When is it ethical to Tase?

[Viking Prince]

I was thinking of this while reading a local story:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

A man hospitalized after being shocked with a Taser by Aurora police on Thursday died Sunday morning, according to a police news release.

The Arapahoe County Corner's Office will perform an autopsy on Shane Ledbetter, 38.

The release by Aurora police said Ledbetter was shocked with the Taser after he "violently resisted" arrest in Mission Viejo Park following a chase. Ledbetter allegedly ran from officers after providing false information about his identity. Ledbetter was subdued and handcuffed when officers observed that he "appeared to be unresponsive," according to the police report.

He was taken to the hospital.

Police were looking for someone else when Ledbetter ran off. It turned out he was wanted on six felony warrants, police said.

An officer injured during the arrest is on medical leave.

Aurora Police: Man hit with Taser dies 2 - 09/07/2009 12:59 AM MDT

The usual justifications for the use of a taser is to replace the need for the use of deadly force in certain circumsrances. I think the use is a bit wider spread. In this article, the man was fleeing from police and not a direct nor immediate threat. It turns out that he was wanted, but that was certainly not known at the time. Even if wanted, the officers would not have opened fire while the man was fleeing.

Tasing is not risk free to the subject of the tasing. There are numerous examples of a death occuring from such procedures. Often there are other factors involved such as a drug presence or a preexisting medical condition.

So, should tasing be restricted in some manner? Should police procedures be tighter and closer to the procedures for drawing and firing a firearm at a suspect?

[Gaidin]

It's ethical to tase when you consider it unethical to use the baton and not yet a situation warranting deadly force.

The taser is there so they can get a resisting suspect into handcuffs without breaking a friggin' arm. Expecting officers to know resisting suspects have some sort of condition that the taser will mess with is flat unreasonable.

[Phalanx300]

So would the man have lived if he was shot instead? If so then you have your answer.

[Viking Prince]

So would the man have lived if he was shot instead? If so then you have your answer.

The example that I gave did not warrant the use of deadly force. Even though the taser did indeed kill the man tasing is not considered by the police to be potentially deadly force. So, is it ethical to use a taser if a side effect can reasonably be assumed to be deadly force in several but not all cases?

[Phalanx300]

The example that I gave did not warrant the use of deadly force. Even though the taser did indeed kill the man tasing is not considered by the police to be potentially deadly force. So, is it ethical to use a taser if a side effect can reasonably be assumed to be deadly force in several but not all cases?

Well if they would have shot the man he might have lived, Tasers have the danger of also treatening people with heart problems and the like. Then again he shouldn't have run in the first place, at least if he would only get caught.

[Dunecat]

Police have the right to do whatever they want as long as it is codified.

They can take your life, and do. Get used to it hippies.

[Visna]

The police around these parts have had excellent results with pepperspray. Non-lethal in pretty much every imagineable scenario, and still potent enough to get people to become more... cooperative.

[The Count(er)]

Police have the right to do whatever they want as long as it is codified.

They can take your life, and do. Get used to it hippies.

So we should just stop questioning their infinite authority? If the government decided it was a good idea to give them all machine guns and tell them to go nuts, you would be fine with it because they're allowed, it doesn't really matter what the circumstances are, questioning authority is usually a good way to keep them doing the right thing. So you've really brought nothing to the topic, because we already know what they're allowed to do, but we're discussing whether or not they should be allowed to do it.

[roy34543]

I think tasering is only ethical if theres a situation in which you would otherwise have shot the person .
And frankly, I dont know about everyone. but some people would prefer to have an arm broken then to be tasered. Being tasered is pretty damn painful.

[CtrlAltDe1337]

I think its fine to use a taser when you aren't trying to kill someone with it and only use it when your life is endangered or you are chasing down a fleeing felon. Its goal is to stop someone, which it does quite well most of the time.

[ELITEOFKINGWARMAN8]

I think its fine to use a taser when you aren't trying to kill someone with it and only use it when your life is endangered or you are chasing down a fleeing felon. Its goal is to stop someone, which it does quite well most of the time.

Then why not just shoot the person.....?

[scarybandit]

Only if the cop is too fat to chase you, too dumb to reason with you, or too angry at the world to care.

[DimondLight]

Only if the cop is too fat to chase you, too dumb to reason with you, or too angry at the world to care.

Not everyone can be reasoned with, and it really has nothing to do with the intelligence of the officer.

[Ummon]

Seeing Visna posted here I assumed it was a typo and you meant: "when is it ethical to tease?".

[Lord of Lost Socks]

It's ethical to use tasers when you're authorized to use lethal force. (For example, guy running towards you with an AK-47)
If you tase someone just because he's a nuisance, then you're doing it wrong.

[Gaidin]

It's ethical to use tasers when you're authorized to use lethal force. (For example, guy running towards you with an AK-47)

Screw taser...you're gonna get unloaded on with the sidearms if you try that little stunt.

[scarybandit]

Screw taser...you're gonna get unloaded on with the sidearms if you try that little stunt.

i think TW: Late 20th Century Land War in Asia expansion will give assault rifle militia better odds than handgun militia.

[Yosemite]

It's ethical to use tasers when you're authorized to use lethal force. (For example, guy running towards you with an AK-47)
If you tase someone just because he's a nuisance, then you're doing it wrong.

you'd be dead before you can go in reach range with the taser

[Poach]

In self defence in the face of physical violence.
In order to prevent harm to others when less severe methods aren't an option.

[boofhead]

Never. Tazers should be banned. Governments shouldn't treat citizens like livestock deserving of an electrified cattle-prod.