The American Spectator

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(Page 6 of 12)

Nathan S. Lord /p>

Shawn Macomber's incarceration experience at the Republican convention has placed him among the rarest of political types, a conservative mugged by reality. I think it is only a matter of time until he moves over to the dark side.

As to Tasers, with the exception of the loudmouthed 14 year old, whose zapping might be justifiable as a long-term behavior modification approach, I agree with Shawn that his examples show the cops seem to have gone overboard with their new toys.

I suspect the crux of the problem is that because the Taser apparently leaves no lasting injury or damage, some policemen have decided that its use fits the definition of minimal necessary application of force in cases where it is plainly far more than the minimum. Rather than futilely trying to define every circumstance where a Taser can and cannot be used, the simple solution is to administratively treat each discharge of a Taser as the discharge of a firearm.

p>Once they grasp the consequences of firing a Taser -- being pulled off active duty, investigated and face with a mound of paperwork -- the use of it should taper down to what is roughly appropriate. br> -- Glen Hoffing br> Shamong, New Jersey /p>

Back when I was patrolling the streets of Hillsborough County (Tampa), almost forty years ago, we had three options for handling a violent confrontation: the pistol, the baton, or going hand-to-hand. There were problems with all three methods. Avoid smacking a guy with the baton by wrestling him down, and he (or a bystander) registers a beef of "brutality." When chemical sprays came into vogue, they gave the officer another tool for restraining combative suspects without risking breaking bones with the baton or reaching for the sidearm.

So it is with electric stun-guns ("Taser" is a specific brand, which uses compressed air to fire tiny, wire-trailing darts into the suspect's skin). The electric current is a neural "interrupter," which renders the subject incapable of muscle control. He collapses and is then restrained. Such devices help keep less-than-lethal confrontations less than lethal. They defuse situations before they can turn ugly -- without doing serious harm.

p>As for the girl "throwing a fit" in back seat: yes, the officer(s) could have let her tire herself -- and have been sued for negligently allowing her to do harm to herself. A hysterical kid, even if handcuffed, can wreak impressive damage upon herself by slamming her face into hard surfaces -- it's a police car, not a "rubber room." Physically restraining her involves not just the risk of being bitten, but the seemingly-inevitable complaints of "sexual misconduct." Damned if you do …

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