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THE SAFETY OF TASERS IS QUESTIONED AGAIN
The New York Times ^ | 25 May 2006 | Alex Berenson

Posted on 05/25/2006 4:57:47 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

The safety of Tasers, the electric pistols that are widely used by police, is under new scrutiny after a study by a Wisconsin scientist showed that shocks from the guns cause the hearts of healthy pigs to stop beating. The finding contradicts previous studies that showed that Taser shocks did not cause heart disturbances in pigs, whose hearts are similar to those in humans.

John G. Webster, a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Wisconsin who conducted the new study, said the earlier studies contained serious errors because they did not account for the fact that pigs have a thick layer of muscle insulating their hearts from their skin. Humans do not. Dr. Webster removed the muscle from the pigs' chests and placed Taser barbs close to their hearts before shocking the animals. "The previous research made a mistake," Dr. Webster said. "I was a little surprised. But I believe this research more accurately reflects the anatomy of humans."

While most Taser shots land too far from the heart to be lethal, barbs that penetrate the spaces between the ribs that surround the heart may have the potential to cause electrocution, he said. Steve Tuttle, a spokesman for Taser International, which makes the weapons, said Dr. Webster's research was flawed and did not reflect the way that Tasers were used in humans. The current from a Taser shock is dispersed through the body rather than running directly into the heart, Mr. Tuttle said in an e-mail statement. The earlier studies on pigs were financed by Taser International. The Justice Department paid for Mr. Webster's study, which is not yet completed. An abstract is posted on Dr. Webster's Web site, http://www.engr.wisc.edu/bme/faculty/webster_john.html

This is an excerpt. The rest can be read here:

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(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: biters; bottom; donkey; electric; lawsuits; liability; police; taser
Uh oh. Time to short TASER I guess (TASR). Looks like whomever doesn't like TASER is pretty determined to drive the stock down and is eventually going to succeed.
1 posted on 05/25/2006 4:57:50 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
Looks like whomever doesn't like TASER is pretty determined to drive the stock down and is eventually going to succeed.

The indiscriminate use of Taser is what 'grows' the antipathy towards this weapon.

While there are guidlines of course, the decision to use these instruments remains discretionary.

The good judgment of Authority as it applies to force. . .or restraint. . . is a factor that cannot be controlled. Except post facto. . .so to speak.

2 posted on 05/25/2006 5:21:02 AM PDT by cricket (Live Liberal-free. . .or suffer the consequences)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

There are approximately 600 people in california on death Row . My suggestion is to wake them up each morning with a shot from a taser to see if these weopons are all that dangerous.


3 posted on 05/25/2006 5:23:34 AM PDT by sgtbono2002
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To: cricket

" The indiscriminate use of Taser is what 'grows' the antipathy towards this weapon."

OK. Let's just start shooting or clubbing violent people again.

Tasers save the lives of Perps AND Cops.

Are they 100% safe? No. Nothing is.


4 posted on 05/25/2006 5:26:00 AM PDT by EEDUDE (A penny saved is......a penny Congress overlooked.)
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To: EEDUDE
O.K. Let's just start shooting or clubbing violent people again. . .

I am not totally against the use of tasers. . .but think the discretionary ante should be 'upped', somehow, re it's use. . .particularly when threat or supposed threat is under ten years old. . .or say. . a person over seventy. . .

5 posted on 05/25/2006 5:34:57 AM PDT by cricket (Live Liberal-free. . .or suffer the consequences)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Ok - well if the TASER is out, the just go back to smashing skulls with nightsticks and using bullets....


6 posted on 05/25/2006 5:35:22 AM PDT by TheBattman (Islam (and liberalism)- the cult of Satan and a Cancer on Society)
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To: sgtbono2002
There are approximately 600 people in california on death Row . My suggestion is to wake them up each morning with a shot from a taser to see if these weopons are all that dangerous.

Ha ha ha ha...that is about the best comment on a Taser I believe I've ever seen.

7 posted on 05/25/2006 5:55:14 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: sgtbono2002
There are approximately 600 people in california on death Row . My suggestion is to wake them up each morning with a shot from a taser to see if these weapons are all that dangerous.

Ha ha ha ha...that is about the best comment on a Taser I believe I've ever seen.

8 posted on 05/25/2006 5:55:23 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Any "pig" inviting a "police taser" should be at risk.


9 posted on 05/25/2006 5:55:32 AM PDT by verbal voter
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
"...after a study by a Wisconsin scientist showed that shocks from the guns cause the hearts of healthy pigs to stop beating."

Crispy bacon, still on the hoof!
10 posted on 05/25/2006 6:00:23 AM PDT by LIConFem (A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi.)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
The safety of Tasers

Hmmm. which is safer, a taser or a .38 cal at close range? Do we really need a scientific study/opinion on this one.

11 posted on 05/25/2006 6:02:50 AM PDT by Realism (Some believe that the facts-of-life are open to debate.....)
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To: Realism

Why devices that emit thousands of volts of juice are not presumed to be potentially harmful comes from this transferance made of the fourth amendment "innocent until proven guilty, for all chemicals and devices, common sense notwithstanding."

Tasers have never been thoroughly tested and are now suspected in 168 deaths nationwide. Better a little night stick work if it avoids the head and kneecaps, where necessary to subdue a perp.


12 posted on 05/25/2006 6:18:30 AM PDT by at bay ("We actually did an evil....." Eric Scmidt, CEO Google)
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To: Realism
Here's the problem: what do Tasers replace? They do not really replace a pistol or revolver, you can't trust them for that, so the, "I would have shot him otherwise" argument fails. There might be a very exceptions. I'd be curious if any departments recomend a Taser against a person attacking with a knife. I doubt they do though. (If a guy's just standing around with a knife acting weird, I could see using a Taser, but you're not shooting him either.)

If a Taser replaces a blackjack, then OK, they are probably safer. I don't know how many departments OK blackjacks/splapjacks any more either. When my father retired in the mid-1990's, his department REQUIRED you to carry a blackjack, but no longer allows them.

If a Taser replaced a cops bare hands, then I don't know which is safer for the bad guy. In a few publicized cases, the Taser has been alleged to have replaced yelling and waving your arms, and that's not appropriate.
13 posted on 05/25/2006 6:31:04 AM PDT by NYFriend
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

use .45 cal hollow point and leave no question


14 posted on 05/25/2006 6:46:34 AM PDT by sure_fine (*not one to over kill the thought process*)
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