Sagittarius
Soon after, Tasers inhabited the belts of every "beat" police officer in America, Canada and other advanced nations. The police force patted themselves on the back. How safe are we. We are nice to our nasty criminals, no longer do we shoot to kill, we use this nice user friendly Taser on them instead.
News media reports soon plastered the bulletins of great success stories, of dangerous violent armed criminals taken down in a single bound by the almighty Taser. Movies like Jackass helped to further cement the Taser's position in the Great Weapons fall of fame.
Then the downside, stories filtered out of victims dying after being Tasered. These stories were quickly stifled, excuses made, it was his heart, it was the drugs he was on, everything but the Taser itself.
The difference between Tasers and guns is simple. Guns were and are only ever used as a last resort and they are designed to kill. Usually when other weapons are involved or peoples lives are at threat. But Tasers are used to incapacitate even the milder offenders. Drunks drivers who are "stepping out of line" and being belligerent towards officers are Tasered, Perpetrators arguing with officers are Tasered, people being a little slow to acquiesce are Tasered, Drug Addicts are Tasered, mental patients are Tasered, Teens gate crashing parties are Tasered, traffic violators are Tasered, prostitutes are Tasered, pimps are not Tasered.....
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Comments
Re: Cowboys And Tasers Cost A Man's Life
By Hazel8500, November 19, 2007 at 14:34This was a very good article, I was completely absorbed by your description of Mr. Dziekanski and his waiting mother, made the tears well in my eyes. And yes I fully agree, this could happen to anyone.
Hazel.
Re: Cowboys And Tasers Cost A Man's Life
By Margaret Holborow, November 16, 2007 at 15:40Yes that was one of the main points that make me so angry. I fully believe in the weapon itself but it is the OVERUSE of that weapon that is my issue. That movie was disgusting, the use of the Taser against that poor man was horrid. I hope those four men are sacked and their faces displayed for the world to see "Power out of Control".
The people have to stand up and stop this now. If it is allowed to continue we might as well be a flock of sheep in a paddock waiting around to be led to the slaughteryard.
Re: Cowboys And Tasers Cost A Man's Life
By luyen, November 16, 2007 at 13:24I'm at a loss at how tasers have become such standard-fare in the police arsenal - using their firearm is not a simple ordeal, they have strict rules and have to write a report whenever they discharge their weapon...
But somehow the taser, which must seem so benign has a non-lethal weapon, still delivers 50,000 volts...i mean, that's a lot of voltage, is it no surprise that people are killed by these supposedly non-lethal weapons?
Have you ever been shocked from a 220v outlet? That hurts...multiply that by 240 or so?
I find it extremely disturbing that there is such little emphasis on dialogue, patience and any kind of effort to thoroughly assess a situation before using force.
Why are people upset, why are they agitated...- it seems like there is a lack of training in these issues, to investigate the causes, rather than just go for the gusto.