Tasers

[Maverick]

Are tasers effective alternative weapons for cops or are they excessive force?

I see tasers as effective tools for cops rather than using a gun or a baton, which cause more injuries. I know sometimes they can be abused, but bad cops will abuse anything no matter what you give them and I don't think a small minority of bad ones should ruin it for all cops.

Cops are provided by the tax payers to protect the citizens and I think we should provide them with the tools they need so they are protected. Its a harmless way to disable law breakers and its their own fault if they try to get away in the first place.

[dem.re.cmd.exe]

Picture this situation in contrast to what you said (I totally agree with you that tase3rs are great):

A person robs a bank, you catch up to him and taser him. He has a very weak heart and suffers heart attacks often. Your taser (you weren't abusing it) stops his heart and he dies. His family says that he waws with them, and they went grocery shopping, his friends agree with his family, you have no witnesses (the family needs the money and you're in court fyi) What would the judge say, it would probably get to the supreme court so... tasers or no tasers? If you had hit him with a baton or shot him in the foot he might still be alive.

[Maverick]

Ummm I really don't understand your scenario about the bank robbery and the grocery store. So you're saying I saw him at the bank but his family lies and covers for him and says he was somewhere else? That doesn't make sense or I'm missing something.

[Hauptmann Kauffman]

I think tasers are a great tool for cops! They are a very useful, affective, non-deadly weapon. BTW, the taser scenario, the cop had a reason to shoot him w/ the taser, the family wouldnt win. Also, the cop wouldnt shoot him in the foot. When you are a cop, and you have a reason to shoot, you arent really aiming at particular spots. You shoot at the main body mass for a higher chance at hitting the suspect.

[dem.re.cmd.exe]

Well, that's stupid to aim right at the torso, he was just running... I guess it's the easiest target to hit. The scenario was you were the cop... Sorry if I didn't make that clear.

Sure he might not win, but he did kill him, human rights groups would go crazy, or I hope they would.

[Maverick]

All the cop would have to do is prove that he had legit intentions for his actions. The man who robbed the bank made a conscious choice to rob the bank, stealing from other people. if you play with fire, you'll get burned. Nothing to do with human rights - it was his own fault.

[dem.re.cmd.exe]

Okay, say he stole a woman's purse and lived in a cardboard box in New York City, with no health insurance to pay for the surgery he needs to decide wether he lives or dies and because we treat released criminals (USA) so badly, he can't get a job because he commited a felony of assualt. Would that whole situation be the same?

[Maverick]

Last time I checked the justice system didn't excuse them from the law because they were in unfortunate circumstances. That woman can have her own family to feed. The homeless aren't the only victims.

[Hauptmann Kauffman]

Exactly!

[dem.re.cmd.exe]

Ya, I agree with you all, don't get me wrong. I was interested in what you'd say.

[ThatCanadianGuy]

Yeah most of those what-if situations are very one-sided and RARE. I think tasers are a great tool. Don't wanna get tasered? Don't break the fucking law!

DON'T TASE ME, BRO!

[Hauptmann Kauffman]

lol, dont bring up that hippy!

[dem.re.cmd.exe]

He's no hippy for saying that. It was a .... strongly.... stated opinion I'll give him that.

[Hauptmann Kauffman]

No, his statement wasnt hippy-ish, he was just a hippy! LOL

[dem.re.cmd.exe]

We should start a debate about it! But where could we do that?? :?

[Hauptmann Kauffman]

lets get back on topic:D

[dem.re.cmd.exe]

Damn... This is a pretty easy one to be honest. I couldn't come up with one, even remotely possible, situation that might, MIGHT, change a law or something... I must be tired or something.