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Idea to send: |
| Topic | Domestic Security |
| Content | The most recent death of a Polish man in Vancouver's airport, after being tasered by police, marks only the most recent in a seemingly now-common occurrence that has left more than 70 people dead. Just Google the phrase "taser deaths", or search for it on Youtube to see many examples of actual horrifying footage. The taser has become many police officers' FIRST option, and many, as you can see in most of the footage on youtube, use it LIBERALLY, even when the circumstances don't call for such a level of force. The reason being is that they believe it is harmless, and since the victim recovers quickly afterward, they see no harm in repeatedly tasering even mildly non-compliant and unarmed suspects.
The problem with this is that many of these suspects are being tasered to death. Some have heart conditions, others are just in too poor health to surived the repeated shocks. With other non-lethal options at their disposal, such as batons, rubber bullets, pepper spray, threat of deadly force with a firearm, numbers, and plain old manpower, police should be more conservative with their use of the taser and in the circumstances that justify its use.
Police should be held more accountable for even non-lethal confrontations in which tasers are used. They should have to count how many jolts are used, just as they have to count and justify every bullet that is fired from their guns.
It should NOT be legal to use a taser on an unarmed suspect when three or more officers are present, and obviously capable of subduing said suspect with alternate means.
Will it take an Oklahoma citizen being killed before we pay attention? |
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