Non-violent protesters tased- and other taser travesties. And yeah people die.

[cali]

Sadly, many of the taser incidents in this AP article took place in my state of Vermont, a state not known for police brutality.

Taser Incidents Renew Debate Over Usage
By JOHN CURRAN – Aug 23, 2007

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) — Chained to a 55-gallon drum to protest the proposed development of a vacant lot, Jonathan Crowell wasn't threatening anyone. But he refused police orders to unshackle himself and leave, so they zapped him with a Taser, then charged him with trespassing.

"It wasn't just a short burst," said Crowell, 32, of Dummerston, recalling the July 24 incident. "Five seconds is a long time to be electrocuted. My whole body was contorting and flapping around. You can't think of anything else but that pain. It's really scary. I felt like I was being tortured."

Increasingly, police facing stubborn lawbreakers, belligerent drunks or violent suspects are reaching for stun guns to shock them into submission. In one recent incident, a hospital security guard in Houston used a Taser on a defiant father trying to take his newborn home, sending father and daughter to the floor.

<snip>.

Amnesty International USA has counted 250 cases in the last six years in which people died after being stunned with a Taser, but doesn't track whether the shock caused the deaths, according to Hashad. According to the manufacturer, Taser International Inc., the devices have been listed as a contributing factor in about 12 deaths.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jNtoNb-8KkgY3hUz58buVCxMFdoQ

The article goes on to describe the tasering of a juvenile at the Brattleboro Retreat, a private psychiatric facility, and other disturbing cases. It also has some good interviews with ACLU folks, and more from Anmesty USA.


Brattleboro suspended the use of tasers by the police, though I'm not sure if that's still in effect. The governor directed the AG to investigate the use of tasers in certain cases.

Frankly, I think these are FAR more disturbing than what happened to Andrew Meyer today. He should not have been tasered, but he WAS disruptive, and he disregarded the rights of others by rushing the line and not relinquishing the mike. He resisted arrest. He was, in brief, spoiling for a fight, and should have been removed by the police, professionally and without the use of the taser.

It's clear that police are abusing this instrument. And from the article, at least in vermont and Texas, using tasers as a convenience or out of bullying.

It is a serious problem.

[CoffeeCat]

1. This is so barbaric...

It is torture and it is disgusting.

The fact that ANYONE has died due to being tasered is horrific, and even worse--that they still taser
knowing that people have been killed because of it.

They should not use this on anyone, knowing that it has killed people!

Sometimes I just get so sick of the brutality of our species. We cannot accept this. Somehow these
things need to be outlawed. It's just revolting.

[Colorado Progressive]

2. I am curious about long-term studies and heart rhythym disruption.

Can you just shock someone like that and cause no damage? It sounds similar to being struck by lightning. (And BTW Cali, Dennis Kucinich totally echoed your view on that Move On ad, when he did 3 hours on Ed Shultz. That makes you right IMO!)

[cali]

4. Evidently you can shock someone and not cause any

damage, but who really knows. What I find disturbing, is one of the reasons that police are using tasers is to save money on disability for cops injured in trying to subdue someone. That's a horrible reason.

And thanks for letting me know about Dennis. He really is a thoughtful person.

[Colorado Progressive]

5. Yeah, who knows? As always, long term studies often show horrifying trends.

So they are using tasers as a way to nuke the offender without the cop getting hurt? Great. How can Americans protest tyrants if they get shocked? Seems like a great way to control the human population and free speech.

[KT2000]

3. The new toy

is how they are handling these things. Bet some of them can't wait to use them on people.
Torture is really what it is and tasers should be outlawed.

[Toucano]

6. Why can't we just go back to using good old billy clubs!

The old stuff was better. Just like paper ballots! :)

[liberalmuse]

7. Non-lethal weapons don't kill you (most of the time)...

they only make you wish you were dead. Some of the stuff of the our government has been testing for use in crowd control situations is pretty barbaric.