Anti-Taser group gathers 1,000 names

April 16, 2010
Columbia Tribune

People for a Taser-Free Columbia have gathered more than 1,000 signatures during the first two weeks of the grass-roots organization’s petition drive.

The group’s goal is to rid Columbia of the threat and use of conducted energy devices by residents and law enforcement officials through a referendum to be placed on the November ballot. Yesterday, volunteer Mary Hussmann said the group has collected an unofficial tally of more than 1,000 signatures since April 1.

The total number of signatures required for the petition will be determined by the official total of voters in the April 6 mayoral election, which has not yet been certified by the Boone County clerk’s office. Volunteers will be required to gather 20 percent of that total, which Hussmann said she estimates will be about 3,700 signatures.

The group is shooting for 4,000 signatures, she said, and hopes the election results will be certified sometime next week. Keep Columbia Safe was required to gather 2,579 signatures to place its downtown camera referendum on the April ballot.

Boone County Clerk Wendy Noren could not be reached for comment.