Taser Too Much? The Real Danger of Taser Overuse
A report based on a year-long trial involving Tasers by the Queensland Police released in July 2009 has revealed that while Tasers are quite effective as an option where force is required, it can also increase the risk of users becoming too reliant on the weapon.
Although effective and safe, according to the report, Tasers can also lead to ‘Taser creep’, the kind of risk wherein users develop the tendency to use the weapon even ‘beyond’ its intended use. According to Bob Atkinson, Police Commissioner, there is concern regarding police officers who tend to rely too much on the Taser instead of using other alternatives that do not require the use of weapons. Already, the Ethical Standards Command has established a review panel to keep track of Taser use across regions.
However, there are a few criticism regarding this move. Jim Coburn, a lawyer specializing in criminal defense, has commented that even with more intense monitoring of Taser use, there is still a risk that misuse will continue.
Coburn also said that there is a need to investigate safety risks regarding Taser use. Without it, according to him, the police will continue to ignore the dangers of the stun gun and the fact that it could maim or even injure people fatally. This ignorance could even lead to more frequent use of the Taser and continued obliviousness to its effects.
According to the report, law enforcement officers had used weapons equipped with electric shock functions several times on a single person. Some accounts even reveal that the Taser was used as many as 10 times on an offender. According to Atkinson, these multiple uses occurred only with people who were uncontrollable, suicidal or even under the influence of drugs.
The need for control and common sense
To anyone who has a basic understanding of self-defense, anything and everything can be a weapon. Just exactly how much power is there in a Taser? Advertised figures say a stun gun can carry as much as 50,000 volts. When used on a person, however, the average shock averages at just 1,500 volts due to factors such as air and the person’s clothing.
Unfortunately, the low figure does not excuse misuse. Tasers can be powerful weapons of self-defense and law enforcement. What’s really needed is proper training, a focus on better procedures for the apprehension and arrest of suspects and the use of more control and common sense.
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