Boys and Their Toys

This year I intend to take a long look at the Taser and what seems to me to be a preposterous overuse of this "non-lethal" law enforcement tactical weapon.  I'm quoting the wikipedia discussion tasers:  "A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects 'neuromuscular incapacitation' and the devices' mechanism 'Electro-Muscular Disruption (EMD) technology.'  Someone struck by a Taser experiences stimulation of his or her sensory nerves and motor nerves, resulting in strong involuntary muscle contractions...Tasers were introduced as less-lethal weapons to be used by police to subdue fleeing, belligerent, or potentially dangerous subjects, often when what they consider to be a more lethal weapon would have otherwise been used." 

Translation, cops like to shoot at anything that moves, so this might kill fewer people. 
As you might imagine from the post-title, my reading of many articles from all over the country a local news websites has already resulted in my forming an opinion.  But we shall see.

Let me break the ice on the topic of tasers with this story from the Oregonian website reporting on a local off-duty officer working as a (volunteer)bouncer at a local club who decided to "tase" a patron of the "gentlemen's club" (a classic oxymoron)--because the patron said something to a topless dancer which the bouncer deemed to be "threatening."  A bartender who observed the incident described the actions of the officer as being "completely our of control."

See, that the thing,--these boys are given lethal and non-lethal weapons and they just gotta use 'em.   The Andy Griffith Show perfectly lampooned this with deputy Barney Fife.  Sheriff Taylor required his deputy to carry his bullet in his buttoned breast pocket.