Should the police be allowed to use tasers on citizens?
483234
Yes, being electrocuted sounds like good punishment.  Besides law enforcement should be given every tool availible to protect themselves and other citizens.  Would you prefer that they just shoot instead?
1006226
Intimidation, but it'd be better to have lethal force if necessary.
1006075
I do believe that refusing a lawful order from a policeman, such as to get out of one's car, is a clear violation of the law, and is considered resisting an officer. \n\nPersonally, I think such people should have some teeth knocked out with a truncheon and a few lumps put on their heads, but that's just how I roll.\n\nAs for the dog, if the owner can't control it in a crowd, while the police are arresting someone on the ground, it certainly is the correct call.\n\nAgain, personally, I think that breaking it's little spine with a well placed truncheon blow would be better, but that's how I roll. I don't take kindly to vicious dogs on the loose.
1106720
As a 17 year veteran of the Security Business, I believe they feel threatened by us in that here are a bunch of untrained louts (which may have been true long ago) acting as Cop-wannabes. Police have a tendency to be a rather exclusive group, and they don't like any competition, and feel that they are the only ones to do the job of protecting the public and acting as a uniformed visible deterrence to crime. The difference is that we (Security Officers) protect private property, and the Police protect the public and public property. True, we don't take as extensive training as they do, and the reality is that some Provinces and States don't require any training at all. I live in British Columbia, Canada, and our initial and ongoing training is more extensive than most other Provinces. We don't carry any weapons, handcuffs or restraining devices, no pepper spray or taser devices and we don't wear any body armour, but are often expected to approach and restrain (until the Police arrive which could be 15 to 30 minutes where I am) the same dangerous criminals that the Police deal with, and they have all of the above equipment, including firearms, to protect themselves. I have been attacked by both unarmed and knife wielding assailants and luckily due to my extensive hand-to-hand combat training I have survived said assaults. So ultimately, I think it is jealousy and a "Good Ole' Boys" mentality that drives this attitude, and I mean no disrespect as I have a lot of respect for the Police and they do have to put up with some pretty horrific situations, that clearly has an effect on how they see the world around them. Not all Police officer think this way however and I have been at times both glad and disappointed at their response to our work. Chin up and be proud of what you do as we do provide a valuable service, and were created to fill a hole the Police were unable to as the crime rates increased and property crime was something they were no longer able to effectively deal with these crimes. Our Motto is "People, Property and Information" are the things we protect in that order without exception. Be Careful out there OK !!!!
924630
You don't have the legal right to take the law into your own hands. That would itself be a crime! We have a Patriot Act in this country among other provisions for dealing with terrorism at the state and federal level. Just because the police don't "appear" to be acting, doesn't mean that they are not investigating the matter. Leave police work to the professionals and don't try to be a vigilante. It will only backfire and land you in jail.
1158790
A tazer and a handgun can not be compared. A tazer is another tool in the escalation of force. Verbal commands, physical restraint,  pepper spray or other chemical agents, baton, tazer and eventually a firearm.  A tazer by no means is intended to replace the ability to use deadly force. As a law officer the last thing i want to do is to ever have to use deadly force and the tazer is another tool to assist me in not having to. But there are some dangers of using the tazer especially after the use of chemical agents as some of these are oil based and can flame. The tazer works with high voltage and low amperageto disrupt the nervous system. High amperage is what kills. But just like anything else there are documented cases (although rare where people have died) it is usually in people that are under the influence of narcotis and their heart can not stand the extra strain.
883808
If he had said something like, "I want every person in town to get a gun and kill all the police officers", then perhaps he could be charged with inciting violence.  Most successful public speakers are schooled enough to know better than to do that sort of thing, though.  You can skirt the issue fairly closely if you wish such as by saying something like, "If the police break the law, we may be forced to break the law ourselves".  See, that gives some insulation to the speaker, because the police are not supposed to be breaking the law in the first place, right?  The story in the website just said the speaker stated they might resort to 'weapons of warfare' if a repeat occurred.  There are all kinds of weapons of warfare, including psycological and rhetorical.  One note I'll add though is that a just government has no need to fear an armed public.  One of the main reasons for including the second amendment to the constitution was to assure the people the means to resist an oppressive government.  I'm a cop, but if a whole section of my town wanted to party in the street (sans violence and looting, of course), I'd back off and let 'em.  No need to clear the street unless fire department or ambulance crews need to get through.
541042
Depends on the situation.  \n\nSimply flipping off someone, even a cop, could be considered free speech and protected under the constitution.  BUT - you can bet that a police officer could find SOMETHING to arrest you for if he was pissed off.
701682
STUN GUNS ARE LEGAL! in most states.\n\nPlease do not confuse stun guns and Tasers - there are different laws for these very different weapons.  \n\nCheck with your local PD, but my favorite is the: \n\nLady Lite (600,000 volts of pain in a small / cute stun gun with a flash light - very nice) - CLICK THE LINK BELOW\n\nhttp://www.defensive-products.com/servlet/the-895/Scorpion-Lady-dsh-Lite-Stunner/Detail\n\nStun Gun Laws\nStates where stun devices are legal but with some restrictions: (click on the state name for more info) \n\nConnecticut - Legal for home use, carrying prohibited. \nFlorida - Legal, subject to restrictions. \nIllinois - Legal, subject to restrictions (Requires FID card). \nIndiana - Legal, subject to restrictions. \nNorth Carolina - Legal, subject to restrictions. \nNorth Dakota - Legal, subject to restrictions. \nOhio - Legal, subject to restrictions. \nWashington State - Legal, subject to restrictions. \nStates where stun devices are illegal: (Click on the state name for more info) \n\nHawaii \nMassachusetts \nMichigan \nNew Jersey \nNew York \nRhode Island \nWisconsin \nCities where stun devices are illegal: (Click on the city name for more info) \n\nAnnapolis, MD \nBaltimore, MD \nHoward County, MD \nChicago, IL \nDenison / Crawford County, IA (*According to Sheriff Tom Hogan*) \nDistrict Of Columbia \nPhiladelphia, PA \nCountries \n\nCanada \n\nBanned weapons include: mace, Nunchaku sticks, brass knuckles, belt-buckle knives, blowguns, stun guns, trigger enhancing devices, finger rings with blades, and spiked wristbands and collars. \n\nOther Counties we cannot ship to \n\nAUSTRALIA\nBELGIUM\nDENMARK\nHONG KONG\nINDIA (POLICE USE ONLY)\nITALY\nJAPAN\nNEW ZEALAND\nNORWAY\nSWEDEN\nSWITERLAND\nUNITED KINGDOM \n\nStun guns and chemical sprays will only be shipped to the USA
847460
YES THEY DO!  And they feel justified in doing so!  I used to be a police dispatcher.  You should hear how the "peace officers" talk back on station.  it would make you sick.  \n\nPolice officers have about as much business with a taser as a 5 year old!  About as much restraint and good judgment too!\n\nI think you are correct to be afraid.  Talk to your state representative about curtailing police use of tasers.  Each taser use should be investigated as heavily as a gun shot.\n\nHere where I live wh have had people, citizens severely injured by police over tasing.  I know of one fellow how is now brain damaged, (yes they can when over used) another how is permanently disfigured because he hit the pavement so hard after being tased.  Another guy has second and third degree burns from taser.  We have Had a couple prisoners hearts stopped because of tasing!\n\nFolks these are not harmless weapons.  If you have never seen one in Acton, seen what it does to a person you really can't understand it.  \n\nYes it is great for criminals BUT in our country you are not guilty till  you are proved guilty in a court of law.  Tasers are being use on kids who are committing pranks at night, people who are angry about a traffic stop, not violent just angry.  People who are in the wrong place at the wrong time.  \n\nYOU are right to be afraid!!!!
770162
it is not illegal to own a stun gun as many farmers and vets carry them for there work ...  you as a person can own a stun gun but if you are stopped and search and found with it your in big trouble ...... can face a maximum of 5 years in jail just for possession .if you use it on a human or a animal your in massive trouble .. the police dont use stun guns here in the UK they use a tazer gun
362235
If you take a close look at history, whenever the police started the behavior they now exhibit, violence, military style tactics, etc., this is how governments take control away from the people. It is called police terror.Have you noticed they now call us subjects? What does that imply? We are in trouble.Every time one of those bastards gets shot, I cheer.You can have no respect nor faith in an organization with the agenda that they now have. Screw the government and Screw the police.By the People For the people MY A.S.S.!!! Bring on the revolution
134349
Great question. My guess is that someone would shoot them. If not then the police would taser them. Then they probably would be made to disappear by the government.
100640
God no.  I have a lot of respect for the men and women in our country who have to put up with the druggies, the wife-beaters, the prostitutes, the pimps, and any other low-life you can think of.  A night stick isn't going to do much to a guy strung out on crystal meth.  Our police have to deal with all kinds of unpredictable people and situations, and arming them is for their safety.  If we all spoke with British accents and drank tea, maybe we'd be a little more polite and a little less dangerous.  Until then, I say keep them armed and trained enough to know when to use force and when not to.
891845
This is a very bad use of a taser gun but only for one reason. The offending party was not offered sufficient notice of what to do prior to the tasing as well as a warning of the consequences of non-compliance with the officer.\n\nWhat do I mean with that? The officer was supposed to say something along the lines "Sir, please leave the building (or whatever) or I will have to use force" then repeat the above a few more times while increasing the volume of his voice if required. If the offending party continued not to comply then the police officer could potentially use force.\n\nWhat I don't like here is how trigger happy the officer is, a tase should last a maximum of 5 seconds and should not happen more than a couple of times. Additionally no officer is allowed to carry threats to any member of the public unless that party desides to interfere with an arrest. Additionally, I never saw two elements that worried me a lot:\n\n1. The officer was impolite; You're always expected to use Sir, or Maam and treat them with respect unless there's an immediate threat.\n2. I never heard anyone mentioning that this is an arrest. The officers kept asking  the offender to stand up without a single mention of the word "arrest". \n\nIn all honesty just because it's inside University ground it's simply unacceptable. \n\nIn the following video although similar (non-compliance) the officer correctly used his taser gun. He gave proper warning, only used it twice and to prevent a suspect from fleeing. \n\nhttp://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/news/video/taser_video3b.html
580024
I have a friend that recently went through police training. One thing that they had to do was...\n5 trainees stood side by side and interlocked their elbows. The trainee at either end were given a wire each to hold onto and they were then hit with a taser jolt which had an equal effect on each of them.
845259
If they phyically threaten the police with violence then I think the sheriff does have grounds to arrest him. You can't go around threatening to hurt people, that's against the law\n\nNow I don't know what happened or why the police moved in and teargassed those people but the police do have a right to do that to protect people and property from harm. If these New Black Panthers are threatening violence then all I can assume is that they are intentionally stirring up trouble to make themselves feel important.\n\nI hate it when only a few people in a crowd of sometimes thousands start breaking the law and destroying and force the police to move in and the entire crowd gets caught in the middle.\n\nP.S: I just found the article, it's say that they will 'Patrol' the streets since the police won't and do what needs to be done. That is called vigilantism and is against the law.\n\nThey were also inciting to riot, so what they are doing is completely against the law