Should police officers be allowed to use tasers? Why do you think the use of tasers is so controversial? Should civilians be able to use tasers? Why or why not? Do you believe that people need a license in order to use them? What form of taser should be allowed? Why do you think they have different types of tasers?
Liz Doty (12:53pm)
23 comments:
I think that police officers should be allowed to use tazers in extreme situations. When someone is threatening their life or the life of someone else would be an ok case. Now, when a student was tazered in Florida because a presidential candidate didn't like what they were saying-- that might be a little extreme. I think the use of tazers is so controversial because of the whole police brutality thing and how far is too far in terms of excessive police force. I do NOT think that civilians should be able to carry and use tazers though, or else people would be getting tazed all over the place over the littest thing. If people are allowed to use tazers, I think they should have to go through a class, get a liscense, and learn all of the safety precautions in order to use one, just like with a gun. I think all tazers could be allowed, they all hurt the same pretty much. I think they have different types of tazers for different kinds of situations, one for close encounters and one for if someone was running at you with a knife or something. Either way they hurt.
- Jarett Crump
I dont know much about the different kinds of tazers but I think tazers should be allowed for police officers. I think its a good non leathal way of containing a violent victim without killing them or permenetly damaging them. I guess if civilians can have guns, knives, and even mase then they should be able to carry tazers for self defense. Police officers use them for self defense so why can civilians?
-Jimmy Gourdier
I think that police officers should be allowed to use tazers. However, I think in some cases,they get a little to extreme in their use of them. I think that they are good alternatives to other things though. I guess I didn't realize that there were more than one type of tazer, but i guess there really is more than one way to skin a cat. Anyway, I think they are fine.
Dustin Piercy (9:00)
Tasers and firearms are protected under the 2nd amendment "right to bear arms" and all americans should be allowed to use them responsibly. There should not be a license because this would allow a tyrannical government to pick out those who can defend theirselves and stop them before they could rebel.
They have different tasers for different situations, just like firearms.
Police should not be allowed to use tasers unless they are treated as a firearm. If an officer uses a taser, would it have otherwised called for the use of a firearm? If they can't justify shooting a suspect with a firearm then the situation did not call for using a taser. Basically they shouldn't use it as an easy way out, tasing someone who is sitting, being beligerent, or resisting arrest.
It's controversial because it causes pain and officers use it without regard. People tend to have a problem with the death penalty because it is "cruel and unusual punishment", but isn't shocking a suspect with tremendous amounts of electricity a cruel and unusual punishment. It may be nonlethal but it hurts pretty damn bad.
Daniel Hooker (7:00)
I think that tasers should remain legal, both for police and civilians. Tasers provide a great nonlethal way for police to restrain criminals without actually killing them. Unlike what the person above me said, I don't think that police should have to treat tasers as firearms. Police use tasers instead of firearms so they don't have to actually kill anybody. Why would you shoot somebody and kill them instead of just stunning them into submission? Tasers are an acceptable way of controlling criminals and if you don't want to get stunned by one, then don't break the law.
Chris Bohnhoff (Noon)
Police officers should be allowed to use tasers. If they didn't then the only safe way for them to take down a suspect with a weapon would be to shoot them. The use of tasers is controversial because people really don't know that much about them. Civilians should be able to carry tazers too. They are safe if you know the proper way to use one. Civilians should just be able to purchase the lesser powered ones.
Zach Burnett
I think that officers should use tasers, but only during extrem circumstances. Like if someone is causing a major problem then they should use them. They are controversial becasue people are having medical problems because of them. Civilians shouldn't be able to use them because other wise you would have little kids running around tasering each other. I don't think that anyone other than the police should use them. I think that only the distance gun one should be allowed. They have diffrent types for diffrent situations.
Dani
I recently heard a story about a police officer using a taser on a elderly woman with Dementia and schizophrenia In this scenario I think it is wrong to use a taser. I do think that they should be aloud to carry tasers though because without them they would have to be a lot more violent and leave more permanent scars on these people, and their only excuse would be "its self-defense". I however do not think that it is okay for civilians to use them.
Kassi
Tasers are pretty scary things and should only be used in SERIOUS or in life or death situations. I think they are so controversal becasue police are not using them correctly. I really wouldnt trust a regular civillian with a taser becasue they probably wouldnt use it for the right reasons. I think if you shoud get one, you should be licensed and if you get caught using them incorrectly, then you loose it and the license. I really have no idea why they have different types i just know i never want to experience being tasered!
Lindsay Brooks
I believe policemen should carry tasers.The use of taisers is only a controversy because people are afraid that they may cause long term effect. People also want to know:What amount of escalation would it be necessary to use a taser? I believe civilians should also be allowed to use tasers. It should be a standard form of protection just like mase or an air horn!haha. .People should be able to protect themselves and it is not fatal like using a gun on someone. I do believe that people that own tasers should be kept track of, just like people who buy sudafed or rubber cement. The handheld taser should be allowed if someone was to touch you innapropriately etc. There are different types of tasers for different situations. A handheld would be used to shock someone who is very close to you and gets out of hand, and a taser gun is used for farther ranges.
~Rachel Edwards
Yes police officers should be allowed to use tasers. Today this world is getting more and more dangerous and crime is going up and they need to protect themselves for those who kill and are trying to kill them. There are certain situations when the taser should be used and there is also certain situations when a gun should be used. When the police officers life is at danger or someone is out of control destroying everything in sight and is hurting people around them than they should be tased. Maybe not if they were screaming at someone and they did not like the fact they were yelling at you and you just tase their ass no.. not right. I think it is controversial because alot of people in society think that all police officers are just a police officer because of the power kick and want to use their power in wrong ways. NO civilians should not be able to have tasers becasue they will use them for every little problem they have or just for fun. You should have to be trained to use one and have one used on yourself in order to carry a taser. All forms of tasers should be used, they are all going to hurt like hell. They have different types probably for different situation and tougher situations call for tougher punishment.
Shawn Harshbarger
I feel that the police should be able to use tazers on criminals. They help to keep people tame and calm, and get them to do what they want.
--Jill Reinhart (noon)
It's controversial b/c a taser is crazy painful. I don't know what to say, is that different than pepper spray. I think pepper spray should be sufficient for civilians too, besides we already have gun rights and you can't go further than that. Yes, we should have a license to use a taser. You could see how teenagers or just irresponsible idiots could use a taser for entertainment and someone could really get hurt. I know nothing about types of tasers, but I would say that the tasers civilians are allowed to use should be relatively tame.
Renee Hart
I think tasers can be very dangerous if they're not used under the proper circumstances. The only people that should be allowed to use tasers are police officers, and they should only use them if they absolutely have to. I don't think tasers should be allowed to civilians. If this was the case, everyone would have them and we would all be getting tazed. Tasers need to be use with caution, and I think even police officers need to be precautious while using them.
Chelse Lindenbaum (9:00)
Tasers should be allowed because it will stop from beating someone up who is putting up a fight with the police. I do, however, think that if someone abusses the taser, they should be punished. I disagree with the police using force because the person took them for a ride, but if the person is fighting with them while the cops have their hands on them, by all means, do what you have to in order to control the person so no one gets hurt.
I think that civilians should have the right to have tasers depending on what the reason is. There should be extensive training for any one who has a taser in their reach.
I am unformilar with tasers so I can not talk about different ones and what should be used by the police and what should be used by the public.
Michelle
People who are following the rules of society for the most part should not fear the police or their practices. If you are behaving and actually doing what your are supposed to do the cops are on your side. So no, I don't fear tasering.
Police should be able to use tasers on people when they are resisting arrest and appear to be dangerous. The taser issue is controversial because some people argue it is another form of police brutality. Civilians should not be able to use tasers in any case. Police use them in only critical moments, civilians just can't be trusted to handle responsibility. If tasers for civilians was legalized, people would be required to take a class and would have to go through a background check, just like guns. There would be a waiting period. Tasers should never be legalized though.
Ryan Lowry(7:00)
Police should be allowed to use tasers, only in situation that call for it though. Tazers are pretty extreme, cause pure agony and discomfort. This is exactly why an officer should be allowed to use them, only when they're life or someone elses life is in danger - which is when they should use their gun. Not use them for public free speech like that one kid in the John Kerry speech in Florida. That's when I think officers shouldn't have tazers because it makes them feel to incontrol. The might feel like they have to use them when they aren't even anywhere close to be needed.
Trevor Kohlrus (12:00)
As far as tasers go, my upstairs neighbors recently bought one, they are boys and thought that it was extremely hilarious to shock eachother while they were sleeping and drunk, which is NOT healthy. I do not think that civilians should be able to use tasers, however, they would be a lot better opposed to guns. I think that you should have to have a license to be able to use a taser. I think that there are tasers out there because we are trying to contain the use of firearms. And I think that tasers are definitely the way to do it. I would feel a lot safer at night if I knew that a criminal had a taser rather than a gun.
Brittney (7:00)
I'm not familiar with the different kinds of tazers, but I do know that they are very serious weapons, and can inflict extreme pain. Therefore, I think police need to use them only as a last resort. I don't think civilians should be allowed to carry them. It's inevitable that some police will misuse such equipment, noone is perfect. However, this doesn't mean police shouldn't be able to protect themselves.
Tristan Cogswell
Yes, in extreme cases I think police officers should be allowed to use them. I do NOT think civilians should be allowed to use them. If so, people could be going around tasing people for no reason or for the stupidest thing. If civilians do end up being allowed to get them then I think they definitely need to go through a class in order to obtain a liscense. I'm not really that aware of the different kinds of tasers, sorry.
Elizabeth Kerns (9:00)
I believe that a taser should only be used by police officers in an instance where a gun would be needed. I don't know anything about the different types of tasers. I do know, I am horrified by the video of the Vancouver police who killed the immigrant for no reason. I don't think enough civilians would treat tasers responsibly enough to use them.
Bobbi (9:00)
Yes, any form of non-lethal or less than lethal take down is better than the alternative. As with everything it will more than likely be abused as a form of punishment, we can only do our best to ensure that this does not happen. How many would be dead men have been saved by a police officer using a taser rather than a firearm.
Jennifer Wilson
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