X-post -- OK, DUers, I still support LEO use of tasers as a choice between traditional tools like

[jody]

Cross post in the Guns forum

batons and guns but obviously something is rotten with the policies or LEOs in jurisdictions that allow any of the more than 800,000 full-time sworn law enforcement officers in the United States to use tasers.

I hereby join you in protesting continued use of tasers until we have an independent, thorough investigation directed by a congressional committee to see whether tasers are safe enough for use by LEOs and if so what should be the precise conditions for using them.

I just searched Thomas and did not find a bill with "taser" so apparently no senator or congressperson has submitted a bill for a moratorium on using tasers until an independent, objective study has been completed.

Anyone who supports an investigation of taser use could make it a campaign issue in the districts of House subcommittee members below, They are the representatives of We the People and responsible under our Constitution for oversight of LEO use of tasers.

Please contact members of the committees below and ask them to push for a moratiorum on LEO use of tasers until a proper study is completed.

The Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security shall have jurisdiction over the following subject matters: Federal Criminal Code, drug enforcement, sentencing, parole and pardons, internal and homeland security, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, prisons, criminal law enforcement, and other appropriate matters as referred by the Chairman, and relevant oversight.

DEMOCRATS
Hon. Scott, Chairman, (D) Virginia, 3rd
Hon. Waters, (D) California, 35th
Hon. Delahunt, (D) Massachusetts, 10th
Hon. Nadler, (D) New York, 8th
Hon. Johnson, (D) Georgia, 4th
Hon. Weiner, (D) New York, 9th
Hon. Jackson Lee, (D) Texas, 18th
Hon. Davis, (D) Alabama , 7th
Hon. Baldwin, (D) Wisconsin, 2nd
Hon. Sutton, (D) Ohio, 13th

REPUBLICANS
Hon. Forbes, Ranking Member, (R) Virginia, 4th
Hon. Gohmert, (R) Texas, 1st
Hon. Sensenbrenner Jr., (R) Wisconsin, 5th
Hon. Coble, (R) North Carolina, 6th
Hon. Chabot, (R) Ohio, 1st
Hon. Lungren, (R) California, 3rd

The Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties shall have jurisdiction over the following subject matters: constitutional amendments, constitutional rights, federal civil rights, ethics in government, other appropriate matters as referred by the Chairman, and relevant oversight
DEMOCRATS
Hon. Nadler, Chairman (D) New York, 8th
Hon. Davis, (D) Alabama , 7th
Hon. Wasserman Schultz, (D) Florida, 20th
Hon. Ellison, (D) Minnesota, 5th
Hon. Conyers Jr., (D) Michigan, 14th
Hon. Scott, (D) Virginia, 3rd
Hon. Watt, (D) North Carolina, 12th
Hon. Cohen, (D) Tennessee, 9th

REPUBLICANS
Hon. Franks, Ranking Member (R) Arizona, 2nd
Hon. Pence, (R) Indiana, 6th
Hon. Issa, (R) California, 49th
Hon. King, (R) Iowa, 5th
Hon. Jordan, (R) Ohio, 4th

I also encourage you to read Amnesty International's continuing concerns about taser use and support Amnesty’s effort.

ACLU has the clout to lobby for an independent, objective study of taser use directed by Congress and several state ACLU organizations have been active.


See related DU thread in GD forum, http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2387724#2387858