Thomas Campbell, 50, of Baltimore has become at least the 275th North American to die after being shocked by law enforcement officers' Tasers. The following appeared in the Baltimore Sun on August 22, 2007:

"Baltimore police have released the identity of a suspect who died after he was incapacitated with a Taser during an incident in West Baltimore's Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood early Saturday morning.

Police said Thomas Campbell, 50, of the 1000 block of McAleer Court was pronounced dead at Bon Secours Hospital shortly after he was subdued with a Taser, a device that delivers a 50,000-volt shock.

Officers apprehended Campbell after receiving a report that a man was running amok in the 1000 block of N. Payson St.

Police say they have used Tasers 14 times this year, and Campbell is the third fatality."

Six more people died in July after being shocked by Taser weapons, bringing the total number of North Americans who have died at the hands of police using these electrical stun guns to at least 275. The most recent fatality was Ronald Marquez, 49, of Phoenix, Arizona, who died on July 29th.

Tasers were introduced to Canada in 2000, without public consultation or debate, and fifteen Canadians have died after being Tasered. There are no testing regimes or safety standards for the devices, which incapacitate the subject with a 50,000 volt charge and which are restricted to law enforcement use only.