Is it ok for the police to use tasers?

I am not sure. While there are undoubtedly many bad situations in confrontations with the police, it seems to me that a taser is really much the same as an electronic whip - useful pain technique - meant for the public. Is that really neccesary?

It is a close-up weapen - is it really neccesary when there are a number of police in the spot?
Will it be used in interrogation as well, eventually?
Will it be used in hate-crimes by the police - what I mean is, is it an unneccesary temptation?

Is it ok in this situation?

This begs the question: When is it neccesary to use a taser?

1) To subdue a dangerous criminal?

This woman was definitly a threat as she was speeding in a school area, and should be taught better - as is weirdly enough the case with many parents driving their kids to school, at least here. Apparently the children of other people do not matter to them!!

But this threat stopped when the car was stopped, and the question remains if she was a threat to the police. Hardly!

2) To force people to obey.

The nature of the crime, to refuse to sign, makes this use of force way over the top, as I see it. Surely you can contact her in her home later, and make the fine or whatever all the bigger for refusing to sign the ticket. I would be in favour of a prison sentence for such a behaviour behind a wheel, but not a taser just to get her out of the car.



Do the police generally use excessive force? (hand cuffing children etc.)


I find that hard to have an opinion on myself, as you only hear about (some of) the situations where excessive force is used, for instance when someone dies or sustains permanent damage. All the other situations you hear nothing about. I think it depends very much of the leadership of the police, and the present political and econimical climate. At least, that is a factor here.