[Binstence]

Set up or not. Liberal, Communist, Christian, Jew or Atheist, the use of tazers is wrong. The wimpy student was no match for the several police officers. The more comfortable the police are with this sadism the more they will use it and want further blood lust. We have lost America. This obviously was no Rodney King and lying on the floor in a peaceable fashion does not constitute resisting police. The LAPD has a history of violation of its power and clearly this act of violence threatens us all. Many innocent people have died from these evil weapons. We are on the slippery slope to a police state. If this video does not trouble you it is time to check your heart and conscience. The culture of death has affected your judgment. The more we witness crimes against humanity and cruel and unusual abuses of power the more desensitized we become to that which is unacceptable. The cops were wrong. How does one set up the police to use excessive force??? I live in NYC where the cops face real threats every minute of every day and they police dept here does not use these inhuman devices. Satan himself is smiling as he watches this sick video. God help our once great nation.

[cusack7080]

Why in God's name is this kid keeping these police officers busy with his self-righteous crusade. These police have bigger responsibilities than this kid's grudge. If you want culture of life, then go to gd abortion clinic. Get out of here. Its a fricken tazer. Have you ever been tazed?

[endthematrix]

You are wrong on so many levels.

[rawcatslyentist]

Civil disobedience, in a public place. How could other public library patrons study, with his protest? The other library patrons civil rights were violated by this ahoe! Where's their lawsuit?
Try sticking up for the rights of people who actually deserve it once in a while, it'll make ya feel better!

[IrishCatholic]

Well, other than points for spelling and punctuation your post is completely without merit. Tasers are the coming wave in pain compliance. Why? Because they have no lasting effects. The minute the taser quits the person is back to normal. Pepper spray lasts and physical hands on or batons cause impact injuries. As far as it being a torture device-everytime the taser is shot hundreds of little paper serial numbers are shot out too. This prevents the excuse that it wasn't deployed. It leaves physical evidence. Then, whenever the trigger is pulled the computer records the number of times it is pulled and the duration and date and time.
SO, if I was a jack booted thug and wanted to wantonly torture a helpless innocent person I wouldn't pick a tool that completely records my actions for the internal investigations unit and hungry ambulance chasing lawyers bent on suing the city and taking my house.
Tasers are being introduced because they cause less damage than other types of control including going hands on with potentially violent people. The departments see a method of controlling uncooperative or violent people that reduces department liability. I saw the video and the incident was entirely the responsibility of the suspect. ENTIRELY.
We haven't lost America. Unless you mean the lack of respect the UCLA scumbags showed the campus police. If they are the next generation we are producing, then I might agree.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Many innocent people have died from these evil weapons.

Cite online source for this statement.

[Sprite518]

When a Police Officer ask you to do something, and you tell them to F-Off and resist. I have absolutely no sympathy for you.

The Kid is some left wing P.O.S.! I hope the college kicks his sorry a$$ out of school. Yeah I know in my dreams. UCLA will take the PC,cat loving,bed wetting way to handle this issue. So typical of hard core Lefties.

[Jaysun]

I have to disagree. I love tasers and I love to see videos of thugs being hit by them, such a hoot.

[opinionator]

Dude, you forgot to add the </sarcasm> tag to the end of your post. Someone reading it might think that you are serious.

[opinionator]

I live in NYC where the cops face real threats every minute of every day and they police dept here does not use these inhuman devices.

Tell that to Amadou Diallo. Or Anthony Baez. Or Abner Louima.

[Godebert]

"I live in NYC "

That explains it. You must be one of those "Bloomberg" republicans.

[Mad Dawg]

Living in dial-up land as I do, I can't see the video so won't give an opinion on this use of the taser. But in general what you say is nonsense, I'm afraid.

Lying on the floor (whether "peaceably" or not - I'd love to see an aggressive or hostile lying on the floor) when given a lawful command (unless the command was to lie down) would be resisting.

The wimpy student was no match for the several police officers.Do you think it's better when it's a "fair fight" and more people get hurt and get hurt more seriously? The idea of overwhelming force is to reduce harm.

... clearly this act of violence threatens us all.

The use of the word "clearly" does not turn an assertion into an argument.

I think it might help if you told your story. As a former LEO I see tasers as life-saving tools. They give more refinement to the "use of force" continuum. Without a taser, there is the use of pain-compliance techniques, like holds and pressure points, the use of the baton, which can also be fatal when used in the real world. The baton ideally is used on soft tissue -- like triceps, gluteus maximus, and quadriceps -- but when the baton is out, the citizen doesn't always hold still, so the baton can land in unintended places. Oh yeah, there's also the gun.

For better or for worse, in New York City or LA, if you do not comply with a lawful order, you take a chance. Even if the order is unlawful, regrettably, noncompliance is risky. It is prudent, circumstances permitting, to weight the consequences of noncompliance and assess whether the principle involved is worth the risk. I'm sure that sometimes it is, but I'm not sure that I would go to the mat over being asked to show my ID.

Yes there are some bad cops in LA. There are some bad people who aren't cops there too. The world is littered with bad folks.

Now, that's my attempt at a rebuttal to the charge of excessive force. Would you care to articulate what you think the police SHOULD have done?

---

[RobRoy]

Although I agree with pretty much everything in your thread I do not think it applies in this particular case.

[AppyPappy]

I thought the video was hilarious. He was asking for it. If he had lit off a belt bomb, you would be complaining about the inaction of the cops.

[BurbankKarl]

They took away the batons...what do you suggest they use, spitballs?

[claudiustg]

---Set up or not. Liberal, Communist, Christian, Jew or Atheist, the use of tazers is wrong.---

What is it with tasers? Would you rather be clubbed into submission? Nostalgia for the good old days of slamming suspects into the pavement?

[gondramB]

>>I live in NYC where the cops face real threats every minute of every day and they police dept here does not use these inhuman devices.<<

You think a taser is inhuman? What do you think of guns?

Tasers are tools. They can be used for offense or they can be used for defense or they can be used for torture.

If someone uses a tool illegally they should be punished - the tool isn't the problem.

[Steamburg]

First, having been tazed more than once; it just isn't that bad. It is a mind changer and it smarts, but when it stops it stops. A real good thumping with a baton, now that lasts and lasts. Yes, that too is experience. As I age, I am much more aware of being responsible for my words and actions.

Second, I strongly believe that only in a society where personal responsibility is not a value is it necessary to be a nanny these little pukes. When you ask people to maintain order you expect them to maintain order not to be abused by smart mouthed jerks. They are given tools that enable them to always escalate the battle one step above the level of resistance. Those cops are not paid to scuffle with or be hurt by these little "activists" who probably carry disease, weapons or just have questionable hygiene.

In California it appears that you don't want police, you simply need personal negotiators.

[GLH3IL]

Whatever. The tazer is better than a baton or peppermace? Consider that hard force tactics such as a baton would have not been realistic as the kid wasn't in an active agressor mode..at least not that we could see on the video. Pepper mace, if it was in foam form would have been ok, otherwise the area was too closed in and just about everyone could have been affected by the mist of the spray as the air currents in the room spread droplets of the spray around. The only two real options was to Tazer or tackle. They chose to tazer. Me personally, I prefer to tackle...but then my department's policy allows me that oprtion, perhaps theirs doesn't.

[BamaGirl]

I see what you are saying but one thing most people don't realize is that we are at war, and during war people's civil rights get stomped upon. The trick is that we get these rights back, after the war is over.

That said, I remember someone making a great point about how the police, judges, civil servants, etc. are supposed to serve us, the people. We shouldn't be scared of them! But we are! How screwed up is that?

I just hope things get better for my family, personally speaking, when we finally move to a smaller town, where everyone knows everyone.