Tasers were introduced as an alternative to shooting someone with bullets because their use can be lethal but is less lethal than bullets. Tasers are less likely to kill the person tased than shooting that person with bullets from a gun.
Less likely, but still a lethal tool for stopping someone from an action that calls for the use of lethal force.
What makes the use of lethal force appropriate to stop and apprehend:
- a young girl who is naked in public and obviously in a mentally compromised situation
- a young graffiti artist who had painted a single letter on an abandoned building
- a peaceful protester on the steps of a public building
Nothing. Nothing makes any of these criminal behaviors by police acceptable. The militarization of police personnel and the expanding tolerance of police acting as judges, juries and executioners as they respond to civil disturbances must end.
We must not allow the use of excessive force, brutality, and execution to become accepted security or policing behaviors. Children are routinely tasered by security staff, rent-a-cops. Neither must we allow the police to decide which laws are worthy of their enforcement efforts.
We must not allow… That is right WE…
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. (Preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America.)
So my dear readers, write to your local, state and national representatives and let them know that the expanding police state must be abolished. Here is the link for contacting your reps.
Then I recommend you go and watch a movie this weekend. Enjoy yourself. Go see: Elysium, it is the best offering out there this week.