Statistical test of a null hypothesis: Taser{\textregistered} shocks have {\it not} caused or contributed to subsequent in-custody deaths

Since 1999 over 425 in-custody deaths have occurred in the USA after law enforcement officers (LEOs) used an M26 or X26 Taser{\textregistered}, causing Amnesty International and the ACLU to call for a moratorium on Taser use until its physiological effects on people have been better studied. A person's {\it Taser dose} is defined as the total duration (in seconds) of all Taser shocks received by that person during a given incident. Utilizing the concept of {\it Taser dose} for these deaths, TASER International's claim of Taser safety can be treated as a null hypothesis and its validity scientifically tested. Such a test using chi-square as the test statistic is presented. It shows that the null hypothesis should be {\bf rejected}; {\it i.e.}, model M26 and X26 Tasers{\textregistered} are capable of producing lethal effects {\bf non-electrically} and so {\bf have} played a causal or contributory role in a great many of the in-custody deaths following their use. This implies that the Taser{\textregistered} is a {\bf lethal} weapon, and that LEOs have {\bf not} been adequately trained in its {\bf safe} use!