Don't tase me either, bro

Hmmm... — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 17:26:51 GMT

Of course, it's hard to tell from a short clip – but I question whether that's a video of an IED or not. The amount of material that was moved indicates it was buried quite deep. Also, the cracking pavement shows it's location was underneath the pavement. If that was a real attempt to harm our troops, then the insurgent went to extraordinary lengths (deep burial and road repair) which “nerfed” the power of the bomb.

To me it seems more like a case of unexploded munitions that the Iraqis had inadvertently paved over. Perhaps the speed and weight of the US convoy was sufficient to make the long dormant munition detonate. In any case, I'm glad no one was hurt!

Don't tase me either, bro

Lynette, Wichita, KS — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:52:54 GMT

Visit some of the military websites or Michael Yon's Blog and the first thing you will learn is that IED's can be enormous and buried under highways. This has been one of the issues with the military. The work done to bury these explosives is major and the local populace has to be aware of them, but do not inform the local police or the Military. This one is real.

Don't tase me either, bro

rdherric, Rochester, NY — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:28:24 GMT

As much as I hate to do this... Has Michael Roston never heard of grading on a curve? When I was a student (both undergrad and grad), there were classes in which a 71 would constitute an A. Those were chemistry courses, but I can't believe that Econ would not be graded on a curve as well.

Don't tase me either, bro

Michael Kent Oh — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:28:45 GMT

I dont agree. I used to work for Caltrans and we used explosives in seismic surveys. We would put sandwich bag of ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel in a three foot hole and set it off. The kind of buckling of the ground is consistent with what we saw on a larger scale. If you think about it,the IED HAS to be under the road or it does not do a lot of good. There are several ways they could have done it. They could have dug a hole from the side of the road,but that would take some effort. Its hard to see the quality of the road in the video,but you can imagine if you could find a cracked part,you could remove a chunk,bury your bomb and then put the piece back and it wouldn't look any different than the rest of the road. Its speculation,but that would certainly do the job. As for "nerfing the power of the bomb",anything like a Humvee driving over that would be in bad shape. Anything like those new armored vehicles or larger still wouldn't be driving after going over that. It would be on its back or side. Anything with a soft belly is going to be in really bad shape. As the explosion first starts road will be thrown up at a very high rate of speed. Those soldiers were very lucky.

Don't tase me either, bro

Abby Normal — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:26:27 GMT

I'm of mixed feelings about the ray gun, or pain gun, as I tend to think of it. I can see its benefits in the right circumstances. But the potential for abuse is truly terrifying. Maybe it’s time to get a tin-foil suit to go with my hat.

Don't tase me either, bro

coluzzi — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:28:02 GMT

Tasers are nasty and do seem to be used more frequently per detainee and per incident than a law enforcment officer would scream, use their fist, or a billie stick or gun. The incident seemed excessive to me. The woman appeared afraid and tried to run away from pain.

Don't tase me either, bro

tony gallucci — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 22:56:35 GMT

Will,

i haven't read all the links etc, and i hesitate somewhat to bring this up, but . . .

tasers and other non-lethal devices were sold originally on the idea of disarming folks in what normally could escalate to lethal situations (knife-wielding crazies, drugs trips gone bad).

the problem is the proliferation of uses of tasers in situations where a police gun never would have been drawn to begin with -- as in the Kerry speech situation. it seems that an awful lot are used simply to save a bit of physicality. i think a case could be made that use of the things has increased the number of injuries overall, simply because of their ubiquitous use. and of course we see the abusive end of that in publicly posted vids.

Don't tase me either, bro

Jake Bechtel, Newport News, VA — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 03:14:00 GMT

I need to preface this with the fact I'm in the Army and find the use of force a necessity in my line of work, which is perhaps an understatement.

On the "tasing" incident most recently in the news. I have only now seen a video which starts at the beginning of the questions being asked.

I have to say this tasing was a HORRIBLE implementation of the use of force. Starting with one basic premise, that a taser is used to limit the risk of serious injury the other options available to the security should have been used.

There were no less than 4 officers in use. One officer per limb would have made it very easy to put on the handcuffs. This would have been a much easier use of force, and get him much less air time than using a device on him which is DESIGNED to cause pain and lose of voluntary muscle control.

His actions were objectionable, but his questions were NOT laced with profanity as the campus security suggest was their reason for arresting him. He used one word which, strictly speaking, is a slang term not profanity. He did not drop the "F-Bomb" until after the security were asked to escort him out. But you wouldn't know that by reading their report.

Additionally, when reading the report it paints him as not resisting, but fighting or assaulting the security. Lets assume he was elbowing and shoving the security. Was he using a weapon? They outnumbered him by 4 to 1. What kind of threat was he really? Now we watch the video and we see someone who is jumping up and down, twisting and turning and pulling his arms free of security. I wouldn't describe his actions the same way as security did, but perhaps the excitement of the situation influenced their perception, just as many eyewitness experiences differ significantly from what a video of the event would show.

Should all of the officers be punished for inappropriate use of force, perhaps although I would say only lightly. The exception being the officer in charge who being in a position to see they had several officers at his disposal, knowing this is being videotaped, perhaps should have known to simply overpower the person and remove them, rather than use the "easy" way to taser him. Maybe that leader shouldn't be punished, but put back into a more subordinate position whose responsibilities are more commensurate to their now demonstrated judgment making abilities.

Don't tase me either, bro

Julie H — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 04:26:19 GMT

Local (online) headline today "Springfield (IL) man Tasered, arrested during drug raid." This is probably not the first time it's happened - or maybe it is - but it's the first time I've seen it in the news here.
Very apt though since at one time we were the electro-shock capitol of the world, so I'm told.

Don't tase me either, bro

ryan — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:44:52 GMT

on tasers today in maine a man who went against court order holed up in girls house cops at bay cops approach house to give him cell phone with good battery so as to keep trying to talk him out. Turns out they decide instead to taiz bro the knife wielding man now taised supposedly he continues toward the officer who shoots him not once not twice but three times they claim he was armed man is dead now

Don't tase me either, bro

ryan — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:47:05 GMT

why is the electric chair not being used any more? Oh yeah inhumane taise and then shoot someone is morbidly wrong and inhumane

Don't tase me either, bro

Ann Hamilton — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:55:22 GMT

Why does it matter if it is being taped, Officers should have the right to protect the public and theirselves. Maybe years of proven facts to Supervisors has made this IN Charge Officer willing to keep his Officers safe. I do not believe they were their to bully but keep him or anyone else from bullying.Paying the price for keeping the peace. Too Late to talk now, Glad they were there to take action, what if the bully kept going? Really think about that.

Don't tase me either, bro

A.G. Pym — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:52:42 GMT

The reason it's important to find and publicize all these incidents of egregious Taser use is that they highlight the growing militancy of police and the even-more-quickly-growing misuse of force and intimidation on the part of (seemingly) all government entities with authorization to use overwhelming force at any time for any reason (i.e., "SWAT" teams' violent entries, often resulting in injury, death, property damage, etc.). Radley Balko, in his blog "The Agitator" (http://www.theagitator.com) and in his articles for Reason Magazine and other news outlets has chronicled these types of assaults well.

Tasers just make it that much easier for bad authority figures to feel OK with using force against anyone at any time because, after all, "It's non-lethal. Mostly."

Don't tase me either, bro

Jake B — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 01:58:05 GMT

It matters that it was being taped as he was a known attention seeker. At least that is how he is being painted.

So he kept his officers safe prior to this event. But at what price? By using inappropriate, or maybe even excessive levels of force?

So the appropriate response to "bullying" speech is force? I thought the right to express oneself ended where your fist impacted their nose, not when it hurt their feelings.

Oh your right what if the big bad bully kept talking. Why he might just have embarrassed a political candidate. Oh my, the horror. Perhaps we should ensure these officers start visiting some newspaper offices before some reporter or editor embarrasses some other politician.

Watch the video and then tell me who turned a verbal exchange into a physical confrontation.

Don't tase me either, bro

Justin, Washington DC — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:00:06 GMT

I completely disagree with the economic article on how depreciating the dollar only hurts America. There was a reason he doesn't mention trade imbalances, interest rates, and the recent housing trouble. That is because it doesn't support his flawed arguement.

Don't tase me either, bro

Steve Duggins SLC Utah — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:03:15 GMT

I want one

Don't tase me either, bro

Summer, Seattle, WA — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:38:57 GMT

Go Jerry Sanders! That took a lot of courage and I am so touched by his statement. Definitely teared up on that one :) Every once in a while, just when you think politics are so irrevocably screwed up, one politician will stand up and make you realize, hey, yeah, they ARE human!