Taser Happy

Shocking.

well, fair is fair, and I believe the Park Ranger should be tasered,pick-a-nick basket in hand, and then allowed to eat the fried chicken(warmed by the taser)and potato salad....the dog,meanwhile, should be taught to read the 'clearly posted' signs regarding leash laws!

~~by the way~~  Hows come a roomful of dogs can get along, but their 'owners' can't?

Morning lotlot and RoadYacht and the rest of the village when they get here... 

It sounds excessive to me...

Morning all - When is a gun not a gun? I remember us kids having guns that shot raw potato pellets that were very 'ouch!' and the advice fom our local gamekeeper on deterring amourous dogs when your bitch is in heat - Open up a couple of twelve bore cartridges, remove the shot and replace with rock salt. The yelping from the shots could be heard two miles away. Stings like crazy but does not harm the dog.

I hope this ranger is ripped apart by giant bears................have a wunnerful day all............

Some more information is needed to understand if the officer was in any real danger or just taser happy.  What kind of small dog was it? Was it a pitbull?  Was the man jogging or sprinting?  Why didn't the man stop? Perhaps there was a chance that the officer thought he was in danger.  But it does sound a bit excesssive.  There need to be more concrete guidelines for tasers.  

Some more information is needed to understand if the officer was in any real danger or just taser happy.  What kind of small dog was it? Was it a pitbull?  Was the man jogging or sprinting?  Why didn't the man stop? Perhaps there was a chance that the officer thought he was in danger.  But it does sound a bit excesssive.  There need to be more concrete guidelines for tasers.  

So, Mr. Peterman, what kind of jacket should one wear if they carrying a taser?  Should it be the "Patton shirt" of yesterday's article or is there another option?

Hazel- You're right.  But I'd prefer to see law enforcement reaching for the taser first as therre is less colladeral damage and friendly fire.  But no matter what we need better gun control and taser control laws.  

Who coined the term 'Friendly fire'? Is it less traumatic to be shot by your friends rather than your foes? Of blown to bits by a 'friendly' land mine?

lotlot~ Thanks for my 1st big laugh of the day~

It seems that was a quick draw if the person wasn't in any danger. If the dog presented the danger, then the officer should have tasered the dog rather than the man. On the surface, with what we know, it does seem rather excessive and yes, Lot, "shocking". Someone with a new toy who couldn't wait those it.

Variation of the Milgram experiment? I have a holster especially designed to hold my wet noodles. I carry a permit. If you jog by me you might get the old wet noodle treatment. I do a great Clint in my own version of a spaghetti western.

Hazel.....agreed. What an obscene phrase

Julia is right, I need more information to form an opinion, there are always two sides to a story.  But as presented above, it sounds like a clash of egos to me, and the ranger with the gun won.  Thank goodness the jogger didn't have a concealed weapon permit and weapon or he may have shot back at the ranger with a real gun.

Off topic, Hazel, I hear Downton Abbey premiered in UK last night. Are you as hooked as I am? Was it good?

As well, did she identify herself? Was she in uniform? Where was the new regulation posted? All this, however, teasing seems over kill. It's probably a small fine offense. Maybe even just a ticket.

Good morning all. To tazer or not to t...., sorry couldn't resist. Sittiing here in my moveable living room imminently ready to take off for posts northwest, it certainly looks to me as though the park warden? Officer? ...used judgement that was somewhat lacking. That weapon hurts.

Perhaps....he fought the law and the law won... *giggle*

Tased in the back as the man was leaving the scene...so, a ranger, who must be in uniform when on patrol, told the jogger about the new leash law and obviously asked for some form of ID.   The jogger refused to obey the request and must have turned and moved away.  So you zap him?
 
I have been a member of a group that walks a state preserve to let people who may not have seen the many posted signs or who may have just decided to ignore them that dogs must be leashed when they are on the mountain.  We all wear a cap that reads "patrol volunteer" and a tee shirt with the Conservancy's insigna (as does the cap).  I have only had one person give me a bit of lip and walk away from me.   From the information given I agree with lotlot, and like RoadYacht think the ranger should get a dose of his/her own medicine.  

Sounds like the classic "two sides to every story" to me.....It is not easy to be a police officer or forest ranger or park constable....!! Why was the dog owner not cooperative? The ones charged with keeping the peace and upholding the laws or regulations have a tough job!! Maybe tazing was too strong, but if the person was a scofflaw, uncooperative, and walking away from the one who was trying to enforce a rule, then stopping the dog owner was important.

I don't have dogs, wouldn't walk 'em off leash if I did, especially in a park! If confronted by an officer about anything, I'd be trying to toe the line and cooperate.....Sorry, Village, I am with the officer....taze or not!

Also, tasers are "less-than-lethal," not "non-lethal."  Try controlling somebody with a pacemaker and you've got a corpse on your hands.  In Boston, when the Redsox defeated the evil empire in 2004, I witnessed riot police shooting "less-than-lethal" mace-filled paint balls at the crowd.  One girl got it in the eye, which caused part of her skull to enter her brain and her subsequent death.  I agree that we don't have all the facts from this post.  Speaking as the son of a policeman,  I think the more variety of options available to the cops, the better.  But, sure, on the face of it, this seems excessive if the ranger was in no imminent danger.  While some cops used to relish the fight with uncooperative arestees, my father said, "why would I want to fight them when I can douse them with pepper spray?"  Around the police station, they started calling it "Jerry Juice" because he used it so often instead of fighting.

There has to be more to this story as everyone has said. My daughter was a Park Ranger in Colorado and not only are they in uniform, she had to wear the Smokey the Bear Hat, and the description of that story goes against all the extensive training they receive. Granted, it was six years ago and there were no tasers, but nonetheless, I cannot believe the policy of total courtesy and deference to the public can have changed. Baaaad dog walker or craaazzy Park Ranger......

I think every federal employee should be armed with a Taser
so that any time WETHEPEOPLE step out of line we can be herded back into
formation.  I understand the concept of rule of law, but I also understand
that…

People crushed by laws, have no hope but to evade power. If the laws
are their enemies, they will be enemies to the law; and those who have most to
hope and nothing to lose will always be dangerous.

--Edmund Burke

I also  believe that a
generation which is least repressed will become the most oppressive. I think we
have reached that point. Is it any wonder that I fear for the future of our
Republic?

I’m Done.

If you were the park officer, what would you (you meaning directed at entire Village) - if you were the park officer what would you have done?

I am not the entire village, I'm just lil ol' me but, the article says it was a new law.  Quite simply I would have informed the man of the new law, asked him to leash his dog or leave the property. If it were a second offense, I'd taser the dog.  To shoot an unarmed man in the back, even with a taser, is just wrong.  If she wanted to pull a Barney Fife, she should have positioned herself in front of him and then maybe he would have taken her seriously. 

Sorry to be the one to admit,but,I play with my dog off leash every chance I can. He loves to run full speed,far,far,and back. He loves chaseing the far flung frizbee,or the slingshot launced tennis ball. Why shouldn't he? I clean up any nuisence he leaves. I respect other people,and stay far from an occupied area. Most of the Rangers that I meet tell me he should be leashed,and pet him at thhe same time. Some even offer him a doggy treat. I think there's more to that story,a Ranger tasering anyone not in a fight back situation is wrong.

I marjorie- alas, I still await my TV being cabled up so am watching 'catch up' TV on my laptop. Feeling exhausted from an afternoon at the hospital - more tests and consultations and vampire phlebotomists trying to extract blood from my reluctant veins. A nice dose of Downton Abbey is just what the Doctor ordered, thanks for the reminder.

Oh and before any of you dog lovers jump on the DON’T STUN
THE DOG train, there is precedent, before the advent of stun guns there were stun hammers.

If you watch the entire video you will see how little Alice
handled a similar (not identical but similar)situation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ3rXbFn8qE

When I was a hobo, a railroad dick slapped me with the pre-cursor to the Taser, the Billystick and I jumped off the train only to fall in with some Okies headed to Cali. Joined the labor movement and a union buster tied me to a metal bench and planted a lightening rod on my person. I later lit up like Doc from Back to the Future. Seriously-When a cop asks for you to ID yourself, you do it. Choose your battles.

To answer the question, what would I have done? I'm sure I would not have tazed the guy, nor his dog.  To me, it sounds like the jogger must have been a jerk to piss off the ranger.  The ranger sounds inexperienced.  It shouldn't have happened.  The jogger was not complying with the new law.  So what?  It's just a loose dog, probably just running along with his pal.  Don't fight fire with gasoline.  A wet blanket is much more effective. 

I didn't have a taser, the volunteers don't carry one, when the man was rude to me about not leashing the dog. I had explained it was a state law regarding preserves, and that it was different from a park.  When he turned and left I said to his back, "Respect, Sir, is all the Conservancy asks.  Sorry you do not understand the situation."  Because our trails are narrow he could not jog nor run so I know he heard every word.

TT ~ Choose your battles?  

How tough can it be to outwit a Park Ranger?

You just need to be smarter than the average Ranger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBTsS6EEUME

Maybe she could get a job checking voter ID in Chicago.

Rusty--you gave the wet blanket response.  A nice, drippy wet blanket. 

p- if a picnic basket was involved...perhaps...

My son bought me a tazer...I like the crackling, zapping, frying sound it makes when I push the button...much more than just a buzz
Sometimes when my husband makes me mad, I daydream...or sometimes when I'm feeling extra frisky, I like to chase him around the island in the kitchen...bzz...bzzzz

And I said it ever sooooo sweetly, l marjorie.   The sarcasm just oozed all each word.

oozed all over    That's better.

Paolos:  I was reading yesterday, and saw your comment and suggestion about reading Lamb, before I make my peace with God.  I put the book on my reading list, will definitely read it before that day cometh, hope I have fair warning, know what I mean? .... Your comment reminded me of a quote allegedly by Gandhi, whe asked "Have you made your peace with God?" - Gandhi replied "I didn't know I had a quarrel with Him." Clever guy, Mahatma...I wish I could as sure I don't have a quarrel with Him either, nor He with me.

WHEN ASKED

Tazing of a different sort.....has anyone heard/read about a huge gathering of warships in the Persian gulf, some source said from 25 different coutries.
 
Came out in the Telegraph afew days ago...wonder if Hazel has seen it?
 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9545597/Armada-of-international-naval-power-massing-in-the-Gulf-as-Israel-prepares-an-Iran-strike.html
 

Iran's been threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz, if that's what this is about.  They threaten to do that every week or so, and we can't let them block that shipping lane.  This might be about that.  If it's about going to the aid of Israel, then it's news to me, I didn't know Obama was inclined to get involved with Israel's problems with that pesky almost-nuclear Iran...  Obama's a busy guy though, Sf, you have to understand that he's got a fund raiser tonight with some entertainers in Manhattan, and he had to tape a Letterman show while he was in NYC as well...no time for this middle east is burning ap-cray.  

Hi Park4!
 
Yes, am sure its about Israel & Iran. We've got growing tensions between Japan and China on my side of the world too, centred round territorial claims over some disputed islands. A man in Shanghai just burned his own Honda Civic outside the Honda dealership, unfurling a banner that said, "Japanese devils go home!"
 
 
 

Peed on Uncle Fred's electric fence once. Talk about self-tasing. Country boy dance lesson.

you don't pee on uncle fred's fence/ you don't spit in the wind...there's a song about that T.

Having power and weapons in the wrong hands has always been, and always will be, a case of volatile ingredients waiting to be ignited. Whether it be a taser in the hands of a wouldbe fierce park ranger or nuclear weapons in the hands of a mad dictator who wants to set the world on fire........

Holy socks,what's the world coming too...... And to Parks point, why is our Commander and Chief campagning on the Letterman Show when our embassies are being attacked

Park, i second Paolos' book suggestion. Christopher Moore never fails to make me laugh, or at least offer an off-the-wall perspective.

three words: tin foil underwear

PL:  because he's such a rock star.   Rock stars gotta rock.    Oh deliver us...