Student tasered at John Kerry speach.Was it justified?

Question

I think this guy got what he had coming.He clearly is resisting in the video below and was not cooperative.Why do people think they can go around acting like total jackasses without fear of being reprimanded for it? If I was a cop this guy would have been tasered the second he resisted.

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/12921.html

I think it was hilarious how he started to scream for help like a little girl when he got tasered.

The moron in the video had the right to ask his questions but Kerry also has the right to answer them.This kid was not allowing it,he wanted to be the center of attention and when asked to leave he decided to take the law into his own hands.He got what he had coming and for those who said "security guards" , Well these people were police and not security guards.

I laugh more and more everytime I watch the video from different angles and sources.This kid got exactly what he asked for.Today's youth are so disrespectful and all about themselves.

Answer 1

He was out of control. he was repeatedly warned. Yes.

Answer 2

It was a very weird situation. First, the guy was clearly too worked up. People like to do these things at "forums" or "rallies" -- start yelling at a candidate instead of asking reasonable (though tough) questions.
But the guy wasn't too out of line when asking his question... just riled up. But when he wouldn't shut up, the campus police immediately put their hands on him. Why? Why didn't they just say "you've asked your question, please sit down and wait for a response from Mr. Kerry." or even "You're raising your voice and causing a public disturbance. Please step aside or you will be asked to leave." ?? Instead they immediately try to physically escort him out, and then he starts in with the "what did I do?"
But instead of merely yelling "what did I do? Please let me go. I will leave voluntarily. I am not resisting." He resists. And resists, and resists and tries to struggle free.
The campus police __probably__ could have just used handcuffs and a restraining hold to get him down and move him out, but chose a Taser instead.

Tasers are "less lethal" force -- they have the power to kill someone (if they're real "tasers" and not stun-guns). They also can cause 2nd and 3rd degree burns if applied in the wrong way. Thus, cops are trained not to use Tasers unless they're actually threatened or there is no other good way of restraining a suspect. These aren't stun-guns that maybe hurt a little bit; these send high voltage, low amp (or the other way around) shocks that usually make every muscle in the victim's body contract (including the diaphragm) and can cause pain for a short time.

Considering that the kid really posed no physical threat (he didn't appear to be attempting to assault the officers; he was just attempting to get free), a Taser didn't seem to be the appropriate weapon to use (but notice that he was completely compliant and left voluntarily under his own power once the Taser was used.)

Answer 3

They did not have to taser the student. All of you people here who think it was right should consider what he was asking. He dared to ask about the ballots in the last election and why Kerry did not fight back. Whether you agree or not that some votes were stolen, is not the issue. The issue is that he attempted to speak/ask a question and he was immediately suppressed and tasered. Would you like to see that done to your own son or daughter? Even if he were behaving like a jackass as some have said, does that make it acceptable for the police to use a taser on him? Have you read recent news reports where people died after being tasered? Do you even care?

I am shocked to hear so many Americans so freely accept having their rights taken away in this manner. What have people fought so hard for in America if freedom of speech is not allowed. He did not menace anyone. He was not offensive and he did not pose any danger. He simply said something that was not a popular thought. We should all be angry about the way this young man was treated. Today for him, tomorrow for us!!!

Answer 4

What I don't find justified is why it took a taser to subdue that student. I saw the footage and those security guards must have been wimps if they did not think they could subdue him any other way. I think the Vulcan nerve pinch would have been a lot better.

In the video, you saw that he was letting them take him down the aisle, then I saw as their arms constraining him loosened he started to try to break free. If you asked me they should have handcuffed him first before taking him up the aisle. Are they afraid the student will sue for having handcuffs put on unjustifiably first. If I were him, I would rather be handcuffed right than have 50,000 volts rushing through my body. Not to sound sexist or imply anything, but it would have been better it were two men dragging him up the aisle as opposed to one man and one woman. The guy tried to squirm when he noticed the female cop had her hold on him loosened up.

Not to sound racist, but it was a black male cop who pushed him all the way up the aisle. The same type of behavior that student exhibited next is exactly the same type of behavior one could expect from a black if it were a white cop pushing him. The problem is that that cop should have pushed the student all the way out of the auditorium.

I find it reprehensible that the poster is getting his kicks from watching the video over and over.

The guy sounded like a girl to signal a sign of weakness so that they would not man handle him like he thought they were doing.

Answer 5

I thought that both the police and the student were wrong. Two wrongs don't make a right!! The student should have calmed down instead of trying to get away from the police and the police should not have tasered him in front of all those other students. I hope someone watches this video and sees both sides. It's a damn shame!

Answer 6

Yes, he was resisting arrest. From what I saw, however, he didn't do anything that warranted being arrested. They gave him the mic, and he asked a question. Whether you agree with the point he was trying to make or not, an open forum is supposed to be just that: open.

Hollywood liberals say stuff like that all the time, but they don't get arrested. If Kerry intends to save face, he needs to condemn the policemen's actions.

Answer 7

fx,

I've seen this 'altercation' from a couple of different angles. Was the kid being an ***? Clearly, but that in of itself is not a crime. He did resist (a no-no), but was the Senator in danger? Hardly. Well-trained professionals could have had this dude out the door without the use of any type of weapon.

I (for once) do not believe politics had anything to do with how this kid got treated. It's unfortunate, but this is what happens when you have folks around to protect others that do NOT know what to do.

Answer 8

The student was taken away even when Kerry said he would answer the question. He also wasn't given a long time to speak before they started to pull him away. I think that the police shouldn't have stopped him from speaking, but the second he started resisting them they had the right to arrest and punish him.

Free speech is not a crime, but resisting arrest and not obeying a police officer is.

Answer 9

I do think the police were justified in their actions, yes. However, I question if this would be a big issue if it were not at an event involving John Kerry (or any other politician).

Answer 10

No.

The student was behaving like a jackass, but that doesn't mean he deserved being tazered.

Especially considering that the host (Kerry) actually wanted to answer the question. At that point, the police should have held him, allowed Kerry to answer the question, then the police should have shown the student to the door.

Answer 11

Face it, we've lost more of our rights to Kerry and his flunkies than Bush. The Constitution is the first thing the democraps will toss if they get into the White House.