By: Chris Nisan
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 2/23/2005
Law enforcement, school officials say the devices provide more safety
St. Paul NAACP opposes police use of Tasers in schools
By: Chris Nisan
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 2/23/2005
Law enforcement, school officials say the devices provide more safety
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“The only study they have done on these weapons have been done on pigs,” said Nathaniel Khaliq, president of the St. Paul NAACP, speaking about the recent decision by St. Paul Police to issue Taser guns to officers in the public schools. “They tested them on pigs, and when the pigs did not die they were good to go on us,” said Khaliq.
St. Paul Police Spokesman Paul Schnell said the small, bright yellow weapons will be issued to officers in the St. Paul Public Schools as part of training for all officers, according to an article in the Star Tribune. “It should enable us to calm situations down quicker,” said School Police Supervisor Paul Strong in the same article.
But the NAACP finds Taser use in schools outrageous. “Just a short while ago, it was reported in the New York Times that Tasers were responsible for 84 deaths across the country,” said Khaliq. <snip>
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