Questions have been swirling around whether Taser's are safe and whether police forces should be allowed to continue using them. This continued debate initiated an inquiry by the RCMP complaints commissioner.
A main recommendation of the inquiry is to reclassify tasers as prohibited firearms taking them out of the prohibited weapons category. I couldn't agree more. In fact, I personally believe and hope that taser use would be discontinued all together, but this is a good first step in my books.
The reclassification of tasers into the firearms category increases the liability of a police officer if they were to use the taser. The liability would be equivalent to the liability a police officer has now if they were to draw their gun. Also, more training, reporting, and certifications would go along with this transition.
This increased liability and responsibility is paramount since a considerable number of civilians have died after being tasered. A death that drew extensive media coverage was that of Robert Dziekanski, a polish immigrant, who passed away in October after he was repeatedly zapped with a taser gun by RCMP at Vancouver Airport. This event stirred controversy as the incident was caught on camera. Moreover, this video didn't show Robert Dziekanski being "combative" or "resistant" (discretion? what's that?).
Just recently, a man in Simcoe died shortly after he was tasered. OPP claim that they were confronted by "a combative male party" in the June 24th issue of the KW Record. So far in Canada, at least 20 people are known to have died after they were tasered.
All this proves to me is that tasers are not the so called "non-lethal alternative" to a gun as many police forces boasted when they were first released for use. The inquiry suggests that police don't appreciate the pain inflicted by tasers. Furthermore, Dirk Ryneveld, the B.C. police complaint commissioner, argues that "the taser has become a tool of convenience." I believe this statement to be completely legitimate.
Instead of exercising discretion, I believe police are automatically reaching for tasers to subdue these so called ‘combative and resistant’ civilians while tasering them into oblivion. It’s obvious to me that these stun guns are extremely dangerous and I am dumbfounded as to why their use has not been discontinued as the number of deaths continue to mount.
While a discontinuation may seem extreme to some, the math seems pretty simple to me. Rising issues + unresolved problems + numerous deaths = (?)
I’ve made up my mind - a decision I'd like to live with.
Until next time
Sources for this blog provided by:
KW Record, Tuesday June 24, 2008. "Man dies after OPP use Taser on him" pg. A3
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/06/25/bc-more-taser-testing.html
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I cannot believe that after these several reported deaths due to taser usage, they haven't already reclassified it as a firearm! I'm happy to see them taking these steps, as they obviously are quite necessary. I remember watching that video taken in the Vancouver airport, where that polish immigrant was killed. I was completely unaware that twenty people have died so far in Canada because of taser gun usage! Twenty! I would be happy to see its use banned now too!
Thanks for the comment. The taser hasn't been banned after the deaths because the taser was never "listed" as the cause of death. But all of these 20-something deaths occurred after a taser was used on these people.
There was a (as in 1) case where the taser was listed as the cause of death. The manufacturer of tasers took the medical examiner who made the report to court. It resulted in the manufactureres winning and the taser being removed from the coroner's report as the cause of death.
Thanks for reading.
I agree with apprehensiveness towards tasers. With their increased use there definitely needs to be a strong emphasis on caution and proper use of force. However, I completely disagree that they should be banned. Furthermore, reclassifying them as firearms wouldn’t lead to their disuse. In fact it probably wouldn’t have any effect what-so-ever.
Tasers have killed people, and the fact that they’re not linked to a single death is questionable. Yet, the VAST majority of people who have died from being tased have been under the influence of drugs – primarily cocaine. Forgive me for my cold-heartedness but I don’t feel too much sympathy for cocaine users who find themselves in trouble with the law. Moreover, the behaviour of people under the influence of drugs and alcohol is less predictable which automatically increases the risk that the person in question represents.
I would argue that tasers may save many lives. I was a customs officer for 4 years – a profession despised by most of the cross border travelling public – me included. Yet, during my years there, tasers would have definitely been useful. For the protection of the person being tased as well as the officers involved. Officers are instructed not to even use their batons unless they feel they’re in a position of death or grievous bodily harm. My last 2 months with the CBSA was during the implementation of equipping customs officers with firearms. This is where the taser argument falls flat. People who want to ban tasers don’t realize that the alternative to tasers is firing a gun at the person, and you do not fire a gun unless you’re aiming to kill. Although, tasers have killed, or aided in the process, they are certainly a less lethal alternative to guns. I find the public at large very quick to point the finger and comment on how bad things are but really don’t realize what it’s like to have a job where you could possibly have to worry for your own personal safety. Sure, it’s part of the job and should be expected, but at the end of the day these people just want to make it back home to their families. If someone is coming at you with a knife or something worse, most people would take whatever action necessary to remove that threat. In almost all cases it’s a split second decision, and in that split second if an officer chooses a less lethal method of subduing the attacker, then good on them.
Although, I still believe you make a very good point about excessive use of force. I’ve seen the video’s too. From all of my previous training, the officer(s) involved were way over their limits as far as use of force. They had other alternatives like pepper spray, their batons, or officer presence, if the man was unarmed. More training needs to be put into officers receiving tasers and stricter punishments for excessive force should be more forthcoming. There tends to be unreasonable protection within the system to protect the officers. I find policing of any sort also tends to attract aggressive personalities which might exacerbate the problem. However that’s an issue that can’t be fixed.
Tasers are a contentious issue. But less emphasis should be placed on the tasers themselves and more on the officers operating them. Stricter punishment, more detailed paperwork and analysis following the event need to be seen. Most importantly, emphasis should be put on training. Solid training goes a long way and should be the focus of the taser controversy, since they are a relatively new tool in policing.
What else would have been the cause of death in these incidences?! That frustrates me to know end. Thank goodness there's some action at least being taken on this. I've never been tasered (...) but I can only imagine the pain the shock would give. As an MTV junkie, I was watching a show on the channel where one of the hosts was tasered as an experiment. It knocked her to the ground. Why do the officers feel the need to continue shocking the "criminal" or whatever he/she may be? If one blast of the darn thing can put someone in so much pain, there is no need to continue shocking them. If they aren't holding a weapon in their hand, how big of a threat are they?
I agree with Steve and I don't think tasers should be completely banned. But I do think training and education of the officers who operate the tasers is where the problem lies. I think there should also be (stricter) punishment for the officers that go overboard with the power they hold in their hands.
I totally agree with you Jess. I think that Tasers are such a dangerous weapon that are often used improperly and that often result in serious harm to those who get Tasered.
For them to reclassify the Taser as a prohibited firearms category would be a step in the right direction. I agree that it would be even better if their use was totally prohibited but restricting it and making police officers more accountable for its use is a good start. I’ve always felt that police needed more training in the use of Tasers and need to report using it just like they have to when they fire their guns.
Hopefully holding police accountable would limit the use of Tasers but I would still be much happier if they weren’t able to use them at all. These weapons are not a better “non-lethal alternative” to the firearms. Even though they do provide another option for police I believe that their misuse and the numerous deaths that they have caused warrant their restricted use.
Post a Comment