The recent slew of reports and controversy regarding Tasers has made me a bit reflective.

I have to confess that I do not come to this unbiased.  My father was a cop.

During the time he served I do not recall any hint he ever discharged his gun at a person, but I do recall a time he was restraining someone and when the guy broke loose, my dad’s ribs took part of the heat. 

So with that in mind, I admit my automatic impulse is to defend the police, but that does not mean I cannot see deeper into it and try to evaluate the situation objectively.

The argument about Tasers, when you nail it down, is essentially twofold:  Should they used and when should they be used.

The first is one I am not totally qualified to answer.  Anecdotally, the evidence supports the use of a Taser as a safe and effective non-lethal means of controlling an unruly subject.  There are other weapons in that category, such as nightsticks, batons or tonfas; pepper spray, Mace or CS gas; rubber or plastic bullets; bean bags;  and water cannons.