Since May 28, 2005, eight people have died in police custody after being jolted by Tasers. This brings the total number of such deaths since September, 1999 to 128, including 33 so far this year. In our view, no one fully understands the effects of 50,000 volts of electricity on the human body, and use of these weapons should be discontinued until better testing and research is done.

The most recent deaths:

May 28, 2005: Richard T. Holcomb, 18, Akron, Ohio

May 28, 2005: Nazario J. Solorio, 38, Escondido, California

June 4, 2005: Unidentified male, 33, Sacramento, California

June 7, 2005: Unidentified male, Las Vegas, Nevada

June 11, 2005: Horace Owens, 48, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

June 13, 2005: Michael Anthony Edwards, 32, Palatka, Florida

June 13, 2005: Shawn Pirozzi, 30, Canton, Ohio

June 14, 2005: Robert Earl Williams, 62, Waco, Texas