How do you guys feel about the use of tasers? Safe or not? Police too quick on the draw these days?

Question

Thanks Jshiz, that's exactly where I was going with this:

"Addendum: My question for readers: There's been a lot of debate...about whether Meyer "deserved" to be tasered, or not. But the question in my mind is not whether he would have otherwise received a bullet in his chest (as some of you have suggested he would have.)

The question is whether the use of this new technology is justified. In a world without tasers, he would have just been subdued by the police officers until he surrendered his wrists to be cuffed. The worrying aspect of this incident is the trigger-happiness of the law-enforcement authorities."

Answer 1

ehh depends. If it is in self defense, in my home state if your threatened or attacked by another person you can use what ever level of force you deem is needed..

      But the cops are over using it. When you have 2-3 cops firing a taser gun at one guy there has to be something wrong.

    Or at a little child(Florida), or at a politician(when Kerry was giving a speech).

      If used correctly it is safer than bullets. Even a toothpick can be dangerous if miss-used.

        Most police officers are too arrogant or ignorant to read the instructions I guess.

Answer 2

EDIT: Re the link and comments about the man tasered to death ~ in Australia the problem has been that the cops will not engage in physical contact until people surrender. They have tended to shoot first and ask questions later. If tasers can prevent deaths from that sort of low-grade cowboy mentality, that's good, but the better solution would be better police work. How to get that, though?

~*~*~*~

We've had a lot of controversy over the past few years about cops shooting people and killing them, when it later emerged there was an error, or the cops made a mistake or the person looked scary but was just a mental case.

If tasers prevented that sort of thing, I can see their value.

If they're just going to be the 2000s answer to getting cops off the beat and into cars (what a great idea THAT was ~ NOT) ~ in other words, lazy solutions to proper procedure and good police work, then no, definitely not.

Unfortunately, they do seem to be leaning over into the 'off the beat' side of things ...

Shame, because they COULD be a very useful tool.

Cheers :-)

Answer 3

Kris W said it succinctly enough. It can help some people if they are faced with an attacker, but then you get people like the Jackass bunch and their followers who see it as a challenge to out stupid each other.

Answer 4

I like tasers.  I carry one now.  A pink one. But, I still prefer just a plain old .38 with hollow point ammo, a sturdy Lady Taurus.  I'm still not sure that in such a horrible situation that I would want to just make an attacker angry with me over a taser hit or just permanently eliminate the problem with a .38.

Answer 5

Not a fan of tasers or people who use them. While safer than guns, they are still pretty d**n dangerous and people being quick on the draw with any potentially lethal weapon is pure insanity.

The way I see it weapons of this nature should only be used to prevent a potential injury such as when dealing with a violent threatening person approaching a police officer or another person. They should not be used simply to deal with uncooporative people or those seen as "resisting arrest" who are otherwise acting in a non-violent manner.

I've seen the police do some pretty horrible stuff in my time, including breaking the jaw of an innocent indigenous man they suspected of breaking into a pharmacy while he was already in handcuffs. I don't like the idea of people with that mentality having their hands on any weapons to be honest.

Answer 6

Its the best non lethal weapon out there. I would rather be tasered than shot.

Answer 7

The hillarious answer:

"Don't tase me bro!"

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/09...

My take:

I asked a cop this once, and they believe strongly tasers are a safer alternative than guns. Think about which one you would like to be subjected to if you commit a crime. Tasers are simply tools, and the same applies with guns. It is the individual who controls them, and thus the individual must be held accountable for how he/she uses the weapon.

Answer 8

Because they're seen as "safe", police are far too quick to the draw. I think it's disgusting. A man was killed using Tasers. This should be a cry to have them off the cops.

Answer 9

I don't question that police are acting as best they know how in whatever circumstances they come to find themselves in.  Not that they always make the best choice, but that just comes with having to make split second decisions.  So basically I don't see them as being "too quick on the draw."  I say that after being in similar situations in the military.  If you haven't been in their shoes, you really have no place to criticize them.

That said, tasers save FAR more lives than they take.  There are only around 150 taser related deaths per year but the people that prevents police from shooting (thus much more likely killing) numbers well in the thousands.

All in all, I'd say they're a good thing.

EDIT:  I'd suggest not basing your views on things on sensationalistic c**p.  By that I mean don't just base your opinion on an extreme situation and believe it to be the norm.  Tasers are meant to be used on people who pose a threat to themselves or others, not just because the cops get tired of dealing with someone.  That said, the guy in that "don't tase me bro" video got HURT he didn't DIE, and you can't use pepper spray in situations like that with such a crowded room (still not sure why they decided to tase him, but that was their call to make and they'll pay for it if it was the wrong one to make).  The bottom line is tasers save lives.  That is a good thing.  I'd recommend actually looking into the numbers for yourself more on your own, don't take my word for it.

Answer 10

"Don't Tase me Bro!"   Better to be too quick on the draw with a taser than a gun.

Answer 11

I think they are fine. Personally I'd rather take a shot from a taser than a hollow point.