Stop Taser Torture "Blogging For Justice Day” 12. 4. 09

New 'Miranda Rights' against taser abuse,"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:23:00 +0000

"These are new 'Miranda Rights' against taser abuse,"
says Atty. Francis L. Holland

There's been a ground-breaking decision by the 9th Circuit US Federal Court of Appeals against taser abuse, entitled Bryan v. McPherson. This decision was announced on December 29th, between Christmas and New Years holidays but it deserves our immediate attention and dissemination via our EasyWidgets:

The decision writes into federal caselaw many of the arguments and advocacy that we afrosphere bloggers have been making at our Days (months and years) of Blogging for Justice Against Police Pre-Trial, Extra-Judicial "Taser" Shock, Electrocution and Execution devices. The Easy-Widget HTML code below enables us to educate the public of their newly announced rights.

The 9th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals agreed with us that:

". . . we must “balance the amount of force applied against the need for that force.” Bryan v. McPherson, 9th Cir. Fd. Ct. App., December 29, 2009.

This decision has direct legal effect throughout the 9th Circuit, consisting of populous California, Alaska, Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Hawaii and Guam, and influential in other parts of the country. Nearly 20% of America's population is within the jurisdiction of the 9th Circuit. The Court announced what we have long insisted:

"A reasonable police officer . . . would have foreseen these physical injuries when confronting a shirtless individual standing on asphalt. We have held that force can be unreasonable even without physical blows or injuries." Bryan v. McPherson

We've got widgets up at 123 afrosphere blogs telling the public that, in many cases, when "Tasers" are used, "The price is too high". Now, lets post Easy-Widgets to inform the public that one of the most influential federal circuit courts of appeal in the country agrees with us that:

"The presence of non-minor physical injuries like those suffered by Bryan, however, is certainly relevant in evaluating the degree of the Fourth Amendment intrusion." Bryan v. McPherson

Let's celebrate! Here's a new EasyWidget that takes readers to our anti-electrocution blogs. This Easy-Widget HTML (immediately below) links to Electrocuted While Black, but there are visibly identical widgets below that lead to Tasered While Black and the Police Brutality Blog.

The result is better than that for which many of us had hoped. Instead of arguing locally for changes to voluntarily enforced police taser policy, Bryan's lawyers in this case, and bloggers making similar arguments, convinced the 9th Circuit Federal Appeals Court to write these requirements and limitations into Federal caselaw, which is probably faster, better and politically safer than having the restrictions enacted into law by the US Congress.

Afrosphere bloggers and the Ninth Circuit encourage other circuits to follow this example by observing that:

"We, along with our sister circuits, have held that tasers and stun guns fall into the category of non-lethal force. Non-lethal, however, is not synonymous with non-excessive; all force—lethal and non-lethal—must be justified by the need for the specific level of force employed." Bryan v. McPherson

Not everyone -- blogger or reader -- has had a chance to read the whole Bryan v. McPherson case. So, the Easy-Widget quotes the most powerful language of the decision and links to our afrosphere blogs for more information.

In Bryan v. McPherson, the 9th Circuit Federal Appeals Court basically wrote into federal caselaw many of the arguments that we taser opponents have been arguing. But this is better than what many of us had sought, because instead of it being a change in local optionally enforced "guidelines," it's a change in obligatorily obeyed federal case law for the states in the 9th Circuit, and also, as the decision alludes, the 9th Circuit has enormous influence on other "sister" circuits courts.

Please join Electrocuted While Black in celebrating this decision by posting a widget that tells readers their rights and takes them to a blog where they can learn more, be it Electrocuted While Black or the Police Brutality Blog. Installation of the Easy-Widget below is a quick and easy way to quote some of the best parts of the case for your readers.

References:

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/81381.html

http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2009/12/28/08-55622.pdf

http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/content/view.php?pk_id=0000000135

http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/stop-the-electrocutions-and-executions-175px

http://police-brutality-blog.blogspot.com/2009/12/important-taser-case-is-must-read-for.html

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/14353/stop-taser-torture-blogging-for-justice-day

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/13151/taser-abuse-how-many-have-to-die-before-something-is-done-about-it

http://francislholland.blogspot.com/2009/12/important-taser-case-is-must-read-for.html

http://stoptasertorture.wordpress.com/about/

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=taser+abuse&btnG=Google+Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Day+of+Blogging+for+Justice%22+taser&btnG=Search&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Tasered+While+Black%22&btnG=Search&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

New 'Miranda Rights' against taser abuse,"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:23:00 +0000

"These are new 'Miranda Rights' against taser abuse,"
says Atty. Francis L. Holland

". . . we must “balance the amount of force applied against the need for that force.” Bryan v. McPherson, 9th Cir. Fd. Ct. App., December 29, 2009.

"The presence of non-minor physical injuries like those suffered by Bryan, however, is certainly relevant in evaluating the degree of the Fourth Amendment intrusion." Bryan v. McPherson

Landmark Taser Torture Court Ruling In America - Special Post

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:14:00 +0000

I have come out of Semi-Blogger Retirement to write this special post on Taser Torture in America. I want to thank Rikyrah for the link, and Hudson Sangree and Kim Minugh at SACBEE.com for their excellent reporting of this landmark decision. As reported by SACBEE.com, A federal appeals court on Monday issued one of the most comprehensive rulings yet limiting police use of Tasers against low-level offenders who seem to pose little threat and may be mentally ill.

In a case out of San Diego County, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals criticized an officer who, without warning, shot an emotionally troubled man with a Taser when he was unarmed, yards away, and neither fleeing nor advancing on the officer.

Sold as a nonlethal alternative to guns, Tasers deliver an electrical jolt meant to subdue a subject. The stun guns have become a common and increasingly controversial tool used by law enforcement.

There have been at least nine Taser-related fatalities in the Sacramento region, including the death earlier this month of Paul Martinez Jr., an inmate shot with a stun gun while allegedly resisting officers at the Roseville jail.

As lawsuits have proliferated against police and Taser International, which manufactures the weapons, the nation's appellate courts have been trying to define what constitutes appropriate Taser use.

The San Diego County case is the latest ruling to address the issue.

The court recounted the facts of the case:

In the summer of 2005, Carl Bryan, 21, was pulled over for a seat-belt violation and did not follow an officer's order to stay in the car.

Earlier, he had received a speeding ticket and had taken off his T-shirt to wipe away tears. He was wearing only the underwear he'd slept in because a woman had taken his keys, the court said without further explanation.

During his second traffic stop in Coronado, he got out of the car. He was "agitated … yelling gibberish and hitting his thighs, clad only in his boxer shorts and tennis shoes" but did not threaten the officer verbally or physically, the judges wrote.

That's when Coronado Police Officer Brian McPherson, who was standing about 20 feet away watching Bryan's "bizarre tantrum," fired his Taser, the court said.

Without a word of warning, he hit Bryan in the arm with two metal darts, delivering a 1,200-volt jolt.

Temporarily paralyzed and in intense pain, Bryan fell face-first on the pavement. The fall shattered four of his front teeth and left him with facial abrasions and swelling. Later, a doctor had to use a scalpel to remove one of the darts.

Bryan sued McPherson, the Coronado Police Department and the city of Coronado, alleging excessive force in violation of his Fourth Amendment rights.

The officer moved to have the claim dismissed, but a federal trial judge ruled in Bryan's favor.

A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit affirmed the trial judge's ruling on Monday, concluding that the level of force used by the officer was excessive.

McPherson could have waited for backup or tried to talk the man down, the judges said. If Bryan was mentally ill, as the officer contended, then there was even more reason to use "less intrusive means," the judges said.

"Officer McPherson's desire to quickly and decisively end an unusual and tense situation is understandable," Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw wrote for the court. "His chosen method for doing so violated Bryan's constitutional right to be free from excessive force." . Read More HERE

AAPP, publisher of the blog, Tasered While Black and Stop Taser Torture said: "This is a great landmark ruling. I'm glad to hear that this Federal Judge had the guts to stand up for what is right, rather than to follow the script layed out by Taser International and Police Departments for so many years. We still need to work hard to get these weapons of American Torture outlawed in the United States. Limiting the use of tasers by police is one gigantic step forward in that regard."

We will be talking about the taser torture decision tonight on my blogtalk radio program. Join us, to find out what average black Americans think about the taser torture issue and other issues impacting America.

Walmart Justice! Attack on a 80 + year old Elderly Woman

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:02:00 +0000

This is one of the reasons why bloggers from across America continue to participate in our stop taser torture campaigns. Watch the video of the elderly women. Should police use this extreme brutal power force on a women who is over 80 years old? She she have been tasered?

Pam's House Blend - Pam's House Blend:: Stop Taser Torture Blogging For Justice Day
The D Spot - The "D" Spot Redeux: Redeux News: "Stop Taser Torture" Blogging
It All Goes Here - It all goes here: Stop Taser Torture Today!
Intersection between Maddness and Reality - THE INTERSECTION OF MADNESS & REALITY: Day of Blogging For Justice
Attorney Mom - Character Corner: STOP TASER TORTURE, BLOGGING FOR JUSTICE DAY
LA Times Pressmen - Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club: Electronic Village: 50
Rightous Choices - The Righteouschoice to STOP TASER TORTURE!
African American Political Pundit - MyDD :: "Stop Taser Torture, blogging for Justice Day - Dec 4, 2009
The Duck Shoot - Taser Torture & Death: Damning Medical Research « The Duck Shoot
All About Race - Blogging for Justice Stop Taser Torture All About Race
Electronic Village: 50 Taser-Related Deaths in the United States - http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/2009/05/taser-related-deaths-in-united-states.html
Character Corner: http://charactercorner.blogspot.com/2009/12/stop-taser-torture-blogging-for-justice.html
Tasered While Black: Stop Taser Torture – Blogging For Justice Day - http://taseredwhileblack.blogspot.com/2009/12/stop-taser-torture-blogging-for-justice.html

· Tracking Taser Torture Blogging - http://www.newstin.com/rel/us/en-010-020616723

· fwix.com - Redeux News: Stop Taser Torture Blogging for Justice

· Observer Reporter - http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/localnews/11-29-2009-Taser-death

· Electronic Village - Electronic Village: Day of Blogging for Justice: 'Stop Taser ...

· Independent Political reporter - Green Party of Suffolk calls for moratorium on Tasers ...

· Gangsters In Blue - http://gangstersinblue.org/

· Jack and Jill Politics - Cops taser man with his hands already on police car. What you can ...

· Ancestral Energies - http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2009/12/day-of-blogging-for-justice-against.html

Related Taser Torture post

· Chicago Sun Times, AAPP - www.suntimes.com

· Popular Mechanics - Popular Science Blog - Are Taser Guns Torture?

· Educate Yourself - Police with Tasers: Sanctioned Torture & Summary Execution In America

· Taser International Responds - Taser Responds to United Nations Anti-Torture Committee - News ...

· The Duck Shoot - Police Taser Torture: So You Think Tasers Are Non-Lethal? « The ...

· Rev com.US - Torture by Police Taser in the USA

· RINF.com - Taser Torture as Summary Punishment for “Non-Compliance”

· What Really Happened - Taser Torture in the Great White North | WHAT REALLY HAPPENED

· Sign the Congressional Petition against Taser Torture Petition Calls for Congressional Hearings on Taser Torture ...

· CNETTV - Is Taser Torture? video - CNET TV

· Social Worker.org - Police using Tasers as tool of torture

Keep The Truth Alive - The TASER: A Police Device for Torture and Death

Stop Taser Torture, Blogging for Justice - A Success!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:02:00 +0000

THANK YOU Bloggers!

Stop Taser Torture, Blogging for Justice - Was a Success!

Here are a list of bloggers who participated in this year's Stop Taser Torture, Blogging for Justice - Part II.

This will be an ongoing building experience so that we get more and more bloggers to join our efforts.

Thank You!

Stop Taser Torture, Blogging for Justice - Part II participants 12.4.09

Pam's House Blend - Pam's House Blend:: Stop Taser Torture Blogging For Justice Day
The D Spot - The "D" Spot Redeux: Redeux News: "Stop Taser Torture" Blogging
It All Goes Here - It all goes here: Stop Taser Torture Today!
Intersection between Maddness and Reality - THE INTERSECTION OF MADNESS & REALITY: Day of Blogging For Justice
Attorney Mom - Character Corner: STOP TASER TORTURE, BLOGGING FOR JUSTICE DAY
LA Times Pressmen - Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club: Electronic Village: 50
Rightous Choices - The Righteouschoice to STOP TASER TORTURE!
African American Political Pundit - MyDD :: "Stop Taser Torture, blogging for Justice Day - Dec 4, 2009
The Duck Shoot - Taser Torture & Death: Damning Medical Research « The Duck Shoot
All About Race - Blogging for Justice Stop Taser Torture All About Race
Electronic Village: 50 Taser-Related Deaths in the United States - http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/2009/05/taser-related-deaths-in-united-states.html
Character Corner: http://charactercorner.blogspot.com/2009/12/stop-taser-torture-blogging-for-justice.html
Tasered While Black: Stop Taser Torture – Blogging For Justice Day - http://taseredwhileblack.blogspot.com/2009/12/stop-taser-torture-blogging-for-justice.html

· Tracking Taser Torture Blogging - http://www.newstin.com/rel/us/en-010-020616723

· fwix.com - Redeux News: Stop Taser Torture Blogging for Justice

· Observer Reporter - http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/localnews/11-29-2009-Taser-death

· Electronic Village - Electronic Village: Day of Blogging for Justice: 'Stop Taser ...

· Independent Political reporter - Green Party of Suffolk calls for moratorium on Tasers ...

· Gangsters In Blue - http://gangstersinblue.org/

· Jack and Jill Politics - Cops taser man with his hands already on police car. What you can ...

· Ancestral Energies - http://ancestralenergies.blogspot.com/2009/12/day-of-blogging-for-justice-against.html

Stop Taser Torture, Blogging for Justice - Part I participants:

· African American Opinion - A Day of Blogging for Justice …

· African American Political Opinion – “A Day of Blogging for Justice …

· African American Political Pundit – A Day of Blogging for Justice – Blogging Against Extra-Judicial Electrocution via Tasers

· All About Race – A Day of Blogging for Justice

· Ancestralenergies – Day-of-Blogging-For-Justice

· Black Perspective.com - Taser Awareness – Blogging Against Extrea Judicial Electrocution

· Christina Springer Blog- Wish-I-Had-More-Time

· Eddie G. Griffin (BASG) - Officer may be indicted for Tasing Death of Scooter
Electronic Village -Electronic Village: End Police Pre-Trial, Extra Judicial

· Electrocuted While black – Electrocuted While Black: “A Day of Blogging for Justice

· InkogNegro – Day of Blogging for Justice – Don’t Tase the Bros to death

· Jack and Jill Politics - Extra-Judicial Electrocution – Jack & Jill Politics

· Jena 6 Blog - Barron-pikes-tasered-while-handcuffed.html

· Police Brutality Blog - “A Day of Blogging for Justice

· Purple Zoe -A Day-of-blogging-opposing-pre-trial Electrocution

· Regina’s Family Seasons - “A Day Of Blogging For Justice” – Tasers.\

· Republic of T – Held Suspect

· A Slant Truth – Blogging For Justice – Police Abuse (Tasers)

· Tasered While Black - Tasered While Black: A Day of Blogging For Justice

· Ultra Violet Underground - Day Of Blogging Opposing Pre-Trial Electrocution aka Tasering

· What Tami Said – A day of blogging for justice

· Wonderland or Not - Taser-lets-get-a-clue

· The Black Snob – A Fight Against Taser Abuse and Other News

The Super Spade – A Day of Blogging for Justice – Against – Extra – Judicial Electrocution

Related Taser Torture Posts

· Chicago Sun Times, AAPP-http://www.suntimes.com/news/blogentries/index.html?bbPostId=Cz9ojeT0Jcr1WBD0O7q71iA1vCzEnF4Ph9A8OaCz8HQePLTm7b9

· Popular Mechanics - Popular Science Blog - Are Taser Guns Torture?

· Educate Yourself - Police with Tasers: Sanctioned Torture & Summary Execution In America

· Taser International Responds - Taser Responds to United Nations Anti-Torture Committee - News ...

· The Duck Shoot - Police Taser Torture: So You Think Tasers Are Non-Lethal? « The ...

· Rev com.US - Torture by Police Taser in the USA

· RINF.com - Taser Torture as Summary Punishment for “Non-Compliance”

· What Really Happened - Taser Torture in the Great White North | WHAT REALLY HAPPENED

· Sign the Congressional Petition against Taser Torture Petition Calls for Congressional Hearings on Taser Torture ...

· CNETTV - Is Taser Torture? video - CNET TV

· Social Worker.org - Police using Tasers as tool of torture

Keep The Truth Alive - The TASER: A Police Device for Torture and Death

Today is Stop Taser Torture blogging for Justice Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:32:00 +0000

Today is Stop Taser Torture blogging for Justice Day.

Many police departments are using tasers to torture even nonviolent people who are often those who are incoherent, hallucinating, wheelchair bound, suicidal, unarmed, deaf, handcuffed, blind, pregnant, students, or just didnt move fast enough for an officers liking. Taser torture in America is continuously growing not only in volume, but in the level of how liberally, unwarrantedly, and excessively tasering is being used across the U.S and many other countries. In America, some police departments are even now torturing 10 year old children.

We ask that you please join this effort in solidarity with so many bloggers of all walks of life concerned about taser torture in America. Speaking of Taser Torture, now we learn from Raw Story, for at least the second time in three weeks, police officers have shocked an unruly 10-year-old child, and, once again, the child's adult guardians are supporting the move. According to Raw Story Sheriff's deputies in Pueblo, Colorado, Tasered a 10-year-old boy after arriving at the child's home Monday evening, after the boy had threatened them with a stick and a length of pipe. As of Thursday evening, the boy remained in a youth jail, according to KCNC channel 4 in Denver.

We hope everyone will blog about taser torture in America today.

TNT - TRUTH ... not TASERS: Stop Taser Torture - Blogging for Justice Day - http://truthnottasers.blogspot.com/2009/12/stop-taser-torture-blogging-for-justice.html
African American Political Pundit Blog: Tasering of another 10 Year Old Tasered- A Day of blogging For Justice - http://aapoliticalpundit.blogspot.com/2009/12/tasering-of-another-10-year-old-today.html
cognitive continuity: AAPP and Blogging for Justice Day, Dec. 4, 2009 - http://cognitivecontinuity.blogspot.com/2009/11/aapp-and-blogging-for-justice-day-dec-4.html
Stop Taser Torture, Blogging for Justice | Black Women in Europe™ Blog - http://blog.blackwomenineurope.com/2009/12/04/stop-taser-torture-blogging-for-justice/
www.Excited-Delirium.com: Stop Taser Torture, blogging for Justice-http://excited-delirium.blogspot.com/2009/12/stop-taser-torture-blogging-for-justice.html
Antoinette's "Point of View" - http://aapov.blogspot.com/2009/12/in-delaware-i-have-found-one-fatal-use.html

All About Race

Blogging for Justice – Stop Taser Torture – December 4, 2009
Eddie G. Griffin (BASG)

Back-to-Back-to-Back Taser Deaths Kicks Off Crusade
Police Brutality (and Atrocity) Blog

Taser Advisory to Cops: 'Our Guns May Cause Heart Attack' - Electronic Village reports today,
The Francis L. Holland Blog

A Day of Blogging for Justice - Blogging To Stop Police Pre-Trial Extra-Judicial, Electrocution of Americans, 12/4/2009 -
Whitehaven Against Racism

Please join us on December 4, 2009 for the Day of Blogging for Justice! - Please join us on December 4, 2009 for the Day of Blogging for Justice!
50 Taser related Deaths in united States - http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/2009/05/taser-related-deaths-in-united-states.html

More later...

Stop Taser Torture – Blogging For Justice Day” Dec 4 2009.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:20:00 +0000

Today is Stop Taser Torture blogging for Justice Day.

I join this effort in solidarity with so many bloggers of all walks of life concerned about taser torture in America. Speaking of Taser Torture, now we learn from Raw Story, for at least the second time in three weeks, police officers have shocked an unruly 10-year-old child, and, once again, the child's adult guardians are supporting the move.

According to Raw Story Sheriff's deputies in Pueblo, Colorado, Tasered a 10-year-old boy after arriving at the child's home Monday evening, after the boy had threatened them with a stick and a length of pipe. As of Thursday evening, the boy remained in a youth jail, according to KCNC channel 4 in Denver. The deputies involved described the boy as an "out-of-control juvenile." The Colorado incident follows a similar case last month, when a 10-year-old girl in Ozark, Arkansas, was Tasered after kicking an approaching officer in the groin. In that case, the girl's mother had suggested to the officer that he use a Taser. More HERE

"A two-foot piece of pipe can do a lot of damage, I don't care who's swinging it," Daniel Bilby told KCNC. Bilby said the police could have done more harm to his foster son -- whose name is being withheld because of his age -- if they had tried to tackle him.

Capt. Jeff Teschner of the Pueblo County Sheriff's Department told the Pueblo Chieftain that the officers were justified in their use of force.

"They followed all policies and procedures. This was appropriate use of the Taser device," Teschner said.

The Chieftain reports:

Deputies Mark Myers and Randy Mondragon were sent to foster parent Daniel Biby's home to help with an "out of control juvenile" who was reportedly destroying property. Mondragon said the boy had threatened Biby with a pipe and a stick, and had thrown a landscape timber at Biby.
Mondragon said that when deputies arrived, the boy ran away from them holding a 2-foot-long pipe.
"This lad, we have a long history of (him) running away. I don't know what his entire psychological profile is, but obviously he has emotional distress," Teschner said.

The recent incidents of Taser use on children will likely spur debate on the ethical and safety issues involved in using conducted energy weapons on youths.

AAPP says: The problem is, it's not just kids that police are tasing, many police departments are using tasers to torture even nonviolent people who are often those who are incoherent, hallucinating, wheelchair bound, suicidal, unarmed, deaf, handcuffed, blind, pregnant, students, or just didnt move fast enough for an officers liking. Taser torture in America is continuously growing not only in volume, but in the level of how liberally, unwarrantedly, and excessively tasering is being used across the U.S and many other countries."

What can we do?

As reported by Amnesty International,Taser policy is most often a local issue. Individual law enforcement agencies – city and state policy, sheriff’s departments, and campus police -- decide if they are going to employ the weapons, and what rules will govern their use. You can help lobby your own city or town to suspend use of Tasers pending thorough safety research, or to limit their use to situations where they are an alternative to deadly force.

***

To improve your town’s Taser policy, you first need to establish the facts. If your city uses Tasers already, what policies are in place to govern its use? One place to start is writing to your police department to request information about how Tasers are employed and to get a copy of the use-of-force policy used by the police.

Use-of-force policies vary widely. Some departments allow the weapons to be used in cases of “passive resistance,” including when the individual is refusing to obey a verbal command. These policies allow for the weapons to be used in situations where, in many cases, no weapon would otherwise have been used (See the case of Darryl Turner, a 19 year old in North Carolina who died after being shocked by a Taser. He was not holding any weapon and had his hands by his side Case Study of Darryl Turner. Many departments authorize officers to employ the weapons when an individual is “actively resisting.” This is better, but still short of Amnesty International’s recommendation, given the unanswered safety questions with Tasers.

If you find that your town uses Tasers but does not require all of Amnesty International’s recommended policies on their use, you can work to get your local police to revise the use-of-force policy so that Tasers may only be used in more extreme circumstances. Amnesty International's list of recommendations to law enforcement agencies on Tasers.

Get the word out about Tasers in your city, gather public support, and work to convince your local authorities that it is within the interest of public safety to improve the policy on Tasers!

For a packet of further resources for campaigning on Tasers, please contact your AIUSA regional office Contact Information for Regional Offices

Support the Stop Taser Torture Movement

STOP TASER TORTURE - DONATE

You can also join Stop Taser Torture Movement

and donate to the movement

Also, you could support the efforts of these great organizations and bloggers:

Ft. Worth Chapter

You can also sign the petitionTaser Torture In America - A Call For Congressional Hearings Just do something! Please...

2 Days to Go before Blogging For Justice! Taser Torture In America

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:19:00 +0000

1 Day before Blogging for Justice

The Stop Taser Torture blog is the official blog that coordinates the annual December 4th event called, “Stop Taser Torture, blogging for Justice.”

Many police departments are using tasers to torture even nonviolent people who are often those who are incoherent, hallucinating, wheelchair bound, suicidal, unarmed, deaf, handcuffed, blind, pregnant, students, or just didnt move fast enough for an officers liking. Taser torture in America is continuously growing not only in volume, but in the level of how liberally, unwarrantedly, and excessive tasering is being used across the U.S and in many other countries. In America, some police departments are even now torturing 10 year old children.

Join Us! Stand Up! “Stop Taser Torture, blogging for Justice.”

Guyana government rejectsTasers, calling it a dangerous weapon

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:08:00 +0000

As reported by Stabroeak News, Guyana National Assembly on Thursday endorsed a motion by GAP/ROAR member Everall Franklin calling for police training to be intensified in the use of non-lethal weapons, but the support came with amendments and sharp words from the government benches.

Everall Franklin

Franklin, declaring himself a friend of the force, said the motion was not to weaken ranks of the Guyana Police Force but rather to offer them “options” to better serve the citizenry. He submitted that ranks must be equipped with the tools to constitutionally carry out their duties, arguing that non-lethal weapons could easily be used if available.

“Life is sacred,” Franklin and he suggested the use of non-lethal and less lethal weapons such as pepper spray, rubber projectiles and Tasers. However, the government benches rejected the Taser, calling it a dangerous weapon that had no place in the motion. Consequently, tasers were omitted following the amendments as submitted by Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee. More HERE

NJ Attorney General OK's Taser Torture

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:18:00 +0000

According to By essex county criminal lawyer blog, the NJ Attorney General has OK'd use of Taser Guns for Law Enforcement

http://theduckshoot.com/

Please join us on December 4, 2009 for the Day of Blogging for Justice!

Green Party of Suffolk Calls for Moratorium on Tasers - Joins "Stop Taser Torture Blogging For Justice Day."

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:49:00 +0000

When it comes to political guts regarding taser torture in America, the Democrats are spineless, the Republicans gutless, but the folks from the Green Party continue to show character. As reported by the Independent Political Report the Green Party of Suffolk is willing to challenge the status quo, and has called for a moratorium on Taser use in Suffolk County, New York.

Here is what they have to say:

“The Green Party of Suffolk is outraged to discover that Suffolk County has been using Tasers against its residents,” said its chair Roger Snyder. “It is inconceivable that Suffolk has continued to use Tasers after residents have died after being tasered.”

Snyder outlined the Green Party’s plan to protect the lives of Suffolk residents: “In line with its pillar of nonviolence, the Green Party of Suffolk demands Suffolk County seek out ways to avoid the use of easily abused and potentially lethal Tasers. As an immediate step, the Green Party of Suffolk calls on the county to put a moratorium on the use or purchase of any Tasers. In the long term, the Green Party calls on the county to train the police in nonviolent methods of resolving situations.”

The existence of Taser use in Suffolk County was brought to light by the death of a Darryl Bain after he was tasered by the Suffolk Police. According to Newsday, Bain is the fourth person to die after being tasered by Suffolk Police. Amnesty International USA has found that 350 people died in the United States and Canada after being shot by Tasers since June 2001. More HERE

The Stop Taser Torture movement salutes the Green Party for it's leadership, and it appreciative of it's support of the upcoming blogging for Justice Day.

"Stop Taser Torture A Day of Blogging for Justice"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:42:00 +0000

Bloggers are joining together in an effort called, "Stop Taser Torture A Day of Blogging for Justice" which will be held on December 4, 2009. We need your support!

You may know many police departments are using tasers to torture even nonviolent people who are often those who are incoherent, hallucinating, wheelchair bound, suicidal, unarmed, deaf, handcuffed, blind, pregnant, students, or just didnt move fast enough for an officers liking. Taser torture in America is continuously growing not only in volume, but in the level of how liberally, unwarrantedly, and excessively tasering is being used across the U.S and many other countries. In America, some police departments are even now torturing 10 year old children. Now we learn that school districts are ready to taser 6-12 year olds and teens.

Here is what some of the bloggers wrote during our last Day of Blogging For Justice:

Ancestralenergies – Day-of-Blogging-For-Justice
Black Perspective.com - Taser Awareness – Blogging Against Extrea Judicial Electrocution
Christina Springer Blog- Wish-I-Had-More-Time
Eddie G. Griffin (BASG) - Officer may be indicted for Tasing Death of Scooter

Electronic Village -Electronic Village: End Police Pre-Trial, Extra Judicial
Electrocuted While black – Electrocuted While Black: “A Day of Blogging for Justice
InkogNegro – Day of Blogging for Justice – Don’t Tase the Bros to death
Jack and Jill Politics - Extra-Judicial Electrocution – Jack & Jill Politics
Jena 6 Blog - Barron-pikes-tasered-while-handcuffed.html
Police Brutality Blog - “A Day of Blogging for Justice
Purple Zoe -A Day-of-blogging-opposing-pre-trial Electrocution
Regina’s Family Seasons - “A Day Of Blogging For Justice” – Tasers.\
Republic of T – Held Suspect
A Slant Truth – Blogging For Justice – Police Abuse (Tasers)
Tasered While Black - Tasered While Black: A Day of Blogging For Justice
Ultra Violet Underground - Day Of Blogging Opposing Pre-Trial Electrocution aka Tasering
What Tami Said – A day of blogging for justice
Wonderland or Not - Taser-lets-get-a-clue
The Black Snob – A Fight Against Taser Abuse and Other News
The Super Spade – A Day of Blogging for Justice – Against – Extra – Judicial Electrocution

We would like all bloggers of all walks of life to blog about taser abuse and torture during the “Stop Taser Torture – Blogging For Justice Day” on December 4, 2009.

We plan to have more bloggers this year! Email: StopTaserTorture@gmail.com to register your blog or website.

Taser shocks on mentally ill and the intoxicated

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:45:00 +0000

Police say Tasers are lifesavers, but the odds may change for substance abusers and the mentally ill. Hat tip to Sheena Mcfarland and Melinda Rogers Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

A friendly poker game is interrupted by a phone call, answered by a drunken player who doesn't like what he hears.

The man loses the next hand, then his temper.

When Salt Lake City police arrive at the apartment three minutes later, they find his trail of shattered glass and kicked-in doors. The man is punching a wall and tells officers he wants to "kick their asses." They pull out their Tasers. The first shot misses, but the next two send 50,000 volts through his body -- incapacitating him long enough for officers to handcuff him.

Police using Tasers against sober or sane suspects usually only have to pull the trigger once. But sober or sane is hardly typical for those who go toe-to-toe with police in Utah.

A Salt Lake Tribune analysis found nearly half the time, about 47 percent of the cases, in which Utah police deployed electroshock weapons over the past 2½ years, they used them on people in altered states -- those suffering from mental illness or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Officers delivered multiple shocks to altered people almost half the time.

Tasers Altered State

Tasers shocks

Yet science hasn't answered just how safe Tasers are to use on the mentally ill and substance abusers, a population that advocates say police will be even more likely to encounter as funding for treatment dwindles.

An American Medical Association council in June expressed concern that Tasers are used too often when a person does not pose a clear physical threat, and it determined there haven't been enough studies done on how they affect people in altered states. That same month, the death of a man shocked by police on a Utah highway sparked a widespread controversy. Nude and unarmed, Brian Cardall was suffering a psychotic episode when an officer zapped him twice -- at least once in the chest.

Electroshock-gun behemoth Taser International says its products can't conclusively be linked to any deaths but acknowledged individual reactions can't be predicted, particularly when underlying medical conditions or drugs are involved. After Cardall's death, the company also instructed police to avoid aiming Tasers at a person's chest - ---a departure from previous guidelines that recommended shooting at center body mass. More HERE

How a taser works (pdf)

Taser Torture In America - School Districts Ready To Taser 6-12 year olds and Teens

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:10:00 +0000

With the growing ignorance of Police Chiefs and Sheriffs who are backing Tasers in schools.Why is it that the United states Government through it's Justice department are allowing police to torture children with Tasers? Why is it that a number of communities are exploring Tasers in schools?

Read: Minnesota Cops, School District: OK to Use Tasers On Students

Read: Administrators Propose Using Tasers on School Children | Nicene Truth

Read: Board invites police to talk about Tasers : News-Record.com

We have all heard about the ignorant mother who asked an Arkansas Cop to taser her 10-Year-Old daughter‎ for not taking a bath. The fact of the matter is tasering kids in our homes and schools is a recipe for Disaster.

Did you know about these other taserings young children and teens?

SOUTH TUCSON POLICE USE STUN GUN ON 9 YEAR OLD

11-Year-Old Girl Tasered At School After Punching Officer In Face

Sixth Grader Tasered At Middle School - News Story - WSB Atlanta

YouTube - 11 Year Old Tasered at School

Girls Tasered during fight at Ely High School in Pompano Beach; 5

Autistic teen Tased at school, lawsuit filed

abc11.com: Girl Tasered at School

Teenager Tased In School By Police For Not Complying and showing I.D.

Student tased at school | CJOnline.com

14 year-old Lehigh teen tased during school fight | WINK News

OPD uses Taser during high school protest | The Education Report

Police use taser on 14-year-old at Indiana school

The publisher of Stop Taser Torture says: "I'm glad to see that a number of grass root activist are willing to address this issue with police and school departments." Now the question is why is our Federal Justice Department allowing the torture of American youth, by Tasers? Another question is why are parents willing to allow this to happen?

Do you have the answer to these questions?

Blog about It!

Join Stop Taser Torture on 12.4.09

Leave your blog name, city, country and blog address.

Native Americans Join Fight Against Taser Torture

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:57:00 +0000

I'm proud to say that the highly regarded and internationally recognized blogger, Angry Indian at Inteligentaindigena Novajoservo has announced his support for Stop Taser Torture a Day of blogging for Justice. The Native American communities have experienced taser totrure and violence against its people since people landed on plymouth Rock.

We are appreciative of Inteligentaindigena Novajoservo joining in our collective efforts.

Americans Speak Out Against Taser Torture - Calling all Bloggers worldwide

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:33:00 +0000

American are speaking out against Taser Torture. Here is are just a few examples of what people are saying:

F. K. | Oneonta, NY "The use of tasers on children, the elderly & the handicapped where no threat of bodily harm is present to the office is egregious force. It's completely unacceptable by those we place the powers to uphold civility & protection in. This torture must stop." More HERE

Catherine R. | Aptos, CA A taser should be considered a potentially lethal weapon and treated as such. My good friend (age 32) was killed in front of his pregnant wife and two year old daughter by a taser. He was unarmed and posed no threat to the officer who tased him. More HERE

Name not displayed | Albany, GATasers are like the modern day whip.i cant beleive that the U.S. allows cops to walk around with these things More HERE

Name not displayed | Woodway, TXT here is no more Cruel & Unusual punishment than electrocution torture via current carrying conductors that use sharp flesh-hooking probes darted into your body a half inch or more (wherever they may happen to randomly hit on your body & puncture into your flesh?!)-
With 50,000 volts applied from this electronic torture device (E.T.D.), which has a current wave that is specifically designed & engineered with this SOLE (1) purpose: To torture the Human electrical system for time frames that FAR exceed the CURRENTLY DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL TORTURE which is proven to occur before death row electric chair sentencing of violent criminals (who were given Due Process). More HERE

marline h. | Palmdale, CANot all law enforcement officers handle their power responsibly, and in recent years, the incidence of inappropriate tasing has become far too common. Something must be done to stop this abuse of power, and the pain and danger inflicted on (often innocent) our citizens.More Here

The Publisher of the Stop Taser Torture Blog says; You can also make your voice heard on December 4th.

As blogger The Duck Shoot.com said better than I can, Calling all Americans:

Close your eyes to this and you or one of your loved ones may be the next victim. Even if they do not die they will experience what can only be described as torture. The pain of 50,000 volts is excruciating. So open your eyes and your mind and take action. Petition Congress Now – go here.

Calling all Bloggers worldwide

As far as I can see the United States has the worst abuses of the Taser but Americans are not alone. Amongst others Canada and the United Kingdom are experiencing Taser abuse as well.

According to the Times Online: “More than 13,400 law enforcement, correctional and military agencies in 44 countries now use Taser guns, according to Taser International’s website. They are available to more than 375,000 police officers. In addition, more than 180,000 Tasers have been sold to private citizens.”

If you own a blog join us for a day of action in protest at Taser abuse. Here’s what you can do:

Register your interest at the link below. (there’s a selfish reason to do this see below)
Write at least one article for posting on December 4.
Post the link below publicising the event. Do that now.
Publicise your blog link via Twitter and other social media sites.
Spread the word via forums and other blogs.

Please join us on December 4, 2009 for the Day of Blogging for Justice!

Some things to help you:

The code to cut and paste the above invitation and link into your blog or web site:

Please join us on December 4, 2009 for the Day of Blogging for Justice!

Researching Taser abuse: On the page where you register to support the event there is a list of blogs who are participating and links to other blogs where you can research Taser abuse.

The selfish reason: If the shocking toll of Taser torture and death isn’t enough to prompt you to join here’s a selfish reason. Back-links help your blog and web site to rank in search engines. Ranking better in search engines gets you traffic.

H/T to fellow blogger: The Duck Shoot.com

Again, please join us on December 4th. “Stop Taser Torture, blogging for Justice.” as we raise awareness and trigger a global discussion.

Support the event. Place a widget or button on your blog.

Contact us at: StopTaserTorture@gmail.com to register your blog.

Don’t forget to support the petition to the United States Congress calling for public hearings on the systemic human rights violations occurring with Federal funding for the use of Tasers® against American citizens. The United Nation’s Committee against Torture has declared that Taser use can constitute a form of torture, while USA: Amnesty International has an on-going concern about the use of tasers on American citizens. More HERE

Should governments limit the use of Taser guns or suspend their use? Let you opinion be known at the Dailykos.

US, State and Local Tax Money Used To Buy Taser Torture Weapons

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:05:00 +0000

Tser International Inc. has sold 443 of its X26 stun guns to the U.S. Marshals Service in a deal that will ship by the end of the year. The devices are Scottsdale-based Taser’s (Nasdaq:TASR) older model. The company released its three-shot X3 this summer, but the X26 continues to be popular with law enforcement agencies. No financial details of the sale were released. Source: http://phoenix.bizjournals.com

Taser gets order for 2,500 stun guns from U.S. Army [11/11/2009]
Taser gets order for 443 older stun guns from U.S. Marshals Service [11/03/2009]

http://stoptasertorture.blogspot.com

Don't forget to sign the petition to stop Taser Torture In America - A Call For Congressional Hearings.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Fort Worth, Announces Support

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:11:00 +0000

The Fort Worth Branch of SCLC, The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) which has taken a national lead protesting the taser death of Michael Jacobs has not stopped in renewing the call for Taser Ban.They are also actively supporting the Stop Taser Torture day on December 4th 2009.

Announcing SCLC's Fort Worth Chapter support, Rev. Kyev Tatum, Sr., President of the SCLC's Fort Worth Tarrant County Chapter said, "The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) is proud to support Stop Taser Torture and encourage all to join in the international Day of Blogging. This is one of the issues that will define our generation's consciousness and human rights position for years to come. Thank you for this moment in history, Plow Forward. "

The Stop Taser Torture Movement is appreciative of Rev. Kyev Tatum, Sr. and the support of the SCLC Fort Worth Tarrant County Chapter.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:30:00 +0000

http://ping.fm/rBhpq
Standards For police Taser Use supported By Publisher of Tasered While Black Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:26:00 +0000

http://ping.fm/0n9fV
Tasered For Needing Help

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:25:00 +0000

http://ping.fm/87K40
Movement to Stop Taser Torture now on Facebook and Twitter

Man In Need of Mental Help - Tasered by police dies from subsequent heart attack

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:17:00 +0000

A Washington County man who suffered a heart attack after he was stunned with a Taser gun by police has died, Coroner Tim Warco reported this morning.

Tasered While Black says: "I guess Washington City Police have limited Standards for police Taser use."

Ronald Petruney, 49, of Washington, Pa., died at 6:58 a.m. today at Washington Hospital, Warco said in a news release.

Petruney suffered cardiac arrest Tuesday. Washington City Police found him in a confused state on Jefferson Avenue. Police said Petruney became combative and they were forced to use the Taser to subdue him.

Warco said an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of Petruney's death. I wonder What number is this in Taser-Related Deaths in the United States?

See video on community reaction >>> Man Tasered by police dies from subsequent heart attack - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Had enough of tasering? Join us on December 4th. “Stop Taser Torture, blogging for Justice.” as we raise awareness and trigger a global discussion. Contact us at: StopTaserTorture@gmail.com to register your blog. Don't forget to make a Donation to the ant-taser effort.

Stop Taser Torture

Standards For police Taser Use supported By Publisher of Tasered While Black Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:59:00 +0000

http://stoptasertorture.blogspot.com

I just finished reading the Police Executive Research Forum's Taser policy guidelines. The forum is a research group for police chiefs and administrators funded by the U.S. Department of Justice. There are 52 standards that were released in 2005. It was an attempt to standardize police department Taser policy nationally. The guidelines are a good start, and should be adopted in State Legislatures across America. Hopeful Canada would do the same. Do I want tasered outlawed, yes. Yet in the interim, strict policy must be created and enforced.

Some of the police forum's standards provide stricter guidelines for Taser use and improve internal oversight, training and medical care for people shot with a Taser. These standards cover issues not adequately addressed in thousands of police department across the United States, Canada and other countries.

Blogger, African American Political Pundit, who publishes the blog Tasered While Black said, "every police department in the United States should compare it's Police Department's Taser policy with the forum's standards." He also said, there is a need for all police departments to establish a clear policy on providing medical treatment from medical professionals to people shot with Tasers." The bottom line is police agencies should be required to contact emergency responders whenever the police respond to a call where they believe a Taser might be used." The blogger said, "It's time for police departments to take corrective action and it's time for Congressional and state legislators, along with state police agencies to take the lead in developing strict requirements, such as those spelled out in the Police Executive Research Forum's Taser policy guidelines."

Don't forget to join us on December 4th. “Stop Taser Torture, blogging for Justice.” as we raise awareness and trigger a global discussion. Contact us at: StopTaserTorture@gmail.com to register your blog.
Please place a button on your blog.

http://stoptasertorture.blogspot.com

Anti-Taser Movement Grows in US - Taser-free Columbia Campaign Gains Support

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:12:00 +0000

GUEST COMMENTARY: It's time to end Taser use in Columbia

BY Catherine Parke

At a press conference held in Columbia on Oct. 30, the Taser-free Columbia campaign was announced. This public education project marks a significant redirection of the work first begun by the Coalition to Control Tasers, founded in Columbia in 2008. This redirection now aims to make Columbia completely Taser-free by presenting the voting public the issue of eliminating the use of these weapons by the Police Department and the public.

We could not have foreseen this critical need to work toward eliminating Tasers either when the Coalition was originally formed, or even as recently as May 2009, when the national Police Executive Research Forum standards were implemented to guide, control and assert protocols of use and accountability to inform and protect the public.

But it has become evident to us that making Columbia Taser-free is now absolutely necessary to public safety.
Compelling reasons have brought us to this position. We are responding to a call on our consciences that does not allow us to remain silent. We must speak.

Here are the reasons:

First, even after instituting PERF standards, Tasers continue to be used in ambiguous, uncertain and seemingly mistaken ways that appear not to conform consistently to standards of “imminent danger” and appropriate use.

There is the well-known Aug. 1 incident involving Alan Giles, who had no weapon and posed no apparent threat, shot twice with a Taser in the alley behind Cafe Berlin. In addition, the May 16 incident of Tasering a man threatening self-harm that appears to have involved failure to follow Taser-use guidelines and the force continuum.

Second, in this climate of uncertain and ambiguous use of Tasers, accountability and transparency, which are always essential, become emphatically vital. Citizens and citizen groups making Sunshine Law requests have encountered chronic difficulties in obtaining police documents for examination, a problem that also characterized the period before PERF. (See Attorney Ed Berg’s substantive commentary, “Taser use info hard to access: Police, Council skirt Sunshine Law rules,” and the op-ed by the Coalition to Control Tasers, “Police should follow Sunshine Act, provide Taser records.”)

Third, many people see and feel a widening gap of uncertainty and fear between themselves and the police — a gap that lessens cooperation, intercepts good communication, erodes trust and damages the model of service to the public that is essential for a city police force to always support and maintain.

This climate of uncertainty and mistrust leads to an instability that can, in turn, deteriorate into irreparable harm, as in the death of young Stanley Harlan, killed by a Taser in Moberly in August 2008. This tragic death in our region, an addition to the ever-growing number of deaths nationwide (approximately one each week), Taser International’s recent warning about the dangers of shooting into the chest and recent decisions against Tasers in Memphis, Mich., and Tarrant County, Texas map the mounting evidence of a worsening situation.
Let it not require the death of a Columbia citizen to move us to eliminate all Tasers in our city. Police Chief Kenneth Burton was quoted in January as saying that citizens should make the ultimate decision about whether their Police Department uses Tasers.

We invoke his accurate and admirable statement as our call to announce the Taser-free Columbia public education campaign to inform ourselves fully and accurately about these weapons in preparation for a ballot issue in November 2010.

Source: columbia missourian.com

Catherine Parke, mother of three, long-time citizen of Columbia and MU professor emerita of English and women's studies, has an art studio with community education focus, OurArt, at Orr St. Studios, and is currently teaching English at Moberly Area Community College.

Progressive Bloggers United Against Taser Tortue, Kick Off Crusade

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:43:00 +0000

http://stoptasertorture.blogspot.com

Back-to-Back-to-Back Taser Deaths Kicks Off Crusade
By Eddie G. Griffin (BASG)

Since the maker of the 50,000-volt electronic stun gun control device (ECD), TASER International, issued a new directive and warnings in an October 12, 2009 memo, there has been six more death, three in a matter of four days this past week:

• 453. November 13, 2009: Herman George Knabe, 58, Corpus Christi, Texas
• 454. November 14, 2009: Darryl Bain, 43, Long Island, New York
• 455. November 16, 2009: Matthew Bolick, 30, East Grand Rapids, Michigan

The word about tasers is obviously not getting out. There is still a general public acceptance of tasers as an better alternative to more deadly force, and the common belief among law enforcement that the instrument saves more lives than are lost. But is it saving lives of officers in the field at the expense of the lives of innocent people and thereby endangering the general public’s safety?

Truth Not Tasers blogsite now list the names of 455 people in North America who have lost their lives by tasers.

In a continuing effort to raise public awareness about the deadliness of the weapon, and the memory of those who needlessly died, we are waging a blogging campaign on December 4, 2009. The purpose of the Stop Taser Torture Blogging for Justice Day is “to unite the world’s bloggers” in America, Canada, and throughout the world to join in on the effort to stop tasers.

[Blog Registration through StopTaserTorture@gmail.com]

AfroSpear Network Blogger, Eddie G. Griffin (BASG), has joined the campaign to register the grievances against TASER International on behalf of Fort Worth, Texas families who have lost love ones to the device.

• 424. April 18, 2009: Michael Jacobs Jr., 24, Fort Worth, Texas
• 228. August 23, 2006: Noah Lopez, 25, Fort Worth, Texas
• 138. June 24, 2005: Carolyn Daniels, 25, Fort Worth, Texas
• 116. April 3, 2005: Eric Hammock, 43, Fort Worth, Texas
• 86. November 2, 2004: Robert Guerrero, 21, Fort Worth, Texas

Eddie G. Griffin (BASG), an Adult Friend of World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child, Mariefred, Sweden, also raise the issue of tasers used against children, contrary to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Resolution 44/25, adopted by the General Assembly on 20 November 1989, which states in Article 6 that “every child has the inherent right to life”, and in Article 37 (a) No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

These are children who died by taser.

• 7. December 15, 2001: Hannah Rogers-Grippi, 6 months fetus, Chula Vista, California
• 144. July 12, 2005: Kevin Omas, 17, Euless, Texas
• 249. October 29, 2006: Roger Holyfield, 17, Jerseyville, Illinois
• 351. March 20, 2008: Darryl Wayne Turner, 17, Charlotte, North Carolina
• 379. July 22, 2008: Michael Langan, 17, Winnipeg, Manitoba
• 408. January 8, 2009: Derrick Jones, 17, Martinsville, Virginia
• 417. March 22, 2009: Brett Elder, 15, Bay City, Michigan
• 421. April 10, 2009: Robert Mitchell, 16, Detroit, Michigan

Although the United States is not a signatory party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, these voiceless children have need of an advocate to speak on their behalf.

417. March 22, 2009: Brett Elder, 15, Bay City, Michigan

Hello, my name is Bethany and I have been reading a lot about how to try and change the state laws in Michigan. I was very close to the 15-year old boy Brett Elder (Dewy). I think about him every day and there is nothing I can do to bring him back, but there is something I can do, and that is to start a Petition. As you may know there have already been two deaths of minors in the State of Michigan this year. I am currently in the process of creating a petition (Dewy’s Minor Taser Protection Act).

If you have any advice for me please feel free to e-mail me. I have also a myspace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=474323826

Bethany A. Schuster, Bay City, Michigan (Tinkerbell283125@comcast.net)

[Editor's Note: As I write, a 10-year old girl has been tasered.]

FOR TASER WAR UPDATES, Read http://eddiegriffinbasg.blogspot.com/