Pantagraph.com | News | Study: Tasers safe for police to use

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Little Johnnie wrote on Oct 10, 2007 11:40 PM:

" Its not the taser that is dangerous. Its the under-educated and under-trained cops that are hired across the Nation. Requiring extensive traing and education to be a police officer should be a requirement. "

re Bob wrote on Oct 10, 2007 1:02 PM:

" you sound like a cop "

Dead Eye Dick wrote on Oct 10, 2007 7:11 AM:

" "Tasers safe for Police to use." No doubt. Question is, are they as safe for the usee as they are for the user? "

Bob wrote on Oct 10, 2007 6:19 AM:

" Some of you need to be tasered "

To: Wow wrote on Oct 9, 2007 10:28 PM:

" "Also police brutality is not as rempant as you would have people think" Really, almost nothing is as common or as rampant as most people feel. Feel, not think, because far too few really pay close enough attention to have a real notion of what is actually happening on even a local level. "If it bleeds, It Leads" is still the Gold Standard of most news reporting. Bad cop stories are just as prevalent as child molester stories. Most of the public refuse to accept the truth of the former problem but insist that the latter problem is a crisis under-reported by the "Liberal" media. This is a sad fact. It makes a mockery of the ideals of a civil society or an "Informed Electorate." "

re:steve wrote on Oct 9, 2007 7:13 PM:

" Yea the kid was a jerk to everyone, but you can't arrest someone just for being rude, or defensive, or because you don't like the questions he asked. I saw this in the video. I also heard the Senator repeatedly interrupted by the officers and he repeatedly asked them to let him answer the kid’s questions. Again, the kid was a jerk, but the officers fell right into his little game and acted as childish as he did. If this kind of thing was acceptable people would be getting tased at every political discussion. "

56 1/2 wrote on Oct 9, 2007 6:11 PM:

" At least they are safe in the fact that you probably can't shoot yourself in the foot with one Barney Fife! "

Steve... wrote on Oct 9, 2007 5:03 PM:

" That kid in Florida went to the Kerry event for the soul purpose of making a stink. In the video I saw the kid was rude to the audience by rushing to the microphone, rude to Kerry in the manner in which he asked his question, and was rambling along asking questions that have been well answered by Kerry on numerous occassions. When the officers approached the kid asked "what are you gonna do, tase me?" He wanted what he got and is a poor example of police over stepping their boundaries and probably a better example of police not doing their jobs well. If he felt he was unjustly arrested then why isn't he purueing the matter in civil court as the system allows. If he was unjustly removed and arrested then he would be justified with a hefty pay off. As for you advocating taking an officers life if they feel they are unjustly arrested, I hope you never are in need of an officers assistance. "

Wow wrote on Oct 9, 2007 4:41 PM:

" It has nothing to do with trading freedom for security. I think the government is doing things that should not be done in terms of limiting personal freedoms. But you have to uphold laws or there is chaos. What I am saying is if you are arrested and it was in fact unlawful you will be exonerated in the courts and then go ahead and sue like everyone else. Dont resist the arrest its not worth getting yourself or someone else hurt. Even your perecious ACLU tells people to not resist the police. Also police brutality is not as rempant as you would have people think. As always situations are manipulated to serve peoples personal agendas. "

RE:Re: WOW wrote on Oct 9, 2007 4:36 PM:

" You got it, the Government has prisons in every state for political prisoners. They are calling them reeducation camps or some thing like that. "

to "re: wow" wrote on Oct 9, 2007 4:35 PM:

" Did you see the video? The officer did not arrest the student for "no reason." The initial officer merly told the student he needed to get to the point and ask his question. The student then took a defensive position with the officer by saying something like "no, he has been talking for 2 hours." What the student should have said was, "ok, I am only trying to make this point so the Senator can assimilate my position. I will be as brief as I can." However, since that student decided to challenge the officers authority and then resist the way he did, he deserved everything he got. The police do have authority over our actions and when that authority is challenged in a defiant/violent manor, the officer(s) have a responsibility to maintain order. Thats what they are paid to do. Are there some bad cops out there? yes. It doesn't meen their all bad though. Nobody told that kid he couldn't be heard, he was only told to quiet down and ask his question. "

lol wrote on Oct 9, 2007 4:26 PM:

" some of you people crack me up. Since when is it a Police Officers job to stand toe to toe with someone and fight? Police Officers ARE NOT prize fighters, there job is to stop ilegal activity and assist those in need. Now, I am not going to sit here and try to defend the actions of a select few "bad apples." There are some corrupt Police Officers out there. There are some good ones that make inappropriate decisions. However, I believe most police officers are good, decent people who love their jobs and would much rather have a quiet shift. The biggest problem lies with the people who do not think they need to listen to a police officer when a LAWFUL order is given. If an officer of the law tells you to stop, you need to stop. If that officer is wrong then you have the option of taking it up with their boss. It is also not ok to try to fight the police. Again, it is not their job to stand toe to toe with you and box. "

To Simple Solution wrote on Oct 9, 2007 3:52 PM:

" As if. Just like no cop ever beat or shot or tear-gassed or tortured a non-resisting subject. You people who live in a La La Land of cops as Knights in Shining Armor really need to read up on you history. Those selfless and devout tin-cans never existed and are nowhere to found in any modern police force. You want cops to watch and control people who do wrong. Good enough. Cops, being people, need the same oversight and sanctions. Trust but Verify. "

Re: WOW wrote on Oct 9, 2007 3:47 PM:

" What’s scarier is when a police officer can arrest you for no reason. I don’t see what you found scary. The posts you’re referring to came straight out of state and federal constitutions. People like you think the 2nd Amendment is ‘scary.’ Those who are willing to trade freedom for security deserve neither. When a university student asks legitimate questions of a politician and is immediately arrested without reason, then we’re too late. The next step will be stuffing the prisons with political prisoners "

Re: Wow and Just a Guy wrote on Oct 9, 2007 3:19 PM:

" It seems that you're correct about the police-state of Illinois. However, the U.S. supreme court has upheld states where American rights have yet to be obolilshed. “Citizens may resist unlawful arrest to the point of taking an arresting officer's life if necessary.” Plummer v. State, 136 Ind. 306. This premise was upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case: John Bad Elk v. U.S., 177 U.S. 529. The Court stated: “Where the officer is killed in the course of the disorder which naturally accompanies an attempted arrest that is resisted, the law looks with very different eyes upon the transaction, when the officer had the right to make the arrest, from what it does if the officer had no right. What may be murder in the first case might be nothing more than manslaughter in the other, or the facts might show that no offense had been committed.” "

"Police Brutality" vidios wrote on Oct 9, 2007 3:09 PM:

" Perhaps it is'nt so bad around here, but if you go to "youtube" (on your computer), check out "police brutality", you will find many many many recent instances, including a couple listed here, that would cause the average citizen to think twice. As it should any law enforce/security to as well. Before it effects you or your own family. You'll find some documentary clips too. "

To Julie.. wrote on Oct 9, 2007 2:16 PM:

" You're too much.. Well if your boyfriend explained the situation, then I'm sure he relayed 100% percent of the facts, didn't he? Good way to inject race into EVERY SINGLE POST YOU MAKE. "

Wow wrote on Oct 9, 2007 1:51 PM:

" Some of these posts are REALLY scary. I can tell you that it has been upheld by courts that even if the arrest is deemed unlawful by the court you still CANNOT resist the police officer making the arrest(its ok to kill a cop if you dont think you should be arrested?). Mainly because it is not up to the arrestee to make that desision its the courts. Otherwise anyone who did not agree with being arrested would be justified in resisting. For every one out there who does not want the police I would like to know what you are gonna do when the gang is outside your door because with no laws there is anarchy. Compare the taser deaths to use of pepper spray or batton strikes and I bet you find Tasers are lower than the others. But I think some of you dont think police should be able to defend themselfs at all which means they cant defend you when needed either. "

TO: re: Just A Guy: wrote on Oct 9, 2007 1:49 PM:

" In IL, you do not have a right to resist, here's the statute: 720 ILCS 5/7-7 (1998) provides that "[a] person is not authorized to use force to resist arrest which he knows is being made by a peace officer or by a private person summoned and directed by a peace officer to make the arrest, even if he believes that the arrest is unlawful and in fact the arrest is unlawful." Resisting in IL will only get you into more trouble. I don't know what states you refer to in your post but it's not IL. "

Huh wrote on Oct 9, 2007 1:31 PM:

" Explain the difference between dying because of being Tasered VS dying after being Tasered. The end result is the same and the CAUSE is Tasered. Without knowing the medical condition of the recipient it is impossible to say that tasering is safe. Tasering would probably kill me , due to my heart condition. Tasering should be considered deadly force and should only be used to counter deadly force. The student in that video was not exhibiting deadly force. "

GREEEEAT... wrote on Oct 9, 2007 1:26 PM:

" Get ready for a bunch of taser happy cops now!! "

to: dont tase me bro wrote on Oct 9, 2007 12:41 PM:

" i totally agree "

Gryfalia wrote on Oct 9, 2007 11:27 AM:

" Of course, DIGGS isn't spouting, as far as I can tell, any facts at all. 'that's why there has been over 1,300 deaths thats are directly attributable to the use of tasers just in the last year alone.'? Even the Amnesty International report doesn't agree with this joke of a 'statistic'. Amnesty International reported '250 cases in six years in which people died after being stunned with Tasers' and even their methods leave huge wiggle room (it's not 'died because of being Tasered' but 'after being stunned'). So, Diggs, any source for your 'facts' or are you just making it up? "

Julie wrote on Oct 9, 2007 11:27 AM:

" I just hope the police don't use these as a tool of racism. I have had a boyfriend that was tased (before we dated) once. My boyfriend told me the circumstances and I didn't feel that it was justified. "

re: Just A Guy wrote on Oct 9, 2007 11:06 AM:

" Demanding your rights be respected and upheld is not disorderly conduct. He was not drunk. He was not using profanity. He was not threatening. He was making a statement at a political forum where people are allowed to debate and argue controversial subjects. He immediately recognized that his rights were being violated and demanded to know what he was being arrested for, something the officers could not and refused to answer. He had every right to resist this illegal arrest. "

MRS. wrote on Oct 9, 2007 10:55 AM:

" I agree, that kid in Fl. got exactly what he deserved. A question for those against this. Why would you even bother calling the police if you find yourself in a situation where you or your loved one could be harmed? You are much better equiped to talk with a nut than the police. "

Just A Guy wrote on Oct 9, 2007 10:54 AM:

" You can, however, arrest someone for disorderly conduct, which is what the "gentleman" at the Kerry speech devolved into. Plus, when the people running the show say "remove him", then he is to be removed. Watch the full video and you will see. But, I like "simple solutions" answer: don't resist, don't get tasered. "

re: Just a Guy wrote on Oct 9, 2007 10:44 AM:

" “Citizens may resist unlawful arrest to the point of taking an arresting officer's life if necessary.” Plummer v. State “An arrest made with a defective warrant, or one issued without affidavit, or one that fails to allege a crime is within jurisdiction, and one who is being arrested, may resist arrest and break away. lf the arresting officer is killed by one who is so resisting, the killing will be no more than an involuntary manslaughter.” Housh v. People “An illegal arrest is an assault and battery. The person so attempted to be restrained of his liberty has the same right to use force in defending himself as he would in repelling any other assault and battery.” State v. Robinson The initial arrest of this kid was unjust, therefore he had the right to resist. You can't arrest a person who is at a political forum just because you don't like the questions, especially when the Senator was insisting he be allowed to answer the questions. "

Hey Digs... wrote on Oct 9, 2007 10:37 AM:

" What militia are you part of? Join the real world, and good luck with your court cases!!!! "

don't tase me bro! wrote on Oct 9, 2007 10:37 AM:

" Since the police and government already view us as cattle, they might as well have their cattle prods. As for the kid at the Kerry speech, it is a citizens right and duty to resist arrest when the arrest itself is unjust and unconstitutional. "

Simple Solution wrote on Oct 9, 2007 10:36 AM:

" Don't resist & do as you're told = NO TASER!!!! Simple, eh? "

Digs Deeper wrote on Oct 9, 2007 10:12 AM:

" Yeah Right, that's why there has been over 1,300 deaths thats are directly attributable to the use of tasers just in the last year alone. It is called murder to kill another person with out a fair trail, but never mind that as we all know police are not here to protect us but to protect their own personal interests. Not to mention the people that have health conditions. Another perfect example of why we do not trust the police, as they claim to use a non-lethal weapon, but in reality we all know they are very lethal, and could kill the person it is being used on. What ever happened to being tried by a jury of peers, as death results in that right being taken away. it is time to take our nation back from the police state we live in. Revolt stand for your rights, before we as a nation fall for good. "

Luther Billis wrote on Oct 9, 2007 10:05 AM:

" OK, let me be the first to say "Don't tase me, bro!" "

Safe? wrote on Oct 9, 2007 10:02 AM:

" The stats in this article contradict themself. "In the cases reviewed for the study, two people died, but autopsies found neither death was related to use of a Taser" How is a Taser not responsible? "Amnesty International USA had tallied 250 cases in six years in which people died after being stunned with Tasers, but the group didn't track the individual causes of death." Cause of Death: TASERED "According to the manufacturer, Taser International Inc., the devices have been listed as a contributing factor in about 12 deaths" doesn't sound to safe to me. I guess you can say they are safer than shooting someone however, it appears the Police may be more likely to use these even when not confronted by violent confrontration. "

Just A Guy wrote on Oct 9, 2007 9:57 AM:

" So, Amnesty International didn't do all of their homework. They only did the portion that gave them the answer they wanted. As far as the kid in Gainesville, FL, he deserved every volt that was put into him. Watch the video from the news station (the NBC affiliate there), not just the Youtube video and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. "

OK, there it is... wrote on Oct 9, 2007 9:36 AM:

" What would you rather have fired at your mentally defective/coked-up/combative/abusive/violent/unarmed (insert relationship to yourself here)? A Taser or a .40S&W hollowpoint? "

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