Wed, 12/12/2007 - 9:05am — vastleft
There's a whole lotta tasering going on, bro.
Let's break down the issues to the most elemental (at least in this typist's opinion):
- Tasers are non-lethal, except when they aren't
- Taser can make it easier for a police officer (or other user) to disarm a suspect without resorting to shooting him/her
- Tasers can lower the threshold of when a police officer (or other user) chooses to inflict mental and physical anguish
- I expect if I got tasered, it would seriously freak the shit out of me, probably for the rest of my life
- Should tasers be used by law enforcement? Hmm... Maybe, if one could trust that the threshold for their use is properly high (i.e., nearly the same as for using a gun) and that there would be serious and honest review of each and every use, comparable to that which is (ideally) done when an officer fires a gun.
- In practice, Tasers are used as if it ain't no big thang. For example, when Tasers were given to the Milwaukee PD, they used them 104 times in the first four months. Obviously, the repercussions for using them, um, liberally are minimal. And in light of that, the risk of death, and the more than arguable belief that zapping people with electricity is a form of torture, I'd say ban the fucking things.
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Is this the right thread
to fuck with other commenter's names?
Zzzzttttt!
Sorry. My bad.
++++
No problem, your MaJeSty!
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Stocking stuffer
A reader alerts us:
Lethal Stun Guns for Women Now Comes in Pink.
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"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Tasers are excellent tools
Tasers are excellent tools when used properly, and prevent injury both to police and the aggressive individuals they are confronting...they have saved lives of many EDP's and people who choose suicide by cop.
Any aggressive or violent behavior has a risk of death.
That said, too many modern day cops who don't want to get their hands dirty are getting lazy and using tasers in inappropriate situations. How will they ever polish their verbal persuasion skills if they immediately go to the taser?
Tasers for civilians? Not a good idea....