General

[WilD]

Just because the police were baited into doing wrong, doesn't make them any less wrong. The thing that bothers me about tazers is that they are a "less lethal" option to firearms but do sometimes cause death. I don't care at all about police protocal or policy (because it is completely irrelevant), but I am offended as a citizen anytime I see them used where the death of the tazered individual wouldn't be justified.

Was this a staged stunt: probably
Was the kid wrong: yes
Were the police wrong: yes

Everyone is wrong in this case so of course it looks bad from every angle.

Also, any time the public is gathered for the purpose of a forum, it is a public forum. As good citizens of a free nation we should always seek to support the free speech of others even if they are uncouth or rowdy. Free speech is meaningless without the ability to voice such speech in public when and where you can. Otherwise, you end up with a society where the average man has no voice and opposing views are easily ignored.

[sdawg]

I still want to hear the answer to the skull and bones question.

Next time John Kerry comes to San Antonio, I'll ask him the same question and report back on how long it took me to be tasered.

BTW - If there's anywhere that freedom of speech must be protected, it's our college campuses.

[Talfuchre]

Originally Posted by Grouch

That has been Kerry's MO for quite some time now! I am sure he was trying to figure out how to shoot himself in the foot so he could get another medal of honor! Thanks for the welcome.

You can hear his voice over the mic in the background telling them to let him speak. What do you want him to do? Jump down and beat the cops back?

I hear you that free speach must be protected on college campuses and I agree... but in the light of Virginia Tech - we are a little jumpy these days.

TF

[Grouch]

Originally Posted by Talfuchre

You can hear his voice over the mic in the background telling them to let him speak. What do you want him to do? Jump down and beat the cops back?

I hear you that free speach must be protected on college campuses and I agree... but in the light of Virginia Tech - we are a little jumpy these days.

TF

That would be nice. I heard him say that he would respond to the question, I just couldn't resist poking at Kerry. BUT, if you think for one second that Kerry would have actually responded to the questions you have to ask yourself, when has he or any politician for that matter answered the question he was asked?

[Shane-O]

OK, I guess I am one of the few around this forum to work in the security/police industry. For anyone that thinks that tasering is "Excessive", what would you do to properly cuff the kid? Are you really sure that 5 cops is all it takes? When someone doesnt want to be cuffed it is extremely hard to do, no matter their build. What would you suggest to do after someone refuses to go along with polite requests? Tasering is the least harmfull of all other alternatives. Pepper spray is longer lasting and affects others around you. Would you rather have them use a baton/night stick? The lowest settings of a taser gun is unpleasant, but not that bad. And most departments are trained to use very low settings. 2 minutes after tasering and your fine. 15 minutes after being pepper sprayed and your still in pain, 3 days after a nightstick your hurting, which do you want.

As others have said, there were rules imposed on the event. He broke them, refused polite requests, refused being removed without resisting, and got a SMALL blast from the taser. I challenge anyone to describe any other way to defuse the situation, with experianced and well thought out information. Come on people think of the alternatives, 10 years ago he would have got the baton strikes to his thighs, there is a bundle of nerves to strike that WILL drop you quickly. Pressure points are to hard to do without lots of practice and experiance. And if you ask me, pressure points hurt worse that tasering (Yes I have had both demonstrated on me). I have only seen people that were trying to make a spectacle, scream when being tased. I couldn't speak or make any noise other than uuuuggggghhhhhh. The fact that he could scream like that shows me that they were using a very low level on the taser.

And its funny to me that he asked to not be tased, but wouldnt let himself be cuffed, he was warned, and he got what he wanted.

[Mar]

he looks like he could have put up a real struggle.

[Talfuchre]

Originally Posted by Grouch

That would be nice. I heard him say that he would respond to the question, I just couldn't resist poking at Kerry. BUT, if you think for one second that Kerry would have actually responded to the questions you have to ask yourself, when has he or any politician for that matter answered the question he was asked?

Cool Grouch. Sorry I didn't see the sarcasm.

And I agree completely - it is like asking someone if they have stopped beating their wife.

I have also heard news reports that he told friends to video his questions because he was going to do something like this.

TF

[Christian Nelson]

Socialist/Fascist two sides of the same coin.

Both like to take away from some and give to others.

Both are tyranical.

Both should be avoided, and loathed at all costs.

Individual liberty, and a constitutionally limited govenrment is the only way mortals can be trusted with authority. And even there, it's barely trusted.

As for this case, sounds like a staged act. The police might have even been in on it.

Video can and has been edited to make things look worse or better since before motion pictures were even available. (The notion that is)

From this video, you can tell parts are edited. What did they contain?

I too would like to hear the answer to the skull & bones question.

[Grouch]

Originally Posted by Mar

http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2007/US/09/18...ser.kid.ap.jpg

he looks like he could have put up a real struggle.

It's the wirery ones you have to watch!

[Grouch]

Originally Posted by Christian Nelson

Socialist/Fascist two sides of the same coin.

Both like to take away from some and give to others.

Individual liberty, and a constitutionally limited govenrment is the only way mortals can be trusted with authority. And even there, it's barely trusted.

Last I checked the country I live in does exactly that, take away from some and give to others. Now you hear talk about federally mandated heath care. Please, the republic and the freedoms it protected has long since eroded. My comment on being a fascist was highlighting the fact that we neither live in a democracy or a republic anymore. Limited government, idividual liberty...where does THAT exist?