January 13, 2006
Law Enforcement and Advocacy Groups Debate Taser Use
After calling for a ban on Taser guns in law enforcement for two years, a national civil rights group said Friday more dialogue is needed to encourage more responsible use of the weapon.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is now calling for better standards and training for officers using Taser guns, and their efforts are being bolstered by Georgia lawmakers who have proposed legislation calling for both a ban and a plan to address how and when to use Tasers.
Almost two years ago, the SCLC rallied around the case of Frederick Williams who died in May 2004 after Gwinnett County deputies stunned him with a Taser gun while in jail as an example of the dangers of Taser gun use.
The SCLC had asked the stun gun's manufacturer, Taser International Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz., to end its production of the devices and has pushed for a national moratorium on their use until more studies into their safety have been conducted