Fight continues against Tasers - Victim's sister looks to expand campaign

April 12, 2009
Belleville Intelligencer

Belleville's Patti Gillman holds a long list of 403 people who died in North America between 1999 and April 10, 2009 after being shocked by Taser weapons. Gillman attended the Ontario Common Front Consulta, a gathering of anarchists Saturday at the Organic Underground coffee shop, in an attempt to find other anti-Taser activists and broader her campaign to stop Taser use – especially by police – until the deaths are explained fully. Her brother, Robert Bagnell, 44, died in 2004 after being Tasered by police in British Columbia.

"Among the participants was Belleville's Patti Gillman. She's lobbying against the use of Tasers, especially in law enforcement. Her brother, 44-year-old Robert Bagnell, died June 23, 2004 after being Tasered by police in British Columbia. She arrived at Saturday's meeting with a list of 403 people who since 1999 have died in North America after being shocked by the stun guns. I'd like to see a moratorium on Tasers until we can figure out why they're killing people," Gillman said, adding she wanted to meet like-minded activists. "I think we have cells of people across the country that are horrified by this, and I don't know how to gather them. This seems like a good place.""