Law enforcement officers have searched for an effective non-lethal technique to control unruly teenagers and criminals that are noncompliant with the law; as a result, police officers resorted to the use of non-lethal force--Tasers. Tasers and stun guns are very similar to one another. Tasers are thought to be a non-lethal alternative to firearms, but in actuality, it has caused more deaths in teenagers than the use of batons and pepper spray which are also another non-lethal alternative to firearms. Law enforcement officers often use Tasers on troubled teenagers when teenagers often pose a threat to themselves or to others around them. Police officers believe that Tasers will control these unruly teenagers causing no harm to the human body. Tasers were invented in 1969 by an Apollo Moon landing scientist named John Cover. Taser International is the only manufacturer of Taser guns. Tasers are hand-held devices that law enforcement officers began to use in the 1990s. Tasers discharge two thin wires with probes attached to it (Plouffe Jr., 2009). Once the probes are in contact with the person’s clothing or body, it penetrates electricity, debilitating the human body by minimizing muscular activity (Nanthakumar, 2008). The Taser delivers an electrical impulse of 50,000 volts through the discharged wires. Once the probes are darted in the human body, it results in immediate loss of the individual’s neuromuscular control and ability to perform coordinated movements for the duration of five seconds of electrical shock (“United States of,” 2004). As of 2007, Amnesty International USA, states that there has been an estimate of 250 deaths due to the fact that law enforcement officers are resorting to the use of Tasers (Plouffe...
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...s is unregulated and law enforcement officers are resorting to the use of Tasers too quickly. It is not necessary for school officers in Florida to use non-lethal weapons such as Tasers on teenagers. Unless it is a death threatening situation, Tasers on teenagers should be avoided or banned from Florida schools. Even though officers are trying to avoid using lethal force on criminals, the use of Tasers is very dangerous and can be as lethal. Officers have been trained to use non-lethal alternatives to subdue criminals. There have been more deaths related incidents due to criminal being tasered by police officers than the use of batons or pepper spray on teenagers. More and more teenage deaths are occurring in the United States and around the world due to the misuse of these high-powered high-voltage Taser stun guns. Tasers in Florida schools are unnecessary.
All agencies that equip their officers with Tasers properly train their personnel as well as have it in their use of force continuum. Mr. Bryan was stopped for a seatbelt violation and although he was being vulgar and acting irate, he was not directing it towards Officer McPherson. Even though Bryan exited his vehicle, Officer McPherson could have gave him commands to just stay at the vehicle and do not approach him unless directed to. I have been on traffic stops when the driver abruptly exited the vehicle without being directed to do so. My thought on this is even though they exited their vehicle, I do not want them to get back into their vehicle because they may have a weapon in the vehicle that they cannot now reach or drive off, and I can keep a better eye on their actions out of the vehicle. I believe that Officer McPherson could have handled this situation a lot better with more verbal judo and professionalism. Even though it is taught that a reactionary gap of 21 feet is recommended when dealing with an unknown suspect, Officer McPherson could tell that Bryan had nothing in his hands and did not pose a threat. I am not a fan of Taser guns for the simple fact that there have been too many lawsuits and injuries that stem from the usage of them. My department’s view on them is that they are not necessary and as long as the trooper is properly trained in
However, the TASER has faced massive amounts of bad press and negative views among members of the public. Electro-muscular disruption has become a very controversial issue among society, with some describing it as extremely painful and a form of torture. The true power of the TASER has been witnessed over its short history, causing physical problems, psychological problems and even death. This is becoming more concerning with the TASER becoming the first resort rather than the last resort. With the TASER being carried by an ever-growing population of police officers, alternate forms of less lethal may need to be looked at.
This essay will focus on two main points that will support the argument that more Tasers should not be given to more officers. First off, there has not been enough research completed to deem Tasers as a safe alternative weapon that officers can use to gain compliance of violent individuals that they may deal with on a day-to-day basis. Before more Tasers are given to officers, there needs to be more research done outlining the possible risks that CEWs pose to the human body, and any short or long term affects that may arise due to the use of CEWs on individuals. Secondly, the issuing of Tasers to more officers is not a good idea because just like anything else, Tasers can lead to an overreliance on the part of police officers to resort to the use of Tasers on individuals who do not comply with them. This along with the absence of clear and strict guidelines that stipulate when officers are to use their Tasers on non-compliant individuals will lead to abuse. Many police officers may decide to bypass the use of verbal commands, empty-handed strikes, and other tools at their disposal such as the ASP baton, when dealing with a violent individual...
Smith, M. R., Petrocelli, M., & Scheer, C. (2007). Excessive force, civil liability, and the taser in
People with guns need safes that can secure and protect their firearms. There are a variety of gun safes available in the market and each gun safe caters to a specific need, and what works for one gun owner may not work for the other.
...using chemical sprays or projectiles implanted with chemicals, such as pepper spray. Officers may also use “Conducted Energy Devices, CEDS” to control an individual, these weapons are usually known as Tasers. Tasers release a high-voltage jolt of electricity from a distance. A good situation in which law enforcement officers use this guideline is when they are trying to control riots. Using less-lethal technologies officers may be able to control a large group, if they are not able to restrain them then officers will be left to use blunt impact, chemicals such as tear gas or pepper spray, or even conducted energy devices until they are able to get ahold of the situation
When hearing the phrase “police brutality,” many people imagine batons cracking skulls, tasers electrocuting bodies and bullets penetrating innocent teens. While police officers have been known to use violence, police brutality does not occur as often as many believe. In many situations, officers have to act on impulse and curiosity, despite the backlash the media may create.
The word assault means to make a physical attack on someone, but how does a weapon with the purpose to provide food for your family become classified as an assault weapon? If a weapon is used to assault another person is it then classified as an assault weapon, or is it still just a weapon used to bring harm to someone? The classification of an assault gun should be changed.
Trek has pathetic tasers which look like garage door openers, but can be set to stun to
This means that students having guns on campus won’t make any impact on the number of suicides in college students. Guns would not be a distraction in class because concealed carry means that it would be out of sight out of mind resulting in no one even knowing that it is there. If we waited to rely on police officers so many more people would have died. There can only be so many police officers. Citizens have to take a training class to receive their concealed handgun license. A background check is ran and they are just as capable of protecting the public as a police officer or other trained individual. The argument about a Taser is bad advice because a Taser has to be used in close quarters and in most cases a person would be shot before being close enough to the gun shooter to tase them. “The answer to bullets flying is almost always more bullets flying. That’s why the police bring so many guns with them when they respond to a report of ‘shots fired’” (Common Arguments). How else do we expect police to respond? If police didn’t carry guns and respond with gunfire to take out active shooters then they would run the risk of being shot and dying. It is insane to believe that answering shooting with anything less than guns is reasonable. There has never been a case that police have encountered a situations that they have had to try to figure out
As a result, “Nearly all agree that when an officer is facing a deadly threat, the proper response is to use deadly force”(Lind). Yes there are many people out there that can be a deadly threat to police officers because the way they are acting but, there are many innocent people that do not affect anyone and still have to be a part of the problem for no given reason. Although a police officer’s proper response is to use deadly force upon someone, there should be other alternatives or ways they can use before going into deadly force and possibly cause someone to lose their live. I certainly do understand that there are certain situations where a cop is coming across someone that is pointing a gun or knife at them and approaching towards them. So therefore them using deadly force would possibly be the right thing to do if they have too, but before using deadly force they should at least try deploying tasers or using bean bag guns to attempt in taking them
Just it isn’t a fake scene this is real life. There are six levels of force an officer can use and may have to use doing there time as an officer. The lowest level of force is presence of an officer at the scene and the officer’s body stance. This level of force is used typically whenever an officer first appears to a scene or a call. The second level of force is verbal control or commands. The verbal use of force is when an officer demands you to do something. The third level is physical control. This level involves escort holds, pain or pressure compliance. This force is brought in when a suspect tries to resist arrest or verbal commands. The fourth level is really close to the third, this is serious physical control. This really is when you use carotid control and electronic devices. The carotid control is a kind of choke hold which makes the person want to comply. The fifth level is impact and weapons. This is when you first so your willingness to use your baton by touching it or holding it out. Then possibly cause the suspect to feint so he or she can’t resist again. The last resort is deadly force. Most officer try their hardest to not have to get to this level or even be in a position to which this force is used. But deadly force is drawing your gun, pointing your gun, and, or finally firing your gun. (Police
“Innocent child killed” is the headline most Americans seem to see now a days in the news involving police officers. Unfortunately many people are seeing all officers in a bad light because of actions that might be made from one ill-mannered officer. Police brutality is a major issue effecting not only the police but the people too. “Police brutality is the use of excessive and/or unnecessary force by police when dealing with civilians” (Danilina). People of all genders, ethnicities and ages are beginning to fear the police rather than trust them because of this issue. There is no true solution to end police brutality however, there are three things that can be done to help reduce it. The installation of on body and on board cameras for all
Micah Jester repeatedly told police officers to kill her in Austin. She was shot by police because she was holding a BB gun that looked like a handgun. Later, authorities determined she was mentally ill. Police officers aren’t trained on how to handle calls that involve mentally ill people. In order to fix it, police officers should undergo a 40 hour training to be able to understand when a person is in a crisis and when they should not be held accountable for their actions.
Police Brutality is a current problem that exist within the United States that needs to be resolved immediately. The old childhood game “cops and robbers” is no longer just a playful game. Children no longer get excited about being either the cop or the robber in this innocent game. Now children fear playing this harmless game because police are mistakenly accusing children’s play guns to be real. This results in police officers killing innocent and unarmed children over false assumptions. Police are trained to shoot to kill, not disable. This is why so many innocent minorities are dying yearly. Police brutality needs to be put to a stop so police remember whom their paid to serve and protect – not themselves, but our communities. This