Honest question regarding the Taser incident

So let's say, for the sake of debate, that the kid who was tasered was a Republican, and had asked a question like "Why do weak lying democrats hate America?", or something similar. Let's assume that he had still cut in front of other students waiting to ask a question, he had still resisted arrest, etc. Is he still a victim of "police brutality"? Methinks too many DU posters see this as a question of "what he asked", rather than how he behaved.

to not only free speech, but free political speech.

I would think him deluded, but he's still allowed his opinion and to express it.

There was a line, students were waiting patiently to ask Kerry questions. What about their right to free speech?

but what I saw, the lad had no desire to exercise his first amendment rights, just to get on TV, kind of a political jackass moment.

Why can one not exercise their first amendment rights without making an ass of themselves in an obvious attempt at martyrdom? His 15 minutes are almost up.

Yes.
I don't see too many light bulbs going on from this question :eyes:

a question. I don't care what the question was. I don't care what a jerk the guy was. Regardless... no one in the United States should EVER be punished for asking a question.

It's not about Kerry. It's not about the kid. It's about us and our country. What we need to ask ourselves is this: Are we or are we not still a free country? How you answer the taser question pretty much sums up what kind of country you are willing to have the U.S. be.

I'm shocked there is even a discussion about this, frankly.

TC

He was being arrested because he cut to the front of the line, and was disturbing the forum, just as you would probably be arrested if you shouted "FIRE!" in a crowded theatre.

just as you would probably be arrested if you shouted "FIRE!" in a crowded theatre.'


One is a clear and dangerous public safety hazard. You want people to be arrested for rudeness? We need a LOT more cops! ;)

and it's just too damn bad so many DUers let their Kerry shift the focus from where it should have been from the beginning. Florida is just tasering too damn many people and it needs to stop.

Well stated.

"If the cops DIDN'T have a taser at the time, would they have been justified to use a gun to shoot and kill the person in question?"

If the answer to that question is no, then the use of the taser is excessive force, if the answer is yes then it isn't excessive force.

line during an event on a university campus does not justify the use of a taser -- especially when there were at least half dozen officers on top of him once they took him to the ground.

Those officers should have utilized arrest control hold techniques instead of escalating methods of force.

And I would feel the same way had it been a Republican student.

In a situation like that, they don't have the luxury of assuming he is unarmed.

but there were plenty enough officers on top of him to control his arms and apply a twist lock, inducing a pain response, and most likely compliance.

Officer are taught how to deal with combative suspects, without always having to rely on the baton, taser or OC pepper spray.

And if there are any officers who should be prepared to deal with noisy, uncooperative activists, protesters, etc., it is university police officers.

...even if he was a freeper....or the loathsome JimRob himself!

To me, human rights like freedom from electrical torture devices used in the name of compliance knows no party boundaries. I am just not that partisan, and neither should anyone else be.

a video of an agitated questioner and heard him push his questions and get pulled out and tasered.

It looked like a situation that went out of control fast. Even if he is a RW plant, he should have been asked to take his time and ask his questions and even asked to let his answers to be given one on one if time was the problem.

It was Karry's responsibility to satisfy this situation. He should have found out then why the cops were after him. Attention should be paid to frantically curios students. Left or right, I think the questions were legit.

That would have been the equivalent, to start. And would have been considered disruptive.

I think cops are relying on tasers too much, particularly in Florida. That ought to be the issue here, not free speech.

Let's say the guy was a DU-like Democrat (one of us) grilling a Bushbot Republican - the rest, same scenario. Now, how many here would be talking about how horrible it was for him to resist arrest? How many would be defending the tasering? How many would deny that it was STRICTLY about the questioning? I would venture damn near 100% of us would be outraged - at the cops AND at the speaker for just standing there. We wouldn't be cutting the Republican slack for "not being able to see very well," and all of the other excuses. And don't say, "None of us would be stupid enough to act like that guy...blah, blah, blah." Remember, just the same scenario.

Uh, huh. We all know the answer.

what position one took. Kerry supporters will find reasons to stick up for the cops because their guy was made to look bad. I personally don't blame Kerry though he doesn't impress me much anyway. :shrug:

against a peasant. When in doubt, use excessive force. Police are most often present, today, to enforce authority, not to protect citizens. "Imperial America over all!"