Since 5 September, around 70 agents in 12 Italian cities (Milan, Naples, Bologna, Turin, Genova, Florence, Palermo, Catania, Padua, Caserta, Reggio Emilia and Brindisi) have been authorized to experiment with the use of Tasers. This type of weapon takes its name of the eponymous manufacturing company, Taser International Inc. (currently called Axon Enterprise). Tasers are used to deliver electric shocks, leaving the target immobilized.

Civil liberties groups criticise Taser use

In March, Liberties member Associazione Antigone strongly criticized the then centre-left Democratic Party government’s choice to authorize the use of Tasers in six Italian cities. Now that the Taser tests have been expanded to more cities by a different government, which took office on 1 June, Antigone has decided to return to the subject. Tasers are used by police in about 107 countries, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Finland, France, Germany, Czechia, Greece and the United Kingdom.

The use of Tasers has provoked strong reactions, especially in the US, where criticism has come from Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union, as well as the American advocacy groups Truth Not Tasers and Fatal Encounters. The experience with Tasers in the US has shown that, since 2000, these weapons have caused a large number of deaths. Moreover, Tasers have not been used as a less violent alternative to firearms, but rather as a quicker and easier alternative to talking to and handcuffing suspects, and to avoid suspects physically resisting arrest.

Scientific research on stun guns completely inadequate

Last summer, Reuters published a thorough investigation into the collateral damage caused by Tasers, which was based on analysis of judicial documents, police reports, autopsies, medical-legal certificates and local press reports. The investigation showed that, over a period of about sixteen years, more than a thousand people were killed at the hands of police wielding Tasers in the United States. Reuters found that in 153 of these deaths, legal doctors explicitly ruled that Tasers had been the cause of death or contributing factor. In 442 cases in which Tasers were improperly used, the families of the victims filed complaints, which led to 172 million dollars of compensation being paid out.

Such incidents have taken place because Tasers are not generally used to act against armed and dangerous individuals, but against unarmed people who are nervous and scared and do not want to be arrested. And yet, when Rick Smith, the founder of the Taser company, began to sell stun guns, he referred to them as a safe product with minimal risks. However, his statements relating to the safety of Tasers was not scientifically endorsed. The real issue is not the use of these weapons on healthy people, but on people with heart conditions or neurological problems - in which case Tasers can lead to death. As reported by Reuters, Douglas Zipes (a cardiologist who has testified in dozens of cases against the Taser company) stated that the tests and scientific experiments carried out on stun guns were completely inadequate. In 2009, after stun guns had been tested on animals with cardiological problems, even Smith had to admit that Tasers were potentially lethal.

No need for Tasers in Italy

About a million Tasers have gone to market to date. Axon Enterprise continues to claim that the weapons they produce are only as dangerous as pepper spray, and, according to Reuters, the company been trying to influence experts in medical science.

Tasers can now also be used in Italy. According to Patrizio Gonnella, President of Associazione Antigone, the introduction of this type of weapon was unwise, given the use - and abuse - of stun guns in the US, even though members of the Italian government have suggested that Tasers be used even in prisons. This would arguably be dangerous and is prohibited by international institutions.

Gonnella suggested that what is needed in prisons is patience, dialogue, experience and communication, not electric shocks. Most professionals working in prisons have the skills to resolve conflicts without using weapons. However, more social workers, more psychologists, more mediators, more doctors, more directors, and even younger policemen are needed. More weapons are not needed to comply with the idea of penalty that is enshrined in the Italian Constitution.