Amnesty International's Italian
chapter on Wednesday wrote to national police chief Franco
Gabrielli voicing concern over the introduction of tasers in 12
Italian cities today.
While recognising that tasers were "safer" than other
instruments in stopping "dangerous and aggressive individuals",
the letter said, "in several instances in countries where they
already in use they have been employed against vulnerable people
or those who do no represent a serious and immediate threat to
other people's lives and safety".
It said available medical studies "concur in saying that the
use of Taser pistoles had mortal consequences on subjects with
cardiac disorders or whose functions, in the moment they were
hit, were compromised by alcohol or drugs or were under stress
for example at the end of a fight or a run".
AI Italy chief Gianni Ruffini asked Gabrielli whether in the
light of these studies a "thoroughgoing assessment of the risks
involved has been carried out and specific training provised in
line with international standards and in particular with the
United Nations guiding principles on the suse of firearms by
police".
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