Has Haley Barbour Gone Nuts?

Seems he has pardoned 14 convicted murderers among the 208 convicts he pardoned on the way out the door as Mississippi's governor.

I admit to having been a Barbour fan, but this issue indicates we may have dodged a political bullet when his Presidential bid fizzled.

Has It Been A Year, Already?

#tnguns .
WizardPC points out that it has been a year since Ben Goeser was gunned down at a local Nashville sports bar and links a video tribute on YouTube.

When we posted on this story a year ago Nikki Goeser wrote to us of the horror of seeing her husband killed in front of her: "If I could have been allowed to carry my gun (because I do have a permit) perhaps I could have saved him. People that have gone through proper training, background checks, registered their weapon and have the permit should be allowed to carry a concealed gun for their own protection as long as they are not drinking alcohol. Just remember....when seconds count, the police are minutes away. Bad guys don't care about Laws. Let good citizens have the ability to protect themselves and their families. I never want anyone I love to be a sitting target again. Never again. Please, help wake these lawmakers up. I need your help. If there is anything you can do for me....please do this. Do this for Ben."

WWW.BenGoeser.com has been established to "assist families finding themselves in a similar situation. Nikki began the fund knowing that Ben would want her to help others. The pain one goes through when a loved one is taken so suddenly, so violently is immeasurable! The ABSOLUTE last thing they should have to worry about is how they will survive financially. Ben was always bringing people together, making everyone feel as though they were family. We can all come together and make a huge difference in the lives of families coping with such extreme loss. This fund is a Big Ole' "Ben Bear Hug" from above. Through his fund and your help he will always be here to do his usual...lend his helping hands."

You Could Get Tased...

#Taser #Police .
...If you are blind and afraid in Dayton, Ohio. The story goes that the police showed up at this lady's home to serve/arrest her son. The problem is that she is 1) BLIND and 2) has been robbed before by thugs claiming to be the police.

The police claim that they didn't know the woman was blind when they tackled and tasered her.

Hello? One of the first things law enforcement agencies - by accepted procedure - are supposed to do is identify what persons are expected to be at a residence/address before trying to serve/arrest and individual. Come one, guys, this is basic police procedure. You should have known who the resident of record is and just a smidgen of investigative preparation would have avoided this situation. And if you aren't aware that thugs are committing home invasions using the "Police, Open Up" tactic you shouldn't be police officers.

Taser Use Needs Regulation

#taser #police .
In Lubbock, Texas a drug dealer has been freed because officers used a Taser to make him give up the damning evidence. Instead of serving a FIFTY year sentence the guy is out because cops tasered him repeatedly, including shots to the groin, even after they took him to the hospital for treatment. The perpetrator would not open his mouth to where the officers suspected he was hiding the drugs.

Officers arrested Anthony Hereford in May of 2007 for evading an earlier traffic arrest when they noticed he had something in his mouth, possibly drugs, which he refused to spit out. "They threw him on the car, choked him out. He still wouldn't open his mouth. They tased him again," said Hereford's attorney, Susan Rowley.

The officers involved, Williams, Arp, and Holmes, then took him to the hospital where Rowley says the incident continued. "They tased him another 8 to 10 times, mostly in the groin, while he was hand cuffed, while the medical staff was there, at the hospital," said Rowley.

Hereford was convicted but that was overturned when the Appeals Court stated the evidence should have never been admitted.

"They agreed that evidence should never have been let in. That it should have been suppressed because it was illegally obtained. When you torture someone to get evidence. You can't do that," said Rowley.

Torturing for evidence? Where are we, the former Soviet Union?

The problem, which is pervasive among our law enforcement community, is that the Taser is seen as a tool to be used to obtain compliance and not one to only be used for self defense or in the defense of others.

The Opinion also said, "No one accused the defendant of being violent or physically aggressive." State Representative Delwin Jones said there is a distinct difference between self-defense and non compliance, and tasers should be used in self defense. He feels policies should restrict and guide taser use, and he hopes law enforcement steps up to make those policies. "I think they're the ones that have a responsibility, and if they refuse that responsibility, that's when legislative action occurs. Hopefully they will develop guidelines that are strong enough," Jones said.

Tasers are less lethal weapons and not less than lethal weapons. They harm the target and can kill. Too many departments and officers have viewed them as a magic tool to effect arrests and avoid the dirty work of taking a subject down. If the Taser is deployed in defense of the officer's welfare or that of a third party, or even to prevent the subject from harming their self, we understand. Otherwise, we do NOT. I hope the Lubbock, Texas officers are held responsible for what should be viewed as criminal behavior.

Rowley agrees the police department should examine their taser use, but isn't confident that will happen. "They kind of laughed about it in court. They were smug about it. It was not an issue to them, and maybe with this decision coming down they'll understand," she said.

The citizens these people are supposed to protect must make it an issue.

Elsewhere, Taser International seems to be promoting nonchalance regarding the use of Tasers in the face of the recent Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision about when Taser use is acceptable according to Wired.

Last month, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals appeared to restrict police officers’ use of Tasers, ruling that the stun guns should only be fired when the situation “compels the employment of such force.” Now, Taser International has given its version of what the court’s decision means: business as usual.

“Media accounts of the ruling indicated that this was some new and sweeping restriction on the use of TASER ECDs ["electronic control devices"]. It’s not. This judicial opinion actually follows well-established law and applies it to a specific fact situation,” the company asserts on its official blog.

How many people will die and how many more criminals will be set free before law enforcement and Taser International admit that Americans have basic rights? I have no objection to law enforcement having the tools to keep us safe as long as the use of those tools respect the natural rights of each individual. It is time for our society to enforce that respect on law enforcement if law enforcement will not embrace it on their own.

About Time - Police Can't Use Tasers At Will

So says Ninth US Court of Appeals.

Police need reasons to believe a suspect is dangerous before firing a Taser and can't use their stun gun simply because the person is disobeying orders or acting erratically, a federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled Monday.

It is far past time to regard Tasers as a less lethal tool, not a less than lethal or non-lethal tool. No more giving Grandma a ride on the lightning because she wouldn't sign a speeding ticket...

Good Idea

Taser use forbidden if flammable fuel nearby

Makes sense. You have to wonder who thought it was ok to mix sparks and gasoline... Oh, yeah, that guy. Leave it to the Aussies.