenal, it must be placed at a level equal to lethal force on the continuum of force and used only as a second-to-last resort. 4) Safety standards must be developed for Tasers. There are currently no Canadian safety standards in place for this weapon. 5) Police must not be allowed to investigate themselves but must be subject to independent and unbiased civilian oversight. 6) Families of people who die in police custody in Canada must be provided with funding so that they may be properly represented by legal counsel.
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