Stockton, Calfornia. Eighty One year-old Victor Schiaffini a disabled man who has suffered six strokes was forced to the ground and Tasered three times. The incident happened on July 29, 2009.
Mr Schiaffini has lost the use of his left arm due to the strokes and walks with the aid of a cane. He also takes several prescription drugs every day and yet this cowardly cop from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) chose to use a Taser to “subdue him”.
The CHP claims he attacked an officer with a deadly weapon, namely his walking cane. They arrested him and took him to San Joaquin County Jail where he remained for three days.
Victor Schiaffini who pleaded guilty to an infraction (probably just to get out of jail) is now considering filing an excessive use of force complaint.
Here’s what AlterNet has to say:
“Again, every American needs to realize that if they look at a police officer sideways or misunderstand their orders they will be shot with electricity regardless of whether the officer has other choices.”
“When you see a half paralyzed, 81 year old man tasered, you know for sure that it cannot be possible that they needed to taser him three times to subdue him. It was to teach him and anyone who was watching a lesson: if you fail to quickly comply with a police officer’s instructions, no questions asked, you will be electrocuted and hauled off to jail. That’s just the way it is.”
Infraction: An ‘infraction’ in legal sense is a summary offence, or “petty” violation of the law less serious than a misdemeanor, and usually does not attach certain individual rights such as a jury trial. It is sometimes called a minor offence, minor violation, petty offence, or frequently citation, and sometimes used as synonymous with violation, regulatory offence, welfare offence, or contravention. For the full definition go here.
Should Tasers Be Banned?
I invite you to comment on this story and the whole issue of the use of Tasers by the police. What’s your opinion? Should they be banned? Should only well-trained officers have them?
The Duck Shoot Opinion: Tasers should be banned. Cops in the USA need intensive training in dealing with the public they are supposed to be serving.
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Yes Police officers need to learn how to use them but at the cost of someone’s life. Too much of a cost for an error some’one else made. I say get them out of there!
Everyone who supports the continued use of the Taser ignores the fact that it has killed scores of people. Also the evidence is that Taser victims are not always violent or pose a threat to the life of the cop doing the Tasing. The “extreme examples” are not “few” according to Amnesty International deaths run into hundreds. Unless you are struck repeatedly or to the head the baton does not kill. (Not that I am advocating the baton.) If it did there would be numerous reports similar to the Taser reports.What we need is a total rethink regarding policing.
Just to throw my opinion into the arena, I don’t believe that tasers should be banned but obviously anyone using one should be well trained. I’m not aware of all the stats on the use of tasers but from what I can gather then tasers are pretty safe, barring a few extreme examples. The subject should make a full recovery without any injury or lasting damage.
It begs the question: What is the best way of dealing with a violent individual? To taser them or strike them with a baton for example, which certainly carries a risk of injury?
Either way, detaining violent people will always carry a risk to both cop and offender, whatever method is used. It’s just the world we live in and there will never be a perfect solution.
I agree with most of your comment but it will be no surprise to you and other readers that don’t I agree Tasers shouldn’t be banned. The reason I want Tasers banned is because Cops are not trained properly and probably never will be, Tasering (or is Tasing?) is a form of torture and lastly Tasers have killed hundreds of people.
Thanks for commenting.
No, tasers should NOT be banned. Police officers who use tasers inappropriately should be banned. A taser in the hands of a properly trained police officer is a valuable weapon against crime. If a cop was to shoot me, I pray that he uses a taser and not his 9mm. The problem lies with poor training and a tendency of the disciplinary bodies to whitewash the ensuing inquiry. If truth and integrity were the absolute norm, then this debate would not even be on the radar. I’m glad that I don’t live in the Exited States of America. Here in Canada the cops are not quite as gung-ho as their counterparts to the south. (But they’re getting there)