[Peace-discuss] Stop Tasers in CU - Speak Out Monday 7pm

[Danielle Chynoweth]

Bad news. Urbana and Champaign Police Departments are seeking approval from
their councils to acquire taser electroshock stun guns. Tasers shock people
with up to 50,000 volts, are easily abused, and have been linked to
hundreds of deaths in the US, causing Amnesty International to call for an
end to their use.

Urbana City Council will discuss buying tasers Monday, April 28th at 7pm
and could finalize a vote as early as May 5th. The Mayor and a majority of
Urbana council members appear to be leaning in support, but they are open
to hearing from you. Once Urbana buys tasers, Champaign is next.

TAKE ACTION:

*Show up and speak out: Urbana City Council: Monday, April 28th at 7pm.
 400 S. Vine St.*

*Contact Urbana City Council Members: *
*http://urbanaillinois.us/city-council*<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=JB4%2FYleMX7WzFHsKeokrSawlmdyJfOmb>

Since this issue affects both cities, residents of Urbana and Champaign are
urged to speak out and email Urbana council members.

TALKING POINTS:

*Tasers kill*

53 people were killed by tasers in the US in 2013 alone. Police can not
assess whether a taser is safe to use on a person. They can't know whether
a person is pregnant, has a heart condition, or is vulnerable. In fact,
tasers can kill perfectly healthy people.

*Tasers are not an alternative to lethal force*

If tasers are purchased, there is no guarantee that they will be used only
in those rare cases when the police officer would otherwise have to use a
gun. A study by Amnesty International showed that 90% of those subjected to
tasers were unarmed, and most were subjected to multiple shocks.

"*Alternative to lethal force" is the mythology used to get public support
for Tasers*. If lethal force is ever needed, lethal force is the
appropriate response. Tasers are not reliable and have a history of
malfunction. The Urbana Chief of Police himself said "we are not bringing
tasers to gun fights." Tasers are not an alternative to lethal force, they
are an alternative to mace and clubs, and will be used to gain compliance.

*Tasers are not needed*

Urbana already has access to to tasers in those few rare circumstances when
they are needed. They can call the Sheriff or UI police who have tasers.
This allows the police to try deescalation measures first.

*Tasers are not controllable - they are easily abused*

Tasers were used to torture at least four people in our Champaign County
Jail<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=8c4ci0aHUp62cY4Nt6e8D6wlmdyJfOmb>
including
a pregnant African American woman, an Asian man with mental issues who was
tied to a chair and spit hooded, and a young man who was hog tied, beaten,
and then tased repeatedly, including in his butt crack. Tasers don't always
leave a mark, making it hard for their misuse to be proven.

*Tasers are more likely to be used on African Americans and Latinos.*

Statistically, tasers are far more likely to be used on African Americans
and Latinos. In Urbana and Champaign, African Americans and Latinos are far
more likely are more likely to be stopped by police.  That's why, for over
ten years, community members have been fighting against acquisition of
tasers by the police.

*Tasers hurt the reputation of Urbana and the Police Force*

Urbana has long taken the higher ground, placing community relationships
above acquiring tasers. Acquiring tasers will deepen the divide between the
police and African American constituents, who know tasers will be
disproportionately used on them. The reputation of the police is improving
- why hurt it by pushing to get tasers?

*Democrats don't support tasers*

The Democratic party platform clearly states "We support the City of Urbana
and the City of Champaign in their ban of tasers by their police
departments, and we urge the County and all law enforcement agencies in the
County to ban their use." Despite this, many of the Democrats on city
council are leaning towards buying tasers.


*STOP TASERS! Contact Urbana council members: *
*http://urbanaillinois.us/city-council
*<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=V8dh%2FmQsAcxIaf9HeAg6r6wlmdyJfOmb>*Show
up and speak out: Urbana City Council: Monday, April 28th at 7pm.  400 S.
Vine St.*
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