Associated Press – January 10, 2006:
A pair of bills that would prohibit police and others from using stun guns on children 16 or younger are in trouble after their sponsor failed to appear before a legislative committee Tuesday.
The Senate Education Committee postponed the bills and chairwoman Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, said she was unsure whether they would be brought up again. The bills were filed after police officers drew criticism for using stun guns against children, including an elementary school pupil.
A Jacksonville officer received a three-day suspension last year for zapping a 13-year-old girl at least twice with a stun gun while she was handcuffed in the back seat of his caged patrol car.
I find this development utterly shocking!
While I agree that most of the time using a Taser on a juvenile would not be nessessary, an all out ban is too restrictive. In dealing with an out of control person of any age, ruling out a effective tool in all cases is just plain stupid. Better training and specific department SOPs on their use would be a better solution.
I enjoy reading John Dvorak’s blog on a regular basis and enjoy reading = his comments in PC Magazine and on TWIT. Thanks for all your work in = keeping us informed!!!!!
I use IE for a browser. I consistently have the last line of the last = story chopped off at the bottom of the browser. Maybe there could be a way to = add a couple of blank lines at the end of the page so I can read the last = line of the last entry at the bottom of the page.
Thanks!!
Joe in San Mateo
The police are necessary. They have a job to do. People second guess every move they make. They have to deal with many unusual and difficult situations and people. Sometimes they must use force. Tasers are often the best and safest way for the police to control a dangerous person.
Just because a person is too young to vote doesn’t mean they are eay to deal with.
Well considering in Florida you are allowed to shoot anyone you feel threatened by, kids included, I assume, this is really nothing big.
Personally I’d trade tasers for bratty kids any day. Tasers, like high speed police chases, are much worse that the problem they are trying to get rid of. I can’t stand cops…seriously…
What does a 13 year old kid got to do to get tasered twice? I’m sorry, but i just don’t see it. Either the kids are not what they used to be, or the policemen are not as competent as they should be.
• the photo is great – I almost sprayed coffee. But won’t the officer get it too, if his arm is around the electrically-enhanced kid? And why does the cop have a porn ‘stache? Is he the cop from the Village People?
• I lived in Humboldt during the pepper-spray incident, and I supported the police in that case. But tasers are a little more dangerous than tabasco sauce. Police should have policies and rules of engagement for tasers just like for guns.
• Police officers are not perfect; just like any other segment of society, you will see the full range of emotions and faults. Some get into the job for the wrong reasons (ego, machismo, ?), but in my mind the media coverage is extremely disproportional to the actual percentage of cops who make mistakes.
• Can I get a taser for my kid?
“the photo is great – I almost sprayed coffee. But won’t the officer get it too, if his arm is around the electrically-enhanced kid? And why does the cop have a porn ’stache? Is he the cop from the Village People?”
Actually, the reason he is not being electrocuted is because he is an advanced cyborg from the future. Traveling to the future to get pictures for this blog is just one of the many things we do here to make your visit pleasant.
Oh, and I almost forgot. Yes, in the future the members of the Village People have been replaced by robots. And when they’re not touring or recording, they’re solving crimes and tasering young boys.
I doubt being tasered is a fun experience, but on the whole I think it’s a better deal than being shot. A big fifteen year old with an attitude can be a handful, and a taser would work better in such a situation than a gun. Given the split second response time often presented to a police officer, a taser would be the preferable non-lethal weapon of choice. But as in all things, common sense helps.
Mr. Wofford, in case you haven’t noticed, there is a conspicuous lack of common sense in America now days.
gquaglia’s right,
This is a training issue. I would hate to put down some 200lb 6″4′ 16 year old with out help. A 4′ 13 year is another issue, thus training.
john, thanks for your google ads pointing me to sites where i can purchase my very own stun gun. i am now considering opening a day care center.
We all love Google!
I see that on the page with this article, the number one Google ad is: Taser injury lawyers.
–Milton
In Florida we have recently had 13-year olds shoot fellow students and one teacher. My wife taught a 6th grade special ed class where she had a fine collection of knives in just one year – even a clip from a 25 cal automatic (no gun found). If the cops are toting only a taser, they may be outgunned.
I’m torn on this one because I’ve seen a lot of minors with major attitudes who think they are “below” the law and I’ve seen quite a few who could positively use a “jolt” into reality. On the other hand, there is a possibility for abuse so I’m going to have to recuse myself from this debate. : )
“I doubt being tasered is a fun experience, but on the whole I think it’s a better deal than being shot.”
Well no shit, how about *neither*?