So I was mostly being sarcastic when I proposed cops should fire their tasers first in all situations.

This interesting video from the dash-cam (here) or (here) from last Thanksgiving shows an Austin cop doing exactly this. Eugene Snelling, 32, was driving 70mph in a 65mph zone and wasn’t quick enough showing his license and registration.
I checked the tape — 45 seconds from approaching the vehicle to taser deployment, because someone was speeding five miles over the speed limit.  Read more 

What a coincidence… our previously discussed favorite zap-em researcher shows up in more news articles.

We just can’t know about the risks. How could we? It’s not like this guy has done some major research into this topic. Let’s all just say stun guns and tasers are perfectly harmless _{(unless you happen to die from one)}.

Stun Gun Used on Pregnant Woman in Ohio [AP]

Dr. William Bozeman, associate director of research at Wake Forest University’s Department of Emergency Medicine, said it isn’t known whether electricity from a stun gun might pose a risk to a fetus.  Read more 

I assume you saw the following video, but I’ll put it up again. Did you know he wasn’t the only one tossed on his ass? The very kind and extremely gentlemanly (and white, and former CIA) Mr. McGovern also got kicked to the curb. His crime? Saying outloud, as Petraeus’ mic was being clipped on, “Swear him in.” Pathetic cowards, our Rulers in DC. Afraid of an old man and a preacher. Just sad. Go to a protest and find out for yourself. I’d say “break a leg,” but that would be in really bad taste*:  Read more 

I’m upset. 50 rounds, fifty rounds – shoot, reload, shoot, reload, shoot – 50 damn rounds! 50! Did I mention the victims were unarmed? Fifty rounds.  Read more 

Make yourself watch the whole thing. It will be hard, but it’s important. Just as it’s important to be proud of the students who didn’t just sit back and cower in fear. Good thinking, kids, and way to use technology to document the atrocities.  Read more 

Greensboro, North Carolina has a rather shaky history when it comes to police-protester relations. The cops apparently couldn’t decide who they disliked more in 1979 when a Kluxer/NeoNazi group went up against the Communist Worker’s Party and stood back to observe while nine people were shot dead. But oh they’re right on the ball when Dear Leader’s tranquil soul might be disturbed:

…members [of The World Can’t Wait NC] clashed with police during a downtown protest against President Bush in January. Seven protesters were arrested at the rally after they confronted plainclothes officers with the Criminal Intelligence Division who were photographing protesters and the license plates of cars. The protesters faced a variety of charges, including assaulting a public official, inciting a riot and carrying a concealed weapon.

So the ACLU has filed suit to find out just exactly what written guidelines are in place telling cops what to do in such circumstances. Turns out….there aren’t any. The policy, it appears, is Make Shit Up As You Go Along.  Read more