Newlyweds Tasered at their Wedding

we need to outlaw tasers, and fast! they are a tool of oppression

Perhaps, stricter guidance as to their use would help.

Tasers are an efficient tool if used properly. They are generally unlethal and are useful in situations a gun shouldn't be used.

However, the police out there need to be retrained. They are reckless with tasers, and need to be educated.

tasers make oppression easier. let's go back to the night stick.

think--would the rodney riots have ever happened if the officers had just been zapping the guy? no. it was the swining of the billy clubs which set people off.

Are you saying that once someone is in handcuffs, or in the back of a police cruiser, or in a cell, that tasering is no longer neccessary? But what about the police depts that have blown their budgets on those tasers? What about the lobbyists who have promoted them? Won't someone think of the harm that outlawing tasers would do to the economic underpinning of the taser industry? Why don't these liberals understand that if you have a taser, you have to taser people with it to justify its existence?

in a word, bull. getting tasered, compared to other alternatives (mace, which can still be felt days later as well as spread; knightstick, obvious downside, along w/guns) isn't as bad bc it ends the second it's turned off. the few deaths were from medical conditions and rare. ban them and it's back to the above alternatives... or is someone going to say officers should hold a hug fest enounter group in order to clear a room of 100 drunks. give it a try and see what happens.

Hug fest encounter group - who will be the first PD to host one - somwhere in Cali I'll bet.

Robert,

Pretty shocking that I missed a taser story.....

I had a little "forced vacation time" at Overlake Hospital and somewhat missed about everything, so am in catch up mood at the moment.

Oh man, what a nasty way to remember your wedding day by ! Glad nobody was killed at least. Sad to see, again. I did see some good news that two provinces in Canada have banned the use of Tasers. I wish we would do the same.

I had a little "forced vacation time" at Overlake Hospital...

Sinuses, hon? **concerned** Call if you're so inclined, k? {{{hug}}}

I think they WANT to use them as tools for compliance.

Of course they want to use them as tools for compliance! They wanted to use nightsticks and mace as tools of compliance too! It is not the tools you should be fighting against, it is the compliance part. Taking away tazers does not solve your problem with the police. Making sure the law is served fairly and by both citizens and law enforcement officials is the fight we should all be taking on. The solution as I see it would be education and oversight. How many police forces out there continue training (re enforcement training) after they get out of police academies?

Great point Digits

IMHO, tasers should REPLACE guns, not be used when you just want someone to calm down. Take the "don't tase me bro" guy - ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to shoot him, so no reason to tase him.

In the rare circumstances where a gun would be used, how about using a taser instead? Outlaw guns for the cops, make tasers as hard to use as guns are.

Apparently my grasp of reality has been diminished recently. Looks like you have suffered the same fate.

So you are seriously saying that cops should face armed criminals, themselves armed with no more than a taser and that the use of it should be restricted?

I guess then it is up to ordinary citizens to protect themselves and their property - stand your ground laws and pre-emption just like it is in Florida? (See other discussions on this subject.) I assume you would disagree with that too?

Sure that'll work.

A Sure as Hell I wasn't talking to you.

B I'm so glad you want your reality diminished.

C I'll be more than happy to mail you some as I have a whole lot to spare.

D You're most welcome

What Mr Hot Rod Stewart actually said was;

Outlaw guns for the cops, make tasers as hard to use as guns are.

Key word - "outlaw" - just in case you haven't received my gift of diminished reality via email before you read this post.

Finest Regards, Greg

Good Morning Digits - hope you received my gift in your email.

Before I head off to the link, I have to tell you that many English cops are now routinely armed. I'm in England right now and just the other day there was an armed cop in front of me when I went to pay for gas.

Dearest Digits,

Welcome to my world of diminished reality. Glad you enjoyed the elephants. Ya know that there is no going back now don't ya?

Most of the cops I see when I'm over here are not armed, but I see more armed cops than I did when I first came over here.

I wish I was there - heading back Stateside soon.

Greg888

Yes, with all the mistakes police make (they're only human after all!), I would like them to use tasers instead of guns, and have that taser use reviewed by a superior officer. And, unfortunately, we live in a society where there ARE racist and corrupt police officers. Here in Philly, about once a year an unarmed young black man is shot, and it turns out he wasn't doing anything wrong. So that's one advantage of tasers - while not perfect, they're much more non-lethal than guns.

Let's imagine the situation you're talking about, which I understand to be a beat cop who is forced to use force (we're not talking about SWAT teams here). When honorable police officers use a gun, it's to stop a criminal from causing harm to another, or to defend themselves. Since a taser is incapacitating, it would certainly stop the criminal, just like a gun would.

There's certainly a benefit to having a non-lethal form of incapacitating a criminal; less possibility of injuring a bystander, and a lot less anger at the police in the rare case of a mistake. That makes their jobs easier, not harder.

Sorry Hot Rod, but there are so many circumstances when a taser is about as much use as a limp dick at an orgy.

To replace standard issue .45's with tasers is not only impracticle from a law enforcement point of view, but it would positively increase the risk to police officers and victims of crime / members of the public.

Race is not an issue here. I know NE Philly and unarmed cops wouldn't last a New York minute on the streets there - or a Philly minute for all that.

Greg888, funny! But I have to turn it around: there are also so many times where a gun is about as welcome as a boner at your grandmother's funeral. Like clearing a block party, questioning witnesses after a shooting, stopping young men just for standing on a certain corner, etc. I've seen or heard first-hand about guns being displayed in all of these situations; certainly the result is less trust in the police, and fanning the flames of violence. Sure, they're just trying to protect themselves, but using the threat of lethal force? Not welcome, and surely you can see how unholstering a gun in these situations could create an atmosphere that gets another officer shot at some day.

I don't understand why tasers would be impractical, they're incapacitating, right? That means people can't control themselves when being tasered? Am I missing something fundamental about tasers?

Plus, criminals will always be exactly one step ahead of law enforcement when it comes to weapons - enough for them to think they have an advantage, but not enough to warrant additional criminal penalties. Wouldn't lowering the lethality of the police weaponry also lower the lethality of criminal weaponry?

Race may not be an issue FOR YOU, but race is a huge issue here in Philly.

welcome as a boner at your grandmother's funeral

ROF, Hot Rod!!

Hey, I have a dinner date so gotta run, but I will get back to you on the points you raised. I know race is a huge issue in Philly, but I believe in equality before the law the same as you do, which is why the way in which law enforcement is armed should not be a race issue.

Catch ya later, dude.

Too many times lately the person CALLING the cops for help ends up being the one going to jail. Cops are not anyones friend any more. It used to be a profession, now it is just another job.

Yeah don't I know it. And when you go for help the first thing you're told (here anyway) is, oh they'll get bail. That's enough to frighten one from pressing charges.

Yeah I also have one mate who's a Detective Sergeant. He's a drunk, complains constantly about the police force in general. And everytime we have a yarn it's like he's interogating me. But on the positive side. I smoke pot in front of him and he doesn't care. He's not a bad bloke actually he's just very disillusioned by today's police. I did some research for him a few years ago on child killers. Why children kill? But deep down when his smile is no longer there he is very unhappy. He also has a miserable marriage. Maybe all this is part of the job requirement.

Nah he's a straight cop. He'd say he didn't know and I would respect that. But he sees crimes against children, murder etc more serious than smoking a joint. And he is a good bloke. He's the only cop I can honestly say that about. I'd also deny ever smoking in front of him too.

Yeah, "white trash" always hold wedding receptions at art galleries - NOT.

Sense of humor bypassed recently?

Hardly. Grasp of reality diminished lately?

LOL !! A well deserved ripost, fugitive247.

Very probably and not for the first time and surely not the last.

First it was nightsticks (batons) then guns now tasers. I guess it's just the up-dating of police weapons and they can't wait to show them off.

Jeebus, wha' didja say?

...btw, I do appreciate the serious conversation occurring. Folks are taking a deep look at the Taser-ing issue and I am learning.

Tasers are generally non-lethal. Try telllng that to the guy who has a medical condition while he's lying on a slab in the morgue. Tasers are lethal. They should be outlawed and any cop who uses them and kills someone should be up for murder. Preferably the death penalty. After all they took a life.

robertlyn-shultz. I have the same allergic reaction. I think alot of people do. Unfortunately I can't agree with you on the friendly cop bit. Here (Australia) our local boys in blue (where I live) can be very rude and very, very mean. I was at a street party a few months ago. Everyone was having a good time. Kids were there. Food, drinks and a few other goodies. Plus the party people hired private security to keep everything in order. There WERE NO FIGHTS or even arguments. Nothing. Just people having a good time. Until the cops turned up. They shut the party down then (and they did this to me for at least 3 minutes) put their torches in EVERYONES EYES. I don't know if you have ever felt the power of their torches. But let me tell you. Very strong. I asked the cop to take his light from my eyes ( I asked him a few times actually). He said NO! I eventually turned my head away because the light was stinging my eyes. Here in Queensland. It is known as The Police State. Has been for as long as I can remember. So I have to say I have absolutely NO RESPECT for Police. If they did there job correctly (3 high rankers were recently arrested here for corruption) they would get Respect. One has to earn Respect. It doesn't come with the job or positions of power. It's actually cowering before them because you may be arrested or bullied. Or even worse...

Agreed. And I think I mentioned to you I have one demon (detective) mate here. But it was a friendship that grew. Not a respect that was demanded and received out of fear. Digits I had a horrible experience with 2 uniforms back in 2003. They knew I was Muslim (I have a tattoo on my right arm in Arabic so it's pretty obvious). I won't even tell you how they treated me and what they said to me. I was on my way to my Doctor's. Oh but I told him (I was late for my app.) and he was very @!$%#en angry. The next day I called The Police Station in question and spoke to The Staff Sergeant and told him exactly what the copper called me and how he made me sit in the gutter. I demanded an apology. I received it The Staff Sergeant was very embarrassed because he knew he was talking to a home bloody grown Aussie. I have to wonder how he would have treated me if I was a foreigner. I put the phone on speaker so Michael & Jude could listen. He pulled the young cop in and blasted him. As I said I won't bother with the slurs as I'm sure you're smart enough to work them out. I have Aboriginal friends who have been beaten by cops. I can honestly say I don't know anyone who has had a 'good' experience with Police. And yet they demand our Respect and Compliance. Stick it up your arse I say. I just simply don't like them. Never have, never will. The one demon who's my mate. Is just that. A mate. But we all listened to that nasty little (actually he was quite a big man) cunstable apologize to me. And his boss was pretty angry. So I'll give his boss the 2 bob for doing the right thing there. But it only happened because I rang up. And the only reason I called.... My Doctor told me too.

The thing was Digits. He didn't know I was Muslim until he saw my arm. I'll tell you exactly what happened. I was waiting to cross Grey St. to walk over the bridge to head into town. My Doc's in the city. The cop car drove past me, I saw them, you know as you do. Looking around just waiting for the lights to change. They chucked a u-turn pulled up on the curb jumped out and starting questioning me for ABSOLUTELY NO REASON. They asked me my name etc. and while the sow (female cop) was in the car running my name (I have no convictions) the piglet (young male cop) saw the tattoo and he started. alla akba alalaabkaklfhdasvjetrti in his @!$%#en smart arse attitude. You a terrorist too? An Australian you should be ashamed of yourself. @!$%#en Muslims. Just really @!$%#ful stuff while I was sitting in the gutter. I was crying not because I was scared or anything like that. It was what he was saying about Muslims. And the way he was saying Allahu Akbar. It was damn cruel. No other words to explain it. Just damn @!$%#en cruel. That's what really hurt. And that I should be ashamed because I'm Australian. That's exactly what happened. I was 20 odd minutes late for my Doc. I told them where I was going. Asked them if I could call the surgery and explain why I was running late. NO! I had to sit in the gutter. The @!$%#en gutter. I've NEVER EVER FORGOTTON IT AND I NEVER EVER WILL!!! I wasn't dressed as Muslim. I don't. Only when I visit a Sister's house out of respect for her. I was wearing jeans and a top. Simple, standing on the corner waiting to cross the road. They pulled up onto the curb. It was humilating. People were stopping and staring like it was a circus. I wasn't on drugs. I just smoke the occasional j as I told you. And that day I was having blood tests and something else (I've got Chron's Disease) so you can't go doing too much or you get sick. I hardly drink. And I touch NO other drugs apart from the odd j. And medication that I have to take for my illness. I've had the same Doc for 28yrs. I'm very close to him and his family. He's Doc and friend. And when I told him. He was furious. I've had a few experiences with cops and none have ever been pleasant. EVER!!! It was my Doc that told me to call the station. I just put the speaker on so my sister and her hubby could listen. That is one of the many reasons why I just plain hate their guts. I've also seen what they have done to Aboriginal people here. The Elder (Elder is an Elder Aboriginal man or woman. She's a woman) who lives next door to me was over a couple of weeks ago for a cuppa and she told me how the cops threw a young Aboriginal boy of the roof (I can't say where in this public forum. But I'll e-mail you if you like). He lived. But was badlly beaten. Almost a year ago a pig (adult cop) got off manslaughter charges for beating to death an Aboriginal man on Palm Island. The Aboriginals rioted. They burnt down his place. The piggery (police station) court house and other places. The cops were so gutless they were flown off the island and other cops were bought in. Except for one cop that stayed. He was one of the good guys. Actually if I remember correctly he was the only one allowed to go to the funeral. And now these bastards are getting their tasers.
Funny you said that too. The Staff Serfeant said the same thing to me. That he had had a problem with this young pigs attitude before. Never said anything about anger management though. But after the phone call I said to my sister. 'How did he get the job?' If he's an arrogant rude prick. How come he's a cop? She just smiled in her way and said 'Honey, they're all like that and you should know'. Funny how the superior gets stuck with the dirty job and the embarrassment of having to clean up their piglet's messes all the time. Unfair actually. So they still like to use the N word hey? Damn I hate saying that. N word. Oh what a hero is he. Scumbag. That's disgusting. Like I said they don't deserve our respect. They have to earn it like everyone else.

You didn't do it Digits. So please don't apologize. But I do understand where you're coming from. We certainly have that in common my friend. Sorry about such a lengthy comment. The more I remembered that day the more angry I became all over again. I'm glad you put in those articles about tasers. As I said our boys will be getting them soon. So I expect the same sort of violence against the people. In particular, Aboriginals. That is what concerns me the most and what a lot of people don't know. It's violence that these poor bloody people cop. And it angers me. I'm quite active in the Aborginal community (I'm going to e-mail you some pics later) and I absolutely love 'em to death.
And yeah there is the 'odd' one that's okay. But sadly, it's SUPPOSE to be them ALL. And yes, personal experiences do dictate our bias. Recovery? I'm assuming you mean alcohol? If not please correct me. If so Good luck. But never let this stuff get you down. Then the battle begins all over again. I always believe the 'perp' 1st too. Unless he's found with the proverbial smoking gun. But yes I believe innocent until proven guilty. 'Tis a shame the police don't feel that way. Thankfully all (and yes I mean all) my mates here don't believe the police first. If they want our support, respect, sympathy etc. It has to be earned. But apart of me feels these days are long gone. Where I live in Australia. Queensland is known as The Police State. So that alone should give you some indication on what it's like here. And you what Dig? When I'm on a walkabout of even just heading down the shop and I see a bacon burger (police car, yes we have some good names here for them don't we?) I purposely turn my head. I just don't even want to look at them. And I definately don't want to make eye contact. Because once you do that. They'll stop and pull you up. Perhaps that's what I did wrong that day. I was looking at them. Perhaps it was my long legs and the cop wanted a better perve. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. I didn't know in 2003 I certainly don't know now. Like trash. I just simply avoid them. And please keep up your articles. I'm always interested in what you add. And take care my friend. Stay safe.

Keep the recovery going friend. We all have our burdens to bear. You're just a strong one to speak out about yours. Good onya! Yes they do get depressing the taser stories. But if people like you didn't post, people like me wouldn't know. I clicked to join the watch group. As I said I now have a personal interest in the use of tasers thanks to der (Judy Spence. She's our Police Minister. We call her der because well I'm sure you know). And if what I see from your articles about tasers. I can and will expect the same thing here. Oh before I forget I sent you an e-mail. So check your box when you're in there next. I whacked in some pics for you. Stay safe my friend. S.