[Realism]

The safety of Tasers

Hmmm. which is safer, a taser or a .38 cal at close range? Do we really need a scientific study/opinion on this one.

[at bay]

Why devices that emit thousands of volts of juice are not presumed to be potentially harmful comes from this transferance made of the fourth amendment "innocent until proven guilty, for all chemicals and devices, common sense notwithstanding."

Tasers have never been thoroughly tested and are now suspected in 168 deaths nationwide. Better a little night stick work if it avoids the head and kneecaps, where necessary to subdue a perp.

[NYFriend]

Here's the problem: what do Tasers replace? They do not really replace a pistol or revolver, you can't trust them for that, so the, "I would have shot him otherwise" argument fails. There might be a very exceptions. I'd be curious if any departments recomend a Taser against a person attacking with a knife. I doubt they do though. (If a guy's just standing around with a knife acting weird, I could see using a Taser, but you're not shooting him either.)

If a Taser replaces a blackjack, then OK, they are probably safer. I don't know how many departments OK blackjacks/splapjacks any more either. When my father retired in the mid-1990's, his department REQUIRED you to carry a blackjack, but no longer allows them.

If a Taser replaced a cops bare hands, then I don't know which is safer for the bad guy. In a few publicized cases, the Taser has been alleged to have replaced yelling and waving your arms, and that's not appropriate.