Tasers: When Is Their Use Justified?

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: Tasers: When Is Their Use Justified?

That student was impassioned to the point of belligerent. He pissed off everyone around him. Damned kid acted as if he was the birthday boy.

But he should have been escorted out and left at that. If that tape is correct/untampered with, we can hear that he was tased FOUR times. That was cruel and unusual punishment, befitting what crime, if any?

[Karen]

Re: Tasers: When Is Their Use Justified?

I think it's horrible and absurd, the way the taser was used on that college kid that was asking questions. I think it peculiar the timing of the arrest....arresting him for WHAT? refusing to relinquish a microphone?? hell, he didn't fight for it, but he did keep talking and then look at when they turned it off and grabbed him......when he dared to ask Kerry about membership in Skulls and Bones.

[MixedPlateBroker]

I was watching the video of Florida police giving Andrew "Don't Tase Me, Bro" Meyer a high-voltage smackdown the other day at a John Kerry speech when it crossed my mind that Taser abuse is a growing problem in the United States. By "abuse" I mean the use of a Taser (or other stun gun) by law enforcement or security when the situation doesn't call for it.

I realize authorities have a hell of a job day in and day out evaluating and acting on situations that are potentially life threatening, but I think there should be a universal set of rules for use of less-than-deadly force. The police in Meyer's case had force of numbers and should have easily been able to remove him from the building without use of weapons.

Apparently, Taser abuse is a growing problem because "As the number of law enforcement agencies using stun guns has increased, the number of deaths reported to be associated with this less-lethal technology also has increased," according to this U.S. Department of Justice agency's website.

So do you think Tasers should be reserved for use on people who pose a palpable threat to either themselves or others? Or do you think it's fine to apply them to anyone or anything that is a pain in the ass, including wayward cows, glass-wielding six-year-olds or library users who forget their ID?