02-13-2008, 09:56 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-13-2008, 10:13 PM by Swiss Mercenary.)
Quote:So you'd rather be shot with a 9mm bullet or whacked repeatedly with a nightstick if you're being unreasonable?
Yes, I would rather get shot with a 9mm.
Why?
Because It won't happen. Because cops wouldn't shoot people in every instance that they use tasers now.
People don't get shot over non-violent insubordination.
They do get beaten for it. And if there were as many beatings as there are taserings, the magic word would be "Police Brutality."
Here's a third option, for you to consider: "Negotiation"
It's something that could have prevented the taser-induced death of an innocent man in Vancouver Airport. Why did he get tasered? Because he couldn't speak English, and didn't respond to English commands to move.
Quote:What I'd rather not see, is the misuse of it in the name of efficiency and safety.
This is exactly how officers want to use them, and exactly how they do use them. It's easier to taze, then try to resolve the situation non-violently, and it's safer to zap-zap-zap to bring someone down then restrain them otherwise.
The impression is that it is a non-lethal, harmless, weapon - it is hence used as a magic bullet to resolve all kinds of situations where it was unwarranted.