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Are Tasers Methods of Torture?

Toronto Police Accountability Coalition Organize Taser Forum

In response to the smoke and mirrors Taser Presentation in Toronto, the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition and other Taser opponents organized a public forum at the University of Toronto on Wednesday February 6, 2008 to present a different view. Turnout was impressive given the massive snow storm that evening. Among the speakers were writer Naomi Klein and Andy Buxton of Amnesty International (AI).

Naomi Klein

Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism raised several important issues asking "Are Tasers devices of Torture?" Klein observed that "if it happened in a cell, we would call it torture and if it happens on the street we should not be afraid to call it torture." Klein continued, "What we are seeing is a hardening of attitudes to people who don't fit in."

Klein and other participants worried that the people who will be tasered are the most marginalized people in society. Who is more likely to be tasered if they lose their temper: a well-dressed shopper in Yorkville or a poorly dressed man at the corner of Dundas & Sherbourne?

Amnesty International

Andy Buxton, Chair Amnesty International, Toronto said, "we don't see tasers being used as the police lead you to believe, 'better than a gun', 'better to be shot by a taser than a gun', police aren't using tasers that way. We've called for a moratorium on police use of tasers in Canada and the US until all the facts are on the table. Independent, full, fair, factual comprehensive research into the totality of tasers."

AI is "concerned about what happens in the real world with Tasers. How are they being used? How are they being abused? Are they safe? Can their use be controlled so as to protect and promote human rights and not allow human rights violations."

Amnesty International has a challenge for the Police, "if [a Taser] is so much better than a gun, will they use it instead of a gun in those very rare circumstances when they would use a gun. Don't use Tasers in any other circumstance. Because at least in that circumstance you can argue and defend it's use as being "better than a gun", in all other uses you can't make that argument. You can't get away from the fact that Human Rights are being abused. Amnesty International is compelled to take a stand when Human Rights are being abused."

The Toronto Tribune believes it is a mistake to arm the Toronto police with Tasers.