[Peace-discuss] Town meeting on Taser guns

[msimon at uiuc.edu]

COMMUNITY MEETING ON TASER GUNS 

MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2004 
6PM – 8PM 
MT. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH 
808 EAST BRADLEY AVENUE 
CHAMPAIGN, IL 

A community forum to discuss the issue of Taser guns, raise concerns, and make demands of the Champaign Police Department and City Council 


BACKGROUND 
On March 23rd the Champaign City Council will hold a study session to determine whether or not the Champaign Police Department may purchase Taser guns (at a cost of $30,000+).  Taser guns operate by shooting an individual with a dartlike object that discharges 50,000 volts of electricity on contact, thus rendering that individual incapacitated for approximately five seconds.  The position of the Police Department and the City Manager is that Tasers provide effective, safe alternatives to lethal weaponry and therefore should be purchased.        

It is our responsibility as community members to inform ourselves, our neighbors, and the City Council about the great complexities of this issue.        

What are the health risks of being zapped by a Taser?  Is the rate of civilian violence towards police officers in Champaign large enough to justify the purchase of Taser guns?  Are Tasers, which leave no physical marks on victims, likely to be abused by officers to obtain compliance or to coerce statements from individuals?  Are communities of color, lower-income, political dissent likely to be disproportionately affected by Taser use?  Are there other alternatives to be explored? 

All neighborhoods and communities in and around Champaign are called together on March 15th to engage in this discussion.  A summary of the proceedings will be presented at the Champaign City Council study session on March 23rd.  Community members are welcome to attend this study session and address Council as well.