Comments on: Problem Solved? New York Police Taser Naked Man on Ledge Who Then Dies in Fall

By: As Taser Madness Rages On, Police Move to Smother Transparency « SpeakEasy

As Taser Madness Rages On, Police Move to Smother Transparency « SpeakEasy — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:24:31 +0000

[...] tasered? Ok. This is reminiscent of another taser event that ended in terrible tragedy for both the taser victim and the police officer who ordered the tasering.Common sense usually tells you that shooting people [...]

By: Step Away From the Shoes, Ma’am: Police Officer Tasers Woman for Trying to Put on Her Shoes « JONATHAN TURLEY

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:36:34 +0000

[...] She now faces a charge of assault on an officer. A shoeless, unarmed woman “charged at him”? I can understand using force to hold her, but a taser? At least she was wearing clothes, albeit sans shoes, here. [...]

By: Obama-sama

Obama-sama — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:34:28 +0000

“Non-lethal” weapons are a requirement for an effective police state. Think about it.

By: Accused Police Officer in New York Taser Death Commits Suicide at Police Station « JONATHAN TURLEY

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:03:07 +0000

[...] death of Morales attracted national attention as people questioned the decision to use a stun gun. It was obvious that Pigott would likely fair [...]

By: rafflaw

rafflaw — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:06:37 +0000

i am just out of breath from all of these taser injuries and deaths. This device is dangerous and more dangerous than advertised. How many of these stories will it take before the police take these “safe” weapons off the street? Now, about these braniacs that hit this guy with any kind of weapon. They should be spending some time in jail. Shooting voltage into an obviously disturbed individual when he was situated in a very dangerous location is foolish at best. Bob,Esq. your question is the same as mine. Where are the controls on the use of these weapons and when should they be used at all?

By: Gyges

Gyges — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:36:10 +0000

This made me remember a surprisingly insightful article that the comedy website Somethingawful had on non-lethal weapons last year. Here’s a couple of the best quotes:

“Until the 1980s, most cops only had one tool at their disposal: a wooden club. In use since caveman times by caveman police, this simple device has allowed cops to have a slight advantage over unarmed criminals.

With the wooden club there was an honest interplay between cops and the public. It was understood that if you try to hit a cop he is going to beat your face with the club. Sometimes he might hit you with his club once or twice if you get lippy and no one is around. Not cool, but it was what you get for mouthing off to the cop on a deserted road after he pulled you over for a busted taillight. The club was just a harder and hurtier version of a fist, and you can hardly expect a cop to go fistless.”

“…that the woman in the video was pulled over for having a taillight out and was tased for refusing to comply with the officer’s instructions. That seems like an awfully shitty reason to be shot and electrocuted. In that situation the Taser did not take the place of a firearm, nor did it fill in for a baton strike. The cop in the video did not seem angry and I doubt he was breaking the rules by shooting the woman with his Taser.”

By: Bob, Esq.

Bob, Esq. — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:51:14 +0000

I find it amazing that cops are permitted to use these devices, designed to look like and function like a handgun, at their leisure.

“NEVER POINT THE GUN AT ANYTHING YOU’RE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY” is one of the first lessons of gun handling.

You’d think that the aforesaid rule would apply in some way to the use of tasers. Who says 50,000 volts throughout the entire body is less harmful than a bullet in the leg or arm?

How many of these things have thrown people into shock, seizure or cardiac arrest?

And where are the rules about where and when to use these things? Further, what’s the difference between tossing a man off a ledge and tasering a man off a ledge?

And that’s my two cents.

By: Cro Magnum Man

Cro Magnum Man — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:28:03 +0000

NYPD.

To protect and swerve.