Revisit: Taser - It’s More Lethal Than You Think

“VANCOUVER — A Canadian man died Saturday, four days after police used a Taser stun-gun on him because he reportedly was acting erratically in a store, police said. He was the third person to die in recent weeks in Canada after being shocked by the hand-held weapon.Robert Knipstrom, 36, died in a hospital after two officers used pepper spray, a Taser and their batons to subdue the British Columbia resident. Police earlier said Knipstrom was extremely agitated, aggressive and combative with the two officers who responded. He was conscious and speaking when he was taken to the hospital.” (Link)

If you still need convincing that the Police Officer in this article I posted earlier in the week was in the wrong, this is it. Tasers are a violent weapon that need to be used, within their limits. I agree that in some cases a taser is very much warranted. And in the case of the man who was aggressive towards the police officers, I cannot say whether or not the use of a taser was justifiable. I was not there, nor do I know the severity of the aggression.

However, the point is tasers are marketed as non-lethal alternatives to guns. This is obviously not the case. When people start dying after being tasered, it should become apparent that there is a problem. Perhaps the voltage is too high, or perhaps the police officers are not being properly training in taser use.

I see tasers being marked as “lethal alternatives to guns” in the very near future.

-Justin