Former St. Louis police officer Redditt Hudson will speak about "why Tasers pose an unnecessary risk." The forum will also feature Athena Bachtel who will talk about her son's death and why she supports the efforts to ban Taser use. Police tased her son, Stanley Harlan, last August two times, resulting in his death after he resisted arrest for drunk driving. The city of Moberly paid the Harlan family $2.4 million in an out-of-court settlement in June. Recently, the Taser companies have recommended not tasing people in the chest, but this is not mandatory for police.

The group met on Oct. 30 to kick off a campaign to get a Taser ban on the November 2010 ballot, but only 20 people attended that meeting. Friday's public meeting will take place at the Boone County Government Center from 6:30-8 p.m.