Should police officers be allowed to shock citizens with 50,000 volts of electricity using tasers?

Question

Police officers are tasing citizens for small reasons. Here is a video clip of a woman being tasered for nothing more than a traffic stop.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/news/video/taser_video3a.html

Answer 1

Yes.

Some people just need to be kicked in the *** now and then.

Answer 2

I don't believe that anyone should be harmed in any police confrontation especially if the police officer is in the wrong. Here (in Cincinnati) there was a little girl who was shocked with a taser gun, a while back, on a school bus. Although the alternative, the 9 mm guns they carry, is far worse than a taser I believe that there is an alternative to such unnecessary physically harmful force. Bean bags, which have been used here also, are just as bad.

But, I would rather my family member, if they were a police officer, to taser someone than to shoot and kill them. Unfortunately, the taser is a necessary tool though police officers should be cautioned and taught when and how to use these thoroughly and should be re-trained every 6 months or so. This will allow them to get updated on any technological advances that have been made or any research regarding the long-term effects of being shocked "with 50,000 volts of electricity."

Answer 3

considering that anybody, man or woman could have a weapon, non-compliance gives an officer every reason to use his taser, especially if the perpetrator is becoming belligerent. In this case you present, the officer was exonerated from any wrong doing and acted within his scope of power. Always be compliant and you won't be tased!

Answer 4

I always find it interesting that people think a video clip tells the whole story. Anyhow if you look at the alternatives: gun, club, the tazer is the way to go. For the record the cops that use a tazer are trained AND had to experience being tazed themselves before they are allowed to carry them. Funny thing about that, how many people do you know experienced being shot before they were allowed to carry a gun?

Answer 5

If the person cooperates, calms down, and acts intelligently, he or she will NEVER be tasered by a police officer. Further, the person is always warned beforehand to stop his/her inappropriate behavior BEFORE the [police officer acts. If the person is tasered, I would suggest it was the person's own fault.

I have to call them as I see them.

Answer 6

Look at it this way, a 250 pound man with a half an ounce of speed in his system can take more than 30 9mm bullets to bring down. It takes one taser shot, and it's gaurenteed. Better than getting shot, isn't it? Better than a dead cop, isn't it?

Answer 7

AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

I'm not a cruel person but that was funny... I think it's appropriate to be shocked because it only paralyzes a person, it doesn't hurt that bad, I've been tazed a few times

but again, i believe the police should use their tazers sparingly and only when necessary

Answer 8

The only time I think it should be allowed is when the person there pulling over is out of control, making threats, has a weapon, and is crazy, other than that hell no, that could screw with your body some how probably.

Answer 9

Well it beats blowing them away with a Smith and Wesson. But I get your point. Should they be allowed to use less than lethal force without a threat to their safety.

No.

The fact that it is not (usually) lethal force, does not make it proper without the threat. Good luck defining that threat. I sure as hell can't.

-Dio

Answer 10

I think there should be justification for using a taser...like.... not using your directional or driving under the speed limit...but other than that its just wrong.

Answer 11

no, ive seen them taser homeless people asking for money on the street corner, so i think that they should taser themselves to see how it feels. but i guess its better than shooting them, which they also seem to do for small reasons.