TASER: UN Committee Against Torture is Out of Touch With Law
Enforcement Worldwide
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 28, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- TASER
International, Inc. (Nasdaq:TASR), a market leader in advanced
electronic control devices (ECDs), issued the following statement:
The recent one-line statement on the TASER(r) X26 by the UN Committee
Against Torture in a broad review of the arrest and detention
procedures of Portugal is out of touch with the reality that
confronts law enforcement officers every day worldwide.
The UN Committee based its statement on the fact that a TASER device
provokes "extreme pain." By invoking such a strict definition, each
and every tool available to law enforcement officers worldwide to end
a use-of-force confrontation, including pepper sprays, batons, and
even fists, could then constitute a form of torture.
Further, the UN Committee states that it relied on "several reliable
studies and certain cases" to conclude TASER devices "could also
cause death"; yet no references are provided by the Committee and
TASER International knows of no such studies. To date, every human
study and court case involving TASER devices contradicts this
conclusion.
In May 2006, the United States government in an oral response to a
direct question on TASER devices from this same Committee stated,
"The use of TASERs to control arrestees and inmates is consistent
with the law. Courts have reviewed the application of such devices
for consistency with the Eighth Amendment's 'prohibition of cruel and
unusual punishment,' and have upheld their legality." The Committee
does not appear to have taken these comments and others by the United
States into consideration.
"TASER devices have saved thousands of lives worldwide and
dramatically reduce injuries of officers and suspects in every
community they are deployed," stated Tom Smith, Chairman and Founder
of TASER International. "We would hope that the United National
Committee Against Torture, as well as human rights group around the
globe, would embrace our revolutionary technology and choose to work
with us in our efforts to reduce violence and protect life. Simply
issuing baseless and factually incorrect statements will not end
violence or torture and may only serve to weaken efforts intended to
protect life."
Supporting information:
* TASER provides the minimum pain and maximum accountability of
any use-of-force tool.
o TASER has the shortest discomfort period (immediate recovery
versus 30 minutes to an hour for pepper spray, days to weeks
for contusions/broken bones, lifetime for serious injuries
and bullet wounds.
o Only TASER has technology that provides accountability for
use (dataport system that records time/date of every
activation and the TASER CAM audio/visual recording system).
* Over a half a million police officers have experienced TASER
exposures as part of their certification and training.
* While initial media reports assume TASER ECD as the cause of
death, TASER has been cleared in every case in Canada to date,
and has prevailed in court in every case brought against the
company in the U.S. The facts have consistently shown that
TASER technology is not the cause of death.
* There have been over 5,600 arrest related deaths in the U.S.
since 2000. TASER ECDs were used in less than 5% of these
incidents.
* A recent study conducted at the Wake Forest University Baptist
Medical Center found that in 1000 incidents, 99.7 percent of
those subjected to a TASER device had only mild injuries such
as scrapes and bruises, or no injuries at all.
* Human medical studies on hundreds of human volunteers have found
no adverse medical consequences.
* Law enforcement officers are 68 times more likely to be injured
by fists, kicks, and other unarmed attacks than by subjects armed
with firearms. This statistic clearly demonstrates that unarmed
individuals can and do pose significant threats to law
enforcement officers.
* A 2005 FBI Unified Crime Reports indicates that 13,394 police
were injured by attacks from unarmed people vs. 195 injured by
people with firearms:
(http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/killed/2005/table68.htm)
* Police agencies deploying TASER report up to 80% reductions in
suspect injury rates -- TASER devices provide safety means to
incapacitate violent subjects.
* When law enforcement officer go "hands-on" with a suspect, the
firearm on the officer's belt is introduced into the
confrontation.
About TASER International, Inc.
TASER International's products protect life. TASER provides advanced
Electronic Control Devices (ECDs) for use in the law enforcement,
medical, military, corrections, professional security, and personal
protection markets. TASER devices use proprietary technology to
incapacitate dangerous, combative, or high-risk subjects who pose a
risk to law enforcement officers, innocent citizens, or themselves in
a manner that is generally recognized as a safer alternative to other
uses of force.
For more information please call TASER International at (800)
978-2737 or visit our website at www.TASER.com.
The TASER International logo is available at
http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2931
Note to Investors
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including statements, without
limitation, regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or
strategies regarding the future. We intend that such forward-looking
statements be subject to the safe-harbor provided by the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking
information is based upon current information and expectations
regarding TASER International. These estimates and statements speak
only as of the date on which they are made, are not guarantees of
future performance, and involve certain risks, uncertainties and
assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes
and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied,
or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. TASER International
assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this
press release. These statements are qualified by important factors
that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those
reflected by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include but
are not limited to: (1) market acceptance of our products; (2) our
ability to establish and expand direct and indirect distribution
channels; (3) our ability to attract and retain the endorsement of
key opinion-leaders in the law enforcement community; (4) the level
of product technology and price competition for our products; (5) the
degree and rate of growth of the markets in which we compete and the
accompanying demand for our products; (6) risks associated with rapid
technological change and new product introductions; (7) competition;
(8) litigation including lawsuits resulting from alleged product
related injuries and death; (9) media publicity concerning
allegations of deaths and injuries occurring after use of the TASER
device and the negative effect this publicity could have on our
sales; (10) TASER device tests and reports; (11) product quality;
(12) implementation of manufacturing automation; (13) potential
fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; (14) financial and
budgetary constraints of prospects and customers; (15) order delays;
(16) dependence upon sole and limited source suppliers; (17) negative
reports concerning the TASER device; (18) fluctuations in component
pricing; (19) government regulations and inquiries; (20) dependence
upon key employees and our ability to retain employees; (21)
execution and implementation risks of new technology; (22) ramping
manufacturing production to meet demand; (23) medical and safety
studies; (24) field test results; and (25) other factors detailed in
our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including,
without limitation, those factors detailed in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K and its Form 10-Qs.
The statements made herein are independent statements of TASER
International. The inclusion of any third parties does not represent
an endorsement of any TASER International products or services by any
such third parties.
CONTACT: TASER International, Inc.
Steve Tuttle, Vice President of Communications
Media ONLY Hotline: +1 (480) 444-4000