Grand Jury Proposes Expanded Use Of Tasers (Florida)

[Judi Lynn]

Grand Jury Proposes Expanded Use Of Tasers
Jury: 'Tasers Save Lives'

POSTED: 7:13 pm EST January 11, 2005

MIAMI -- A Miami-Dade grand jury "strongly" recommended expanded use of Tasers by police as an effective alternative to the use of guns in crisis situations and in spite of reports about deaths of stun-gun targets.

"We believe Tasers save lives," the grand jury said in a final report focusing on the handling of mentally ill people in the criminal justice system. "We are not hesitant to make this recommendation."

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, who attended the presentation of the final report, said, "Given the alternatives of a lethal or deadly weapon, they prefer the Taser."

The grand jury did not study the use of Tasers on children, even after recent reports of stun-gun use on children ages 6, 12 and 16. But the panel cited an Aventura police policy against use on pregnant women and children under 12 as a way of protecting vulnerable targets.
(snip/...)

http://www.local10.com/news/4073403/detail.html

[ixion]

1. funny how the Taser isn't considered a lethal weapon

even though it kills people. :crazy:

[rodeodance]

2. good one! Can't believe they want to expand its use given its lethal

problems!!!!!!

[Truman01]

4. I don't agree with some of it's uses, but

if it is replacing the use of a gun, don't you think it is better? A gun is certainly more lethal than a tazer.

TC

[jukes]

7. being "less lethal"

it is certain to be used more readily.

[proudbluestater]

3. I have to say, knowing Jebbie, this is no big surprise. Still sad.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Yes, but what happens if someone doesn't recognize Nicole and uses

it on her if she would ever resist arrest? <shudder>

[noshenanigans]

6. What's with Florida lately?

Every time there's been a taser injury talked about on DU, it's always been in Florida, and now Florida wants more tasers?

Something's in the water down there, man.

[ernstbass]

8. The sick part of this is that they were studying

the use of tasers on the mentally ill in the criminal justice system. These peoplpe have ILLNESSES! I have worked on a locked psychiatric unit for the past 24 years and I have seen many violent, out of control persons. Isn't it amazing that we have never resorted to the use of pepper spray or tasers to subdue a patient?