Study Suggests Taser Use By US Police Is Safe

[Psycho4Bud]

A US study of the nationwide use of Tasers, the electrical stun guns used by the police, suggests the devices are safe and cause only a low incidence of serious injuries.

The independent prospective study was carried out by emergency medicine researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and was presented at the American College of Emergency Physicians' Research Forum in Seattle, Washington, yesterday, 8th October. The study was funded by the National Institute of Justice. Researchers from Louisiana State University, Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia, and University Medical Center, Nevada, also contributed to the study.

Tasers are used by many law enforcement officers throughout the US and have been credited with leading to a lower rate of injuries and deaths among police officers and suspects in incidents where police use of force is involved. However, their use is regarded as controversial in many quarters.
Study Suggests Taser Use By US Police Is Safe

I find this report to be "shocking".

Have a good one!:s4:

Psycho4Bud Reviewed by Psycho4Bud on 10-09-2007. Study Suggests Taser Use By US Police Is Safe A US study of the nationwide use of Tasers, the electrical stun guns used by the police, suggests the devices are safe and cause only a low incidence of serious injuries. The independent prospective study was carried out by emergency medicine researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and was presented at the American College of Emergency Physicians' Research Forum in Seattle, Washington, yesterday, 8th October. The study was funded by the National Institute of Justice. Rating: 5

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Yes P4B, but may I make some.... shocking points? (you've started a corny-joke trend, there's no escaping it!)

I agree 100% that cops should be armed with tazers, I mean it beats bullets after all. But we definately need to do something about how trigger-happy they seem to be getting with them lately. I remember a few years back when cops tazered a 6 year old girl at her school! Their excuse was that she wouldn't calm down, they couldn't get a hold of her, etc etc etc... but really, you're telling me grown men trained with physical restraint moves can't restrain a 6 year old?:wtf:

It's not really about that one girl though, it's their general attitude. Everytime I see a national news story about a controversial tazering, I see the cops struggle with the suspect for all of 5 seconds before whipping out the voltage. I think these guys need a lot more emphasis in their training on learning how to physically restrian somebody, and not give up on such so quickly.
Believe me it aint impossible; I have minimal training in Judo and Aikido (both of which have moves taught to police), all my friends are stronger than me and with healthy spines (unlike me). Still every time we wrestle I can pin them within 20 seconds and have them tapping out for mercy. I'm not all that skilled and I'm not all that strong, I just have a decent understanding of leverage; and I guarantee the cops do (or should!) have better training than I.


Also while tazers may be "safe" for the average person, I wonder how they'd fare on somebody with an unknown heart condition. In fact, I look perfectly healthy and I cop would undoubtedly have no qualms tazering me. I find that particularily disturbing considering that if I had an argument with some gung-ho cop, they'd see some healthy-looking 22 year old and probably whip it out without hesitation. In which case, I dread to think what would happen to my already heavily damaged central nervous system. People like me shouldn't have to worry about that because cops are tired of putting in an effort, and I think overal people with invisible health conditions should be a major concern.

[mctokin]

Well gandolf not to sound like an ass, but why not just cooperate with the police officer, and avoid that situation all together?

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Well gandolf not to sound like an ass, but why not just cooperate with the police officer, and avoid that situation all together?

lol what is it with everybody spelling my name with an "O"?


I agree, I would cooperate with the officer. But the point stands, not everybody is so reasonable, sane, or mature as you or I. Police will undoubtedly come across individuals who are mentally unstable, under the influence of some powerful drug, or in a terrible emotional state from whatever happened to them earlier. Or what if it was just a protestor giving passive resistance? That's actually the toughest type of resistance!
If the police can restrain somebody physically, especially somebody physically weaker than them, they should put in a solid effort first. All I'm saying is that if they tazered someone like me, they would cause permanent damage and excrutiating pain. The key to my point isn't banning tazers, it's learning to suppress that trigger-finger itch.

[Markass]

I'm rather confused...

TASER Danger?, 70 Deaths After Use Of Stun Gun Lead To Questions Over Its Safety - CBS News

this is not the only link I found relating tasering and death...when the stupid prick cops sit there and keep shocking you and shocking you, no, they're not safe...and honestly, I think they find it kinda cool...not to mention if they're a cop they apparently love having power and control over others...yes a safe resort to bullets...but bullets are only supposed to be used to protect an officer's life in the first place..