If you’ve been following the Taser issue, and it’s been pretty important to us here at GMD, you will want to be at the State House tonight.

Ever since Macadam Mason was killed with a Taser last summer mental health and other advocates have been calling for either abandonment or strict controls on Taser use statewide.

Tonight’s public hearing is your chance to be heard.

The House Committee on Government Operations will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 17th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM as part of its consideration of H.225, An act relating to a statewide policy on the use of and training requirements for electronic control devices (also known as tasers).

As introduced, H.225 would limit the circumstances of their use to situations warranting deadly force or involving imminent risk of death through self harm.

Tasers are increasingly being used on Vermont citizens. H.225 was introduced after Thetford resident Macadam (Lee) Mason was fatally shot in the chest with a taser by the Vermont State Police. The medical examiner ruled Mason’s death from cardiac arrest was caused by the taser’s electrical charge.

Read H.225 as introduced:

http://www.leg.state.vt.us/doc…

Written comments can be submitted until April 23rd.