In 1974, a NASA scientist named Jack Cover invented the first stun gun, which he named the TASER, or "Thomas A. Swift Electric Rifle," after Tom Swift, a fictional young inventor who was the hero of a series of adventure novels. Because it relied on gunpowder, the BATF classified Tasers as registered firearms. When Tasers were re-engineered to work with a nitrogen propellant rather than gunpowder in the early 1990’s, the weapon was no longer categorized as a firearm.
Unfortunately, Tasers are being used as a first resort for reasonable force.
Is 50,000 volts across your heart reasonable force? Is death reasonable force?
News and police reports indicate there have been over 260 Taser related deaths since July 2001.
According to video, some Tasers don’t even seem to operate like the manufacturers claim they do. This is an indication that they most likely haven’t been adequately tested. Yet they are continually put in the hands of police before what they do, or what the long term effects will be, is known.
Taser incidents are increasingly involving frail or mentally ill people and psychiatric patients.
On July 3, police used a Taser to subdue an unruly juvenile patient at Brattleboro Retreat, a psychiatric facility. Neither the hospital nor police would give more detail about the incident.
In the spring of 2003, 17-year-old Roger Holyfield had gone through a very difficult period after his father had committed suicide. Roger had been taking an anti-depressant medication, which created adverse psychiatric side effects, which led to additional prescriptions to deal with the side effects. On the eve of being baptized, he was going through something induced by these medications and an eyewitness said he had been on a sidewalk calling "I want my Mama, Jesus," holding a Bible in one hand and a cordless phone in the other and asking for God's help. He did not pose a threat to anyone including himself, yet a local policeman engaged him. Rather than alleviate the situation, they created a conflict. Before the conflict was over, some 7 police officers had become involved in the altercation. Roger Holyfield's calling on God was certainly not illegal or criminal in any way and did not warrant any action by the police. According to the eyewitness, an officer who recognized Holyfield, had said, "Take it easy, he's sick," Another said, "Let's fry the mother****er." and was the one who delivered the Tasering. Police beat and Tasered him repeatedly. After he had been Tasered 6 times, he vomited at the scene and his heart had stopped.
There are no national standards for training; each police agency defines its own training requirements in accordance with the laws in that state.
Is the issue whether the level of force being used is appropriate for arresting somebody? The Fourth Amendment protects you from unreasonable seizures, which means police can’t use excessive force when they’re taking you into custody.
I suppose no one told officers that when they encountered Fouad Kaady on September 8, 2005. Kaady had been in a car accident that left him covered in blood from cuts, and burned over most of his body. When police reached him, he was disoriented and in a catatonic state, sitting on the side of the road in shock. They shouted an order to him (to lie on the pavement), but in his state of shock and with the loss of massive amounts of blood, he didn’t comply. He just sat there with his hands in his lap and his head bowed. Rather than calling for medical help even though they could see he was badly burned, and even though they could tell he was in shock and unarmed, they tasered him repeatedly for not complying. Then they shot him to death. Justifiable? You decide.
Unfortunately, Tasers are being used as a first resort for reasonable force.
Is 50,000 volts across your heart reasonable force? Is death reasonable force?
News and police reports indicate there have been over 260 Taser related deaths since July 2001.
According to video, some Tasers don’t even seem to operate like the manufacturers claim they do. This is an indication that they most likely haven’t been adequately tested. Yet they are continually put in the hands of police before what they do, or what the long term effects will be, is known.
Taser incidents are increasingly involving frail or mentally ill people and psychiatric patients.
On July 3, police used a Taser to subdue an unruly juvenile patient at Brattleboro Retreat, a psychiatric facility. Neither the hospital nor police would give more detail about the incident.
In the spring of 2003, 17-year-old Roger Holyfield had gone through a very difficult period after his father had committed suicide. Roger had been taking an anti-depressant medication, which created adverse psychiatric side effects, which led to additional prescriptions to deal with the side effects. On the eve of being baptized, he was going through something induced by these medications and an eyewitness said he had been on a sidewalk calling "I want my Mama, Jesus," holding a Bible in one hand and a cordless phone in the other and asking for God's help. He did not pose a threat to anyone including himself, yet a local policeman engaged him. Rather than alleviate the situation, they created a conflict. Before the conflict was over, some 7 police officers had become involved in the altercation. Roger Holyfield's calling on God was certainly not illegal or criminal in any way and did not warrant any action by the police. According to the eyewitness, an officer who recognized Holyfield, had said, "Take it easy, he's sick," Another said, "Let's fry the mother****er." and was the one who delivered the Tasering. Police beat and Tasered him repeatedly. After he had been Tasered 6 times, he vomited at the scene and his heart had stopped.
There are no national standards for training; each police agency defines its own training requirements in accordance with the laws in that state.
Is the issue whether the level of force being used is appropriate for arresting somebody? The Fourth Amendment protects you from unreasonable seizures, which means police can’t use excessive force when they’re taking you into custody.
I suppose no one told officers that when they encountered Fouad Kaady on September 8, 2005. Kaady had been in a car accident that left him covered in blood from cuts, and burned over most of his body. When police reached him, he was disoriented and in a catatonic state, sitting on the side of the road in shock. They shouted an order to him (to lie on the pavement), but in his state of shock and with the loss of massive amounts of blood, he didn’t comply. He just sat there with his hands in his lap and his head bowed. Rather than calling for medical help even though they could see he was badly burned, and even though they could tell he was in shock and unarmed, they tasered him repeatedly for not complying. Then they shot him to death. Justifiable? You decide.
2 comments:
*shakes head*
"Don't Tase me Bro!"
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