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