That’s a lot of tasering.

They went from being non lethal (though not entirely) options to compliance tools. A police officer was going to Tase a subdued subject except he drew his gun instead and shot the man. And his firearms training may have been falsified.

Taser wins product liability lawsuit

And how I said they should be separate from real guns? Well, now I think making them in common calibers is also a mistake: Central Precinct Officer Dane Reister mistakenly fired four live rounds at Monroe from a less-lethal shotgun, striking him in the hip with five buckshot pellets.

Sort of like this idea. But I’m not a fan of mounting on it on your totally lethal AR. Looks like an accident waiting to happen.

And why not.

Mentioned the guy on TV who resisted a Taser. Well, this cop, during testing, manages to draw and fire a gun while being tasered.

Really

Mentioned before that the 9th ruled that police had to think someone was a danger before tasering them. Speculation it could go to the Supreme Court.

From Chris. I’ve been saying for years that police are a bit too quick to use them and that their appropriate use should be more akin to service weapons than, say, pepper spray.

I’ve been critical of Tasers in the past. Now, one more reason is that the company is advising it not be aimed center mass: Taser International is advising police agencies across the nation not to shoot its stun guns at a suspect’s chest. The Arizona-based company says such action poses a risk — albeit extremely […]

Just ask the police: Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson Tuesday urged the county council to pass a bill prohibiting a private individual from using an electronic control device for personal protection. Johnson said the devices, best known under the brand name TASER, are too dangerous for individuals to use. Johnson said that the bill […]

A police officer reader gives us the skinny on Tasers here. Worth the read. And takes me to task for being anti-LEO. Which I am not. I do, however, frequently criticize their techniques and judgment. And I simply think Tasers are overused and are often used when unnecessary (some times with deadly consequences). That’s not […]

I was one of the earlier critics of police use of Tasers. Mostly because the perception that they were non-lethal (which is not always true) would lead to their more widespread use. Now, a study from the American Journal of Cardiology: The rate of in-custody sudden death increased 6.4-fold (95% confidence interval 3.2-12.8, p = […]

JR reports a Texas legislator wants a license for Tasers.

A jury awards $6.2M

The new thing: I’ve been to everyone’s Avon-type tupperware-style parties, purse parties, clothing parties, boutique parties and I felt like why not have a self-defence party? Why not have a Taser party, because without self-defence you won’t have any of the other stuff. Well, my preference would be for them to get some more tactical […]

So says Michael Silence. I don’t really have an issue with the number of Tasers. Rather, I take issue with the fact police tend to use them when it’s not necessary.

I’m with Phelps, except the cop hating part – a few bad apples and all that. It was ludicrous. And John Kerry will unjustifiably take some heat over this.

Dave Hardy is saying that some police chief organiations are worried about the new “lady taser” being used against police: “If a police officer or a civilian is stunned with a Taser there are a whole array of things that can happen and most of them are very bad,” said Jim Pasco, executive director of […]

Insty is talking Tasers and self defense. And Tasers are for sale on Amazon. I noticed the seller says: Before activation customer must pass a felony background check with a separate cost of $9.99. Found it odd. Update: From the NYT article: As for people using Tasers while committing crimes, executives have designed an elaborate […]

I’ve been critical of Taser use before but this one is quite odd: Officers responding to a welfare check of a man in a tree in Kitsap County accidentally shot the man in an attempt to use a Taser on him. The man had been holed up in the tree for hours. An officer used […]

I’ve not covered Taser deaths for a while. That is because they seem to have dropped off a bit. That said: Yesterday, stun gun maker Taser International (TASRE) announced that a wrongful death lawsuit against the company had been dismissed with prejudice, which sent the stock up about 11% yesterday. And there was today’s release […]

Michael notes that the Birmingham mayor has ordered the police to halt the use of Tasers until more research is done on the impact of the weapons.

In Illinois, there is now a 24 hour waiting period for Tasers and other stun guns. And background checks. Speaking of Tasers, Les wrote a while back: People today are naming their sons Colt and Ruger to evoke toughness and an Old West sensibility. In a dozen years or two parents who want their kids […]

Deputy uses stun-gun on 16-year-old boy: Sheriff’s deputies used a Taser gun on Josh Welch after officers handcuffed his father, Leslie Welch, who had slit his wrists. The father suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The teen said his dad was waiting for an ambulance, but deputies arrived first and handcuffed the bleeding man. So […]

The mis-use of tasers is recurring theme here at SayUncle. Here’s another instance: When a Rochester police officer arrested a man more than two and a half years ago, he thought he fired his taser gun. But he didn’t, he actually shot the man with a .40 caliber pistol. Now, that man, a 34-year-old refugee […]

TriggerFinger has a doozy: Police departments say the evidence is clear. Study after study indicates high-voltage Tasers are “less lethal” than other weapons, and that’s why they use them, officers say. Some departments defend their use by saying Tasers aren’t lethal at all. But when a Taser is in the hands of a private citizen, […]

Heh. Via Tom.

Police taser a deer.