STUN GUNS FOR OUR LOCAL POLICE FORCE

Well about the only good thing you can say about the Tasering of Sammy Yatin in Toronto is that after having been shot eight times; it's unlikely the tasering did him any additional harm. Of course the tasering did harm the image of Toronto police. If shooting a distraught teenager on an empty bus is bad form then how about tasering him while he lies dieing on the floor of the bus. It doesn't get a lot worse than that.

Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this Editorial "Use stun guns responsibly". Good luck with that. I think I've finally figured out why British police aren't allowed to carry guns. The authorities long ago figured out that if they did they would misuse them and then the authorities would be in the position of pretend investigations and coverups. Simpler not to issue them in the first place.

I don't believe it's so much the lack of training the cops will get. The problem for me is the attitudes at the top. Cowboy cops should be systematically weeded out, not protected by their union or the police brass. Studies in the States have shown that there is a small percentage of cops who are the repeat bad apples. The same cops are getting complaints laid against them year after year but they aren't weeded out. This is a lot like our teachers here in Ontario who are protected by their unions and their schoolboards hence they never get weeded out and continue damaging children.

Does anyone think abusive cops won't be thrilled to receive Tasers? It's one more toy to experiment with on live human beings/guinea pigs. The good cops will pull them in difficult situations but use them sparingly. The bad cops will pull them quickly and use them even more quickly before the threat subsides.