Tasers Can Kill, Says American Heart Association

redletterdave writes: "Roughly 16,000 police agencies around the world use Tasers, but only because they can subdue unruly people in a non-lethal, non-violent way. However, a new study released by the American Heart Association's journal "Circulation" provides scientific, peer-reviewed evidence to the contrary. Dr. Douglas Zipes, professor emeritus at Indiana University's Krannert Institute of Cardiology, discovered that a simple Taser shock "can cause cardiac electric capture and provoke cardiac arrest," since the electrical current can create uncontrolled, fluttering heart contractions and abnormally rapid heartbeats. In eight case studies of the Taser X26 ECD — one of the most commonly used Taser models with police agencies — seven of the people died."

Not always the best tool but better than a bullet

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Police should not use it on the elderly or children unless a life is threatened.