Taser Happy? You decide.?

Question

I know we have all seen the video of the University student in Florida who was taken down and tasered for continuing his question to Senator John Kerry after his microphone had been turned off. Do you think that this was needed to subdue him, or another case of cops wanting to use their gadgets?

For those of you that said he should have shut up, this is a country based on freedom, including the freedom of speach.

Answer 1

The student (Meyer) is well known for hoaxes.The hoax at the University of Florida which was intended to humiliate the police, the university and Senator Kerry was carried out and planned by a number of students. Many of whom started posting on Yahoo Answers almost immediately.

One can but wonder what was paid for the event.

Answer 2

I don't know for sure if legally the police did anything illegal? I believe they could have handled it better, here's how:

First, because a guy (in someone else's opinion) asks asanine questions and acts like a jerk, doesn't mean he doesn't deserve the chance to ask.

Second. What if the police had just backed off when they could see that he wanted to finish asking his question? I think John Kerry would have answered it, possibly the guy would have responded, Kerry talks some more, and most likely the guy sits down in his seat and that is the end of it.

Wether or not it would have happened that way, we'll never know because the police decided that they call the shots and he didn't want to listen. I think the police could have kept this from escalating by just letting him finish. If he carried on considerably after asking his questions, then the police may have needed to step in. In my judgement, they should have just excercised a little more restraint. I believe that the police are responsible for this becoming such a fiasco. If the cops gave him a chance to finish, and this guy continued on some sort of rant, I think the police would have more support from everyone out there watching this video on the net, and it probably wouldn't be such an issue, and maybe nothing bad would have happened at all.

Answer 3

Freedom of Speech issue is a non-issue. Just because you have the right to freedom of speech, it doesn't mean a forum like this is where you get to excercise your right. Stand out front, in public and there...you get your freedom. You have no rights given by God or the constitution that allow you to take over a conference like that. He pushed passed others, lied when he got to the microphone (it was over when he came up) and refused to leave. Excessive force is the cops tasering him for nothing. Or when he's leaving...he wasn't.

The incident was a setup from the word go. He is a professional taunter who has bragged of taunting Kobe Bryant in the past, etc....

Notice the police were standing behind him when he started speaking. Normal? No. He pushed his way to the front and was acting rather nasty when last question had already been called. He demanded to be heard. Rather interesting how you only see him on tape after that.

His goal was to disrupt and appear as an upset supporter, he used a guilt technique, as in, he was let down by Kerry and wanted answers, to be reassured. This is how he was able to go on a little longer.

At any rate, he was escorted out and began resisting and yelling. Remember, he was resisting. This is TOTALLY on purpose. He continued to yell and resist over and over.

Why is it that cops must get hurt? That people such as him can strike a cop and that's ok? It's not. A taser is not a bad thing. Its intensely painful but not deadly. It hurts, locks you up but as soon as it's over, it's over. No more pain and more importantly, no more side effects. Pepper Spray would have cleared the hall. ASP batons would have hurt others and left long term effects.

I've seen MANY taser events and when its clicked off, they stop screaming. He was screaming for the cameras. How do I know? Because the 12 page report that was released. When he was escorted down the stairs he turned to the officer who tased him and said, "You did nothing wrong." and was peaceful and quiet. When he got downstairs he started screaming again around the cameras.

There is no excessive force here. He is not hurt, not injured and was only in pain for 5 seconds when the situation was out of control. Had he complied initially, none of this would be an issue. But it's only an issue because people think it's ok to do whatever they want. In the end, he should have complied. There is a lot about the situation that is unknown my many and yet they still comment on it.

Answer 4

I am not a lawyer, but as I understand it, The young man in question is a journalism student at the University. He was invited to ask his question. He was subsequently dis-invited, rather rudely I think, By the now suspended University Police.
He asked why he was being manhandled and was then tasered. I predict that this kid will be very rich in the near future (from the inevitable law suit) and get some great job offers. The next Geraldo! lol.
As far as blaming the police for wanting to play with their toys, I think it is due more to a fascist slant in current police training protocols. The increasing loss of the citizenship's Constitutional rights is slowly but surely leading us to a police state. The police/government obviously know what is best for us and you better not doubt it.
I thank my lucky stars for my Marine Corps training. I swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, and the Corps gave me the skill set to do this. As for the people who think the tasering was funny, what I think would be funnier is to see that fat, white cop (the one laughing) held down by a group of students who were tasering him. That would be justice.
As Ben Franklin said " Those who would give up a little freedom for security, deserve neither freedom nor security".

Answer 5

watching the video and hearing the background makes it clear he was already disturbing the peace with the cops

then he goes into this private forum on private property and has no right to stay there when he is disrupting the event... the police gave him specific instructions to follow directions, stop being disruptive, put his hands behind his back and stop fighting but he resisted and was summarily put into a subdued position. He was warned a full minute in advance that if he kept struggling he would get shot with the taser, and he kept fighting. NEVER resist arrest, even if you are innocent, fighting a bunch of cops will only get you in more trouble and you will not escape

Answer 6

IF this student starts a legal defense fund, I can tell you I will contribute.

This was in my opinion corruption and criminal activity. The kid asked a question. That's it. They didn't like the content of the question ? Or , the issue is he stayed too late ?

They risk the kids life because the meeting runs all of five minutes into overtime ? can't people come and go if they decide to ?

This audience sat there / Kerry made no announcement to excuse everyone / conclude the meeting that I heard. He continues to make his pitch while the kid is getting tasered.

I'm outraged... that it can even be suggested the cops are acting with SOP. There is obviously a problem with the SOP's that need to be rectified.

Answer 7

You know, this kid brought up some very good points. Why couldn't Kerry answer him?

The Tasering was a little much, and from watching the footage it seems like it was already under control before that female rent a cop stuck him. C'mon - there were 3 people manhandling him, one was a huge guy. You mean to tell me they can't control a skinny kid? sheesh.

Answer 8

I think when security gurard tell you to do something, you do it - and save any arguing for later.

What should the cops have done, once the guy started screaming and running away? Just let him go? The more of a ruckus he caused, the more of a possible threat he made himself out to be.

He seemed UNBALANCED, and therefore unpredictable.

They warned him to stop with the struggling, and he didn't comply. They didn't just walk up to him and blast away.

Sorry - these days people don't want to take chances. I'd rather watch the tape and ask "di the cops go to far?" than have to watch it and ask "why didn't the cops do more?"

Next time, maybe the guy will behave like a law-abiding adult.

Also, seems like the guy is a bit of a publicity hound. Well, he got his publicity. and maybe a felony conviction too (resisting, with violence) by the time he's done.

PS There is a difference between "exercising free speech" and disrupting a meeting. there are time, place and manner restrictions - otherwise, there'd be anarchy. He had his time, and went over.

Answer 9

He didn't get tased for speaking his mind, he got tased because he refused to comply with officers that were trying to subdue him. He's lucky that they tased him, if they had to force him to roll over he could have suffered serious permanent damage.

All he had to have done was comply with the officers orders and that whole incident would have been avoided. Then he would have only had to defend his right to free speech. Now he is on tape acting like an idiot resisting arrest. He may have had a defense before, but now he's out of luck.

Answer 10

Don't know for sure. However, you gotta admit its funny as HELL when they taser people on tv. It is awesome when those big tough guys just turn into a whimpering pile of jello.

I think its the best thing the cops have to keep anyone from getting hurt.