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by Suzanne_Marques from Los Angeles

Last Post 21 days, 16 hours Ago


Tasers got almost as much action as Britney Spears in the media this year.  "Don't tase me, bro!"  won the most memorable quote of the year.   Holiday ads aimed at women (pardon the pun) offer personal purple tasers for $299.  (Just $350 with the laser light!)

This week, New Orleans police stunned and pepper-sprayed protesters seeking to halt the demolition of 4,500 public housing units.

Last month, a police officer tased a woman at Best Buy who yelled at her.  The officer suspected her of using a stolen credit card (it later confirmed she wasn't.)

I covered stories in the past about people who later died after being tased multiple times.

Are we getting out of control with taser guns?  Are they a good alternative to other forms of non-lethal force?. 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 12
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mystere read my blog view my photos
Dec 25, 2007 | 4:41 PM

Suzanne,

Great post! I just wonder if it's better to use a pepper spray first, then if there's no response, a bean bag if possible, then the taser. Of course, it's not always possible, especially if the officer doesn't have some of these resources on him or her at the moment. I'll admit that this is a case by case type of situation...I guess the rule of thumb is use the least lethal force as much as needed...If the case warrants deadly force, it warrants it; if the suspect does something dangerous, but not deadly to anyone, the taser will sometimes be the answer, but not always. If someone is foolish enough to provoke the police to use force, he or she will be responsible for the consequences; not the police. By the way, it doesn't matter if the person is drunk or sober...for that person likely chose to get drunk first, if drunk, and if sober, that person should have the sense to not provoke the police.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Suzanne!

Mr. E from Orange County

sebar read my blog view my photos
Dec 25, 2007 | 6:04 PM

Not really Suzanne, in fact they should make the tasers double as potent, in fact I think citizens should be armed if they are law abiding. The criminals have guns, so why should decent people just trying to avoid crime. The woman in question got hostile with an officer. She should have been polite and complied. If she had, she would have had a nice Christmas, so please don't try to justify criminal actions. The law is the law, and if an officer asks a question or tries to control a situation to maintain some semblance of dignity and order, people should comply or risk getting tasered, possibly clubbed or worse yet, shot! In this case the lady was at fault and put the officer, herself and others at risk! Have a great 2008...I will!

American Author, Poet, Songwriter and Filmwriter
"Mark Paul" Sebar
The Power To Write The Best!

craftyguy read my blog
Dec 25, 2007 | 11:56 PM

Tasers are a cops way of saying im a scared bitch..

samo714 read my blog view my photos
Dec 26, 2007 | 1:16 PM

i rather be tazed then hit with a bean bag. but i think mase (iron type) is the best. j/k nah but pepper spray should be used more often rather then a taser. a taser doens't hurt that much, depending on what body part. legs and arms it doenst hurt, just tenses up the muscles. but don't use it on the genitals. my friend did. couldn't pee right for a week. lol.

friends don't let friends taz their balls.

mystere read my blog view my photos
Dec 26, 2007 | 2:39 PM

Samo:

Has your friend been watching Whacked Out Sports or Max X? Sounds like a moment for one of those shows!

The sparks have flown! BZZZZZT! BZZZZZZT!

samo714 read my blog view my photos
Dec 26, 2007 | 4:01 PM

my friend is just dumb and too curious for his own good, but hell it's a free show for me, so i wasn't gonna stop him. lol

jamesryan read my blog view my photos
Dec 27, 2007 | 2:40 PM

DIDN'T BRITNEY SPEARS SISTER GET HIT WITH A TASER?

saromchea read my blog view my photos
Dec 27, 2007 | 3:36 PM

WOW, WHOA!!

Shels_Silver
Dec 27, 2007 | 3:52 PM

i read your column about mutts. do you tetest those whom you do not admire who are employed by ch 11 news? i detest those whom i do not admire. you have experience in news and you put together good packages, do you think too many unqualified people are being hired to work as reporters? could you find a pic without smiling as your ID? i think smiling pics with teeth displayed are for hookers.

Paul_D read my blog
Dec 27, 2007 | 4:18 PM

Hey Suzanne, do you think the qualifications for being a TV reporter should be higher than for being a reporter in a smaller market? while the competition for jobs ought to bring the most talented reporters to the big cities, if you had to choose three reporters to fire from ch 11 news because you wanted to hire three better reporters, could you make a decision within 24 hours? what criteria would you use to make your decision. you cannot respond by ignoring the request so be fair and help us decide which three have to go. Your job is safe. Viewers like you.

Al_Kaplan read my blog
Dec 27, 2007 | 5:16 PM

Let's make this easy for our management trainee. Lauren and Maria will be leaving. should we fire one other for either of these two reasons?: 1. speech impediment 2. poor grammar . viewers want reporters who are smart, speak without an accent, use proper english grammar. do we have an obligation to keep a reporter because of her race? choices have to be made and we are not choosing to fire because of race, sex, age or any other civil rights protection. do you have any concern with our using grammar or accent in making a decision?

Suzanne_Marques read my blog view my photos
Dec 29, 2007 | 7:23 PM

I thought I was on another thread for a moment. Let's take it back to tasers!
I'm not against protection. I've taken self-defense classes & carry pepper spray... so watch out! kidding.. but carrying a taser seems more serious to me.
You can buy a taser without receiving training. Is that a good thing? Here in Cali, I've seen plenty of road rage & lots of people losing their patience in public. What if somebody were to go too far and tase someone because they were mad at them?
I could pose the same question with pepper spray, but I don't see them sold in flashy colors. I guess it makes me nervous because it seems tasing isn't taken that seriously. Like Samo, I know people who've been tased just to see how it feels. I don't hear about the same with pepper spray!
People chuckle a bit when talking about tasing, kind of like paintball guns. Paintballs can't stop your heart though.
Ok, I typed this quickly.. I'm heading out on a story... but thanks for everyone's opinions & holiday wishes!

btw, I'd rather be handcuffed than tased!

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Suzanne_Marques

Suzanne Marques is a native Southlander. She loves reporting in her hometown. She loves LA... She loves it!

Member Since: 7/18/2006