Is Tasering Okay?

[bob x]

Do what's right kiddies.... Call teh lor!

Once the police become perceived as just another gang, more heavily armed and dangerous than most, so that parents have to teach their kids to be more afraid of the cops than of the robbers, this won't happen anymore. I don't know how it is in the UK, but in the US this kind of rot is widespread now.

[17th Angel]

Yes, the "firms" of England class the riot squad here as the biggest "firm" and not to mess with them lol.... But apart from that no our police officers have become less respected over the age... At one time they were feared and respected.. Not a evil fear.... A fear such as the christians "god fearing" way... The standards have slacked the leash has been put on... And the officers' hands have been binded slightly... And of course with this their authority get's questioned by some snot nosed spotty little youth who will swear and even attempt to assault and officer.... Sad times, sad times.

I was brought up, (as I am sure most can guess) the way my parents were brought up... The good ol' days... I wasn't taught the police were a big evil gang to be scared of, but to listen and not mess with them... IF I did then to be scared of them, but most importantly to realise they are not an enemy, they are a service.....

I think it is a shame that parents there are preaching this to their children.... But, I guess from this I have a good idea what the parents are like.

[Pathless]

Yet all of this fearing and 'respecting' seems to go against the grain of the supposed independent spirit of the "American Way." Again, supposedly, our country over here was "founded" (perhaps conquered would be a more appropriate word?) in the name of freedom; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The attitude of fearing the law because they are simply the law, or even because they have the people's "best interests" in mind, is contrary to the spirit of independence.

People know what is in their best interest more than the law does. The law says that I should not be able to put certain substances in my body. The law says that I should not have sexual relations in a certain way. How is any of this the law's business?? The constitution guarantees my freedom of speech, while "the law" practically takes it away. Forgive me if I do not respect the law or fear it.

Fear? Yes, the law is scary. It is big and often stupid and armed with clubs and guns. Often, it is drunk on its own Authority. Too often it does not have the people's best interest in mind. It has someone, or something's interest in mind, but I am far from convinced it is really attuned to the interest of common woman and man and child.

[bob x]

most importantly to realise they are not an enemy, they are a service.....

It's fine to teach your kids that, where it is true. It is not true everywhere.

I think it is a shame that parents there are preaching this to their children.... But, I guess from this I have a good idea what the parents are like.

No, I don't think you do.

[17th Angel]

Police officers are not a gang lol.... :/ maybe in the "people's republic of Nak nak... Viva la revloution!" or something but surley not in civilised America?

[Pathless]

Originally Posted by 17th Angel

Police officers are not a gang lol.... :/ maybe in the "people's republic of Nak nak... Viva la revloution!" or something but surley not in civilised America?

Eh, ask the non-white people of south central L.A.

[17th Angel]

Originally Posted by Pathless

Eh, ask the non-white people of south central L.A.

That's different.

[Pathless]

Originally Posted by 17th Angel

That's different.

Yes it is. Yet the abuse of power by those in authority and those given deadly weapons is wrong, whether practiced in the racial heat of Los Angeles, in a musty auditorium in Florida, or at an airport in Canada. In L.A., the police might be quicker to pull the trigger on a gun instead of a taser, and the social, racial, and class context may be much more sinister and grim than a taser incident, yet using a taser to impress authority upon someone is still an abuse of power. Tasers can be deadly. Two taser blasts killed a Polish man in a Canadian airport last month:

Nation & World | Poland criticizes fatal Taser incident in Canada | Seattle Times Newspaper
Canadian police condemned for graphic Taser death | International | Reuters

Was it a necessary use of force? This sad situation should cause people to question if other methods can be used to subdue out-of-control individuals when necessary.

[Muslimwoman]

Originally Posted by Pathless

This sad situation should cause people to question if other methods can be used to subdue out-of-control individuals when necessary.

I suppose they could use waterboarding as they seem very fond of that

No tasering is not okay unless the person is holding a gun, then it is preferable to shooting them dead imo.

[17th Angel]

nm lol.... delete post.