UN Says Tasers a Form of Torture

Not that anybody will care, we seem to be torturing with impunity these days:

TASER electronic stun guns are a form of torture that can kill, a UN committee has declared after several recent deaths in North America.

“The use of these weapons causes acute pain, constituting a form of torture,” the UN’s Committee against Torture said.

“In certain cases, they can even cause death, as has been shown by reliable studies and recent real-life events,” the committee of 10 experts said.

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The UN committee made its comments in recommendations to Portugal, which has bought the newest Taser X26 stun gun for use by police.

Portugal “should consider giving up the use of the Taser X26,” as its use can have a grave physical and mental impact on those targeted, which violates the UN’s Convention against Torture, the experts said.

It’s nice to know that folks are working hard to keep the “shock” in the “Shock Doctrine.”

Related posts:

1. Problems with Tasers and Arming Police with Them
2. The CIA Asked to Destroy Torture Tapes on Same Day They Claimed They Didn’t Torture
3. Jawad, Ghailani Cases Challenge US Torture Under Rule of Law
4. Isikoff Pops the Question: Newsweek Reporter asks Holder About Torture
5. Torture Apologist Seeks Do-Over on Document Declassification