Don't Tase Me, Bro!

[varkam]

Okay, I know that I'm supposed to be against tasers in any form whatsoever, but I was under the impression that tasers actually reduce the probability of physical injury compared with actual physical contact between a LEO and a suspect. Does anyone have any solid numbers or unbiased info on tasers?

[TZ]

1. I don't really know however...

I have to think that the mods in the GDP forum might actually like to have tasers.......:rofl:

[varkam]

2. That's a great idea! I'll bring that up with Skinner

:D

[realisticphish]

3. I think

the primary problem is that when LEO's have tasers, they have a tendency to use them far too early in an encounter, when they don't need to. I.E., the "bro" guy. Seriously, that guy did NOT need to be tased.

But it's still a useful tool; i think cops just need to be more hesitant to use them

[Warpy]

4. I know that used correctly, they can prevent the need

for deadly force. In this town, they also use beanbag rounds to drop lunatics, and I've seen it done.

Unfortunately, the cops are using tasers against anyone that gives them lip or who should be physically restrained, like rampaging school children. They've become a crutch, a substitute for talking crazy people down and wrestling drunks.

I would like to see regulations changed so that discharging a taser would be treated the same as discharging any other potentially lethal weapon. It would require an investigation by IA to see if it had been justified.

The threat of that kind of paperwork would decrease the overuse of them. Never underestimate the power of inconvenience in modifying behavior.

[realisticphish]

5. this

:thumbsup:

[semillama]

6. another example of overuse:

[Evoman]

7. The problem is that it's too fucking easy.

Hitting someone with a stick, or wrestling someone to the ground isn't easy. So before you do it, you think really hard of ways to calm people down and persuade them to do what you need.

Tasers are easy. Not complying? ZAP.

But then, I'm not white and I pretty much hate cops so take my analysis with a grain of salt.