61 Taser Deaths: The Gun Alternative

Last year 61 people died from a taser gun shot by police in the United States. This was to be the death-free alternative to guns for police. Hmmmm... Guess not. So, the lesson is if you have heart issues, or are taking recreational drugs or drinking alcohol, or have mental illness, don't get tased--it may be your life at risk.

So, tasers aren't harmless? Well, one cop was apparently permanently injured from a quick jolt from a taser in training. Ok, so if you want to be able to walk and move without pain for the rest of your life, then make sure you don't get tased.

And, one researcher in the UK claims that tasers have been used in the US and Canada as ways to get compliance from people already in their custody (a 2004 Denver Post survey found that one-third of all taser use in the Denver police force was used on handcuffed individuals). This researcher also claims that the taser can easily be used as a means of torture.

If you read these articles, then you know that a taser sends two barbed receptors to the victim and injects 50,000 volts for a period of up to 5 seconds. Each trigger press sends more and more volts to the victim. Sounds like a modified electrocution, doesn't it? I thought they decided that death by electrocution is cruel and unusual. So, wouldn't that mean that individuals under the custody of police that receive taser jolts are receiving cruel and unusual punishment??

Wait, I'm bringing up that Constitutional thing again. Cruel and unusual=taser=torture? Oh. Hmmmm...