S. law enforcement agencies deploy the weapon. Although the manufacturers of the dart-firing electro-shock weapons insist that Tasers are a useful non-lethal replacement for firearms that save lives, its unchecked use by the police and a number of deaths purportedly caused by the weapon has put a question mark against its efficacy. As we saw in this essay, Tasers are far from "non-lethal," they are not always used as replacement for a lethal weapon, are over-used by trigger-happy law enforcers, causes severe pain, and can be used as a torture weapon. Its unchecked and increasing use in law enforcement needs a serious review.
Works Cited
Budnick, Nick. "Is the Portland Police Bureau going TASER CRAZY?" Willamette Week online. February 4, 2004. November 25, 2006. http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3014/4795/
Excessive and lethal force?" Amnesty International. November 30, 2004. November 25, 2006. http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/AMR511392004ENGLISH/$File/AMR5113904.pdf
Feds Probe Stun Gun Deaths." CBS News. June 14, 2006. November 25, 2006. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/14/national/main1713614.shtml
Keays, Alan J. "Shocked by the shot." Times Argus. January 15, 2006. November 25, 2006. http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060115/NEWS/601150381/1002/NEWS01
Ripple, Amy C. "TASER Works, so its use increases." Orlando Sentinel. July 29, 2002.
Sturcke, James and Rosalind Ryan. "Police stun-gun may be lethal, firm admits." Guardian Unlimited. October 3, 2005. November 25, 2006. http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,2763,1583867,00.html
TASER (pseudonym for Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle) is actually the brand name for stun guns manufactured by Taser International, an Arizona-based company;it has become a common name for all stun guns because an overwhelming majority of such weapons are made by TASER International.
The Taser can be used in two modes: a) "the dart firing mode" in which the gun can be fired from a distance of up to 21 feet; b) "the touch stun mode" in which the Taser is used by touching a person on parts of the body
M26 and X26 are the two new generation Taser models currently in use
Taser International also claims that its devices have saved more than 9,000 lives since they were put to use because police officers have been able to the weapon instead of handguns that fire bullets
Tasers
Technology and Law Enforcement The field of law enforcement has been one of the most challenging fields from the historical time yet it is a department that cannot be wished away as long as the society has to remain sane and civilised. The only option is to persistently and consistently update law enforcement and equip it in order to cary out the respective duties and responsibilities that it should in order
During the 1960's and 1970's, violent contact with the police, resulting in force occurred during anti-war, labor and civil rights demonstrations, during a politically tumultuous time. It is safe to conclude that excessive force was used during these clashes. Deaths and injuries were the results of political clashes at the Republican Convention in Chicago, during campus riots held at several universities, during political demonstrations held in public places and in
Furthermore, in this game of "cat and mouse," the law enforcement officers being the cat, they have to think and act in the way that criminals do in order to catch them- officers need to anticipate criminal actions. By doing this, officers need to be "at one" with criminals thus making criminals and officers to employ very similar ways of thinking. Thinking and operating in the same manner and
..." And notes as well Taser use in: "...deployment against very young people, older suspects, and the number of times the Taser is used." (White and Ready, 2007) These do not fall within appropriate Taser use recommendations. It is concluded that when Tasers are used against subject that immediate emergency room care should be ensured. This study includes in the findings that there is a great need for empirical research
TASER Inc. specializes in the manufacturing of stun guns that have often been used by law enforcement agencies in their daily work. However the media has criticized Taser and the use of stun guns has generally been disapproved because it basically leaves a person numb for a while thus making it impossible for the person to take any action. This has been criticized for various reasons and the use by
Tasers can also not be used in the diffusion of tension as well as quelling anti- social behavior in case of large crowds of individuals who are present in demonstrations and riots (NSW Police Association,2007). Discussions A review of literature indicates that there are more benefits to the use of Tasers as compared to the disadvantages. This is because Tasers enhance the level of officer and suspect safety. This is because they
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