Mission Statement - De-Spinning the Pro-Taser Propaganda

Yeah right, 'Excited Delirium' my ass...

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The primary purpose of this blog is to provide an outlet for my observations and analysis about tasers, taser "associated" deaths, and the behaviour exhibited by the management, employees and minions of Taser International. In general, everything is linked back to external sources, often via previous posts on the same topic, so that readers can fact-check to their heart's content. This blog was started in late-2007 when Canadians were enraged by the taser death of Robert Dziekanski and four others in a short three month period. The cocky attitude exhibited by the Taser International spokespuppet, and his preposterous proposal that Mr. Dziekanski coincidentally died of "excited delirium" at the time of his taser-death, led me to choose the blog name I did and provides my motivation. I have zero financial ties to this issue.



Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Real world limits from 9th Circuit decision

"A California court stated in a 3-0 ruling that the tasers should only be used in times of extreme danger when the officer has fear of being harmed by the suspect. ..." [LINK]

I've written it before and it's worth mentioning again.

If a police officer is actually in danger, keyword ACTUALLY, then there's little moral hazard in him using any available response.

Unfortunately, some police have been incredibly badly trained. I've read news reports where they claimed that the subject's "clenched teeth" represented a threat, when in fact it more often is body language for simple frustration. Exact same thing applies to "clenched fists" at the end of rigidly straight arms => more likely it's simple frustration.

You only need to look at the many famous taser incidents on YouTube to see that tasers have been commonly used outside these (new) guidelines. From back talking speeders, to "Don't tase me bro", to 14-year-old little girls, to 82-year old men, to 10-year-old bath time reluctance, to grumpy old ladies, etc., etc., etc.

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