General Discussion

phantom power

(25,966 posts) Tue Feb 28, 2012, 07:43 PM Feb 2012

500 Deaths From Tasers in USA

As the Arizona chapter of the ACLU pointed out in its 2011 report regarding the abuse of tasers by Arizona law enforcement:

(A)ll too often, Tasers are used “preemptively” against citizens that do not present an imminent safety threat, and even offensively as a pain compliance tool. What’s more, both TASER International training materials and agency policies anticipate that officers will use the weapon as a pain compliance tool.

That, in rather bland understated prose, defines the nature of the problem. Tasers are not treated as guns, i.e., as a potentially lethal weapon, that should be used sparingly. Police departments often train their officers to use tasers as if they pose no risk to the lives of citizens, and therefore can be used in situations in which a gun would never be used: when people are handcuffed, when they "mouth off" to police officers, when they are doing nothing more than writhing on the ground yelling "Please stop, you got me!" In short whenever a police officer wants to inflict pain on someone for any reason or for no reason at all.

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2012/2/28/152335/039

10 replies

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500 Deaths From Tasers in USA (Original Post) phantom power Feb 2012 OP

If people would just condition themselves by grabbing a spark plug Former_DU_Member Feb 2012 #1

Tasers should be banned. The more weapons cops are given, the Dawson Leery Feb 2012 #3

Much better... JSnuffy Feb 2012 #4

To whom? Some think it more important that innocents not take a hit. It comes with the police job. saras Feb 2012 #6

I see you forgot the most important weapon, A Simple Game Feb 2012 #8

I listed... JSnuffy Feb 2012 #9

The Problem with tasers is Vehl Feb 2012 #2

It would help to know how many times a taser has been deployed in that 10 year period elias7 Feb 2012 #5

So it would be acceptable to kill unarmed citizens as long as the risk was low? Luminous Animal Feb 2012 #10

K&R woo me with science Feb 2012 #7

Former_DU_Member

(33 posts)

1. If people would just condition themselves by grabbing a spark plug

Reply to phantom power (Original post)

Tue Feb 28, 2012, 08:16 PM

Feb 2012

wire now and again, well you know what I mean. I thought law enforcement had to be tazered so they know what it will be like, and still, they pour it on like ketchup. They are considered "non-lethal" don't you know.

http://www.tac-safe.com/info/law-enforcement-security-guard-training/taser-user-certification/
The U.S. Department of Defense policy defines non-lethal weapons as “weapon systems that are explicitly designed and primarily employed as to incapacitate personnel or material, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injuries to personnel, and undesired damage to property and the environment…” The purpose of this Taser course is to provide the student with the theory and practical training necessary to safely and effectively operate the Taser® M26 and Taser® X26 weapons as a non-lethal option.

Description

The 6-hour Taser® certification course will enable the student to carry and deploy the Taser® weapon delivery system in a safe and effective manner. The Student will be able to explain how the Taser conducted energy weapon overrides the central nervous system. The student will also demonstrate proficiency in the function and use of the Taser weapons.

Dawson Leery

(19,348 posts)

3. Tasers should be banned. The more weapons cops are given, the

Reply to Former_DU_Member (Reply #1)

Tue Feb 28, 2012, 08:58 PM

Feb 2012

Last edited Tue Feb 28, 2012, 11:13 PM - Edit history (1)

more likely they are to use them.

JSnuffy

(374 posts)

4. Much better...

Reply to Dawson Leery (Reply #3)

Tue Feb 28, 2012, 09:18 PM

Feb 2012

... to limit options to bullets, batons or the cop taking a hit.

I'll give you a hint, the last one is absolutely unacceptable.

saras

(6,670 posts)

6. To whom? Some think it more important that innocents not take a hit. It comes with the police job.

Reply to JSnuffy (Reply #4)

Wed Feb 29, 2012, 04:36 AM

Feb 2012

If you can't hack the job, you shouldn't be doing it.

A Simple Game

(9,214 posts)

8. I see you forgot the most important weapon,

Reply to JSnuffy (Reply #4)

Wed Feb 29, 2012, 05:16 PM

Feb 2012

or did you intentionally exclude brains?

JSnuffy

(374 posts)

9. I listed...

Reply to A Simple Game (Reply #8)

Wed Feb 29, 2012, 07:35 PM

Feb 2012

Last edited Wed Feb 29, 2012, 08:37 PM - Edit history (1)

... those things that the average citizen doesn't carry with them on a daily basis.

Edit - Should I list liver and feet as well? Clothes?

Vehl

(1,915 posts)

2. The Problem with tasers is

Reply to phantom power (Original post)

Tue Feb 28, 2012, 08:32 PM

Feb 2012

That is gives the police an incentive to use it rather than do what police used to do...like try to talk to the suspect..or calm him down.
Now..given this supposedly "non-lethal" option, they might be using it as often as they can.

"If all what one has is a hammer, everything starts looking like a nail"