Aleyna Martinez
Our law currently states that it is illegal for an individual to inflict an electrical shock into another person. However, recently police throughout NZ have been given taser guns which do exactly that. It is obvious in this instance, that the law doesn’t apply to those whose job it is to uphold it.
The idea of police involvement goes in hand in hand with criminal behaviour. Law-abiding citizens, don’t actually think much about the police, in essence we don’t really know them. With all the talk of police brutality, the thought of giving a cop of that nature the power to electrocute a person frightens me.
“When fired the Taser propels two barbed darts with trailing wires that attach to the skin or clothing. Upon impact a 50,000-volt electric shock is discharged into the victim for a period of five seconds. Whilst the barbs remain attached this discharge can be repeated multiple times by pulling the trigger again (and again). The immediate effects are debilitating. The current causes involuntary muscle contraction and extreme pain. The victim completely loses control over their body and falls to the floor until the current stops. The whole experience is both painful and degrading”. Nick Lewer and Neil Davison Electrical stun weapons: alternative to lethal force or a compliance tool?
Reminds me of deer hunting. Or shooting drugs into an animal via a gun for sport. I agree that a man who is known to be dangerous and/or armed and disregarding the police would instill a bit (or a lot) of fear. Does that constitute plugging him in and electrocuting him in as if he was an animal charging at you at the zoo?
Recorded fatalities for Taser deaths in the US at the moment are 200.
The argument is, would you rather a gun? I would rather none.
National Distribution Union secretary, Laila Harre says, “The police don’t want to use tasers as a “more lethal” option than pepper spray and batons in situations that wouldn’t otherwise call for lethal force. What we are seeing is an arming of police by deception.”
In the United States you can buy taser guns on the internet. Any person can have them for personal use. Look at America and their gun laws, their citizen’s accessibility and the way they ship guns in and out. Why do we want to follow a country that has the highest amount of the population jailed per capita in the world?
At a meeting held in Pataka, in Porirua, concerns about the Taser were raised as use of it on people with high blood pressure could result in fatality. Porirua has large Pacific Island and Māori communities, where high blood pressure is common.
If the trial in New Zealand is successful, there will be more tasers for cops to use. Henceforth the police get another step closer to being allowed to carry guns.
The trial areas will be Porirua, Manukau district, North Shore/Waitakere Rodney, Auckland cities and Wellington. These areas have high poverty statistics. The reason for the high crime rates shouldn’t be a reason for Police to use tasers. People need to take responsibiilty for their actions, but resources could be used to get to the root of the problem, instead of scaring people into submission, which is what it has done so far.
LEARN MORE
- How do tasers work, how many people use them, are they dangerous? Find out more at this Q & A site.
- New Zealand’s campaign against police using tasers. Find out more information
- Sign the petition against police using taser guns. Petition.
- Learn more about tasers and other electric shock weapons. More info.
Tags: Aotearoa New Zealand, conflict, police, poverty, weapons