Taser bill appears dead

A proposed bill that would classify tasers as deadly weapons stalled Wednesday in the House Judiciary committee, said Sen. Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, the bill’s sponsor.

In a telephone interview Thursday from the Senate floor, he said an amendment proposed for Senate bill 818 to limit liability for law enforcement officers drew sharp criticism from civil lawyers.

“(The Sheriff and deputies) were worried about their liability, so I had an amendment done, and haven’t got it put on there, so I suspect the bill’s dead,” Ingle said.

Ingle said the Attorney General’s office requested the bill, and he agreed to carry it for them.

Sheriff Roger Hatcher said on Tuesday he voiced his opposition to the bill in Santa Fe. He said his department would have to stop using the compliance tool if it is certified as a deadly weapon.

The bill already passed the Senate 34-2.

If it gets out of the House Judiciary committee, the bill will have to go to a vote in the House by Saturday to pass the Legislature.