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Taser Robbery

whats up with tasers?

Taser manufacturers, suppliers and police routinely refer to tasers as "non-lethal force" (just one ex. http://www.taser.org/ ). On the other hand, citizens who have used a taser (one example to be found here: http://www.mymurrieta.com/serendipity/index.php?/archives/236-Assault-Attempted-Robbery-on-Los-Alamos.html ) have been charged with assault with a deadly weapon. I'm not sure how to explain the discrepancy. The U.N. has listed tasers as a form of torture and many people have been killed by tasers. So, are tasers deadly weapons or simply non-lethal tools of law enforcement? Also, if they are (or may be) in fact deadly then why isn't their use by law enforcement regulated as strictly as firearms? I'm looking for real answers to these questions and not an argument or an attitude. Law enforcement people please let me know and others please give me your opinion too. Thanx

Statistically, tasers injure suspects only 2% of the time. Most of these injuries are due to falling. By comparison, fighting hands on with an officer results in the suspect being injured 55% of the time, and with the baton, the suspect goes to the hospital 80% of the time. That may not be perfect, but a 98% sucess rate is much better than the alternatives.

As far as the teens being charged with a deadly weapon, this could be due to the fact they tased the facial area. That is not taught, nor is it done as a matter of practice by police. I can see where this would complicate things. In addition, look at the intent. The police intent is to control. Their intent was to commit a felony robbery.

As far as the UN calling them torture, that could be correct, but again, it goes to intent. A toothpick could be a torture device if you shove it under a fingernail.

As far as them being deadly, I totally disagree. I have not seen one autopsy where the taser was the only factor in the death. Most are drug overdose, some are heart problems, but all have some other contributing factor.

Look at the Vancouver airport incident with the Polish man... did the taser stop his heart, or did the stress from his outburst stop his heart? If the taser was responsible, don't you think death would have been immediate? He died 10 hours later. He was extremely agitated, how much stress did that put on him?

Tens of thousands of officers have been tased, and none of them died. If the taser was capable of death, don't you think at least a few would be victim?

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