August 19, 2019 ( Article # 2)
Dear East Palo Alto City Council:
In hopes that we can all become more fully informed on the extraordinary risks of injury and death, associated with Tasers, I am
sending members of the city council, and other government officials, et al: a series of articles on both the moral and financial
costs associated with the use of Tasers.
Yesterday (August 18), I sent each of you the awarding winning & comprehensive 7 part series on Tasers published by Reuters (
August 2017-February 2018). If I missed someone on today’s list, re yesterday’s piece-please let me know, and I will send it your
way.
Today, I am sending, for your information, an article co-written by attorneys Richard Konda and Aram James, in January of 2018.
The article is titled: No excuse for Tasers in our jails ( see pdf below).
Theargumentsmade against the use of Tasers in our jails, are equally applicable to the use of Tasers by law enforcement, on the
streets of our cities.
I believe that the below article provides a well reasoned road map re why cities that have Tasers, should shelve them, and why
cities like East Palo Alto- that have yet to purchase them, should decline to do so.
I look forward to any questions or feedback you have re the article. In a few days, I will be sending out another article on
Tasers, for your contemplation. In the end, I’m hopeful we can all stand united against the use of Tasers by law enforcement, in
our cities, and in our jails. Let the conversation begin.
Best regards,
Aram JamesState-bar # 80215415-370-5056
