Get down on the ground! *Zap*

I was reading a story in the Toronto Star today. It turns out 2008 was a slack year for taser use amongst RCMP officers.

And that's really all I need to tell you fact wise. Sure, the story goes on to say specific statistics and such, but the meat of it is the decline in taser use for 2008. Now, in retrospect, this is a good thing to hear. However, it doesn't change MY opinion of whether the police should USE them. And I think they shouldn't.

Yes, it's a bit less lethal than using a gun. Yes, my opinion's slightly biased from hearing and seeing all the fatal stories about tasers. But really, if they pose such a risk to people, why resort to using them? If they so violent/uncooperative, why not restrain them or, at an extreme level, shoot them in the leg or something? I just don't see the point of taking such a risk.

I mean, think about it. You're shooting 50, 000 volts of electricity into a person's body. How can that NOT cause some damage? I think I'd rather take a bullet to the leg or arm than have my nerves fried. My opinion stands. Tasers = bad news. But considering how long they've been around, I doubt the force will be giving them up anytime soon.