Land of Oz

Non-lethal?

Judge clears Taser in death
A stun gun manufacturer is not responsible for the death of a Saginaw man who absorbed multiple jolts of electricity during a struggle with police, a Saginaw County circuit judge has ruled.

That's an article that came out today in the local newspaper. It brings to mind one of the things that really-really confuses me. There seems to be no end to the complaints about police or military using "non-lethal" weapons that sometimes hurt or kill the person (sometimes person should be applied loosely) they are used on.

And while I'm on the subject - just how often is one of these things used on an actual innocent bystander? Usually it's some drunk or doped up recalcitrant individual who's resisting or intruding where they shouldn't be. Which by the way, being a spectator at a riot, fight or other unruly gathering of two or more (if one guy is beating his head against a wall, would that still be a fight?) makes you a part of that gathering and you should expect the worse. Perhaps it's my lack of sense of adventure but I have desire to watch when I see a large group of people yelling and throwing stuff. Which in turn brings me to the point that I've found it to be extremely rare when a policeman or GI uses a taser or other device on someone minding their own business.

While I'm not saying innocent bystanders are never the recipient of such acts, I'm am saying it's pretty rare. And personally, if I happen to be on the receiving end of such an act, I'd much rather take my chances with a taser than with a 9mm Glock.

And that's what I don't understand about these groups who so vociferously complain about the use of taser, lasers and sound devices. Considering the option is often a 9mm round that results in a much higher chance of serious injury, what's the problem with getting zapped with that much smaller chance of serious injury.

So the next time your an "innocent" bystander at a riot, or are telling a policeman where she can place her flashlight while she is trying to arrest you think about what you'd rather face - a 9mm round in the gut or a taser in the butt?