In a heated session at the Phoenix City Council meeting on December 18, 2024, tensions flared as council members voted unanimously to allocate $22 million for new tasers, igniting a passionate response from community advocates. The decision has drawn sharp criticism, particularly regarding the implications for marginalized communities in Phoenix.

During the meeting, a vocal opponent of the taser funding highlighted the lack of substantial data supporting the effectiveness of these weapons, questioning the rationale behind their deployment. "Your police chief just admitted... you're asking us to trust you with $22,000,000 that you can't even really prove work," the speaker asserted, emphasizing the troubling history of taser use in the city, particularly against Black and brown communities.

The speaker pointed out that the recent Department of Justice (DOJ) report documented a pattern of excessive force by the Phoenix Police, raising concerns about the potential for increased violence with the introduction of new tasers. "You conducted your weapon test in Maryville because you know exactly who the tasers will be used against," they stated, calling attention to the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, including the unhoused and disabled.

Despite acknowledging the community's needs for resources like housing and mental health support, council members proceeded with the vote, leading to accusations of political cowardice. "Remember how every single council member chose to experiment with weapons in your neighborhood," the speaker urged the audience, framing the decision as a betrayal of community trust.

As the meeting concluded, the implications of this vote loomed large over the community, with advocates vowing to hold council members accountable in the upcoming 2025 elections. The decision to invest in tasers rather than community resources has sparked a broader conversation about policing practices and the prioritization of public safety in Phoenix.