Taser stun guns in Wollongong

Police in Wollongong have been issued with Taser stun guns. According to the October 14 Illawarra Mercury, "the stun guns, worth $4000 each, could deliver a 1200 volt electric shock to a person up to 8m away".

Tim Dobson from the socialist youth organisation, Resistance, is concerned about safety and the question of police restraint. "The police and the government like to call Tasers 'non-lethal' weapons, but they are in fact quite lethal, as has been shown around the world", he said.

"Iman Morales, a New York Man, died just last week, while the police officer who 'tasered' him just committed suicide. We can be sure that the use of these taser will disproportionately affect minority groups such as Aboriginals, young people and Muslims. They kill and they must be stopped from being used", concluded Dobson.

From GLW issue 771