just awful July 9, 2010
Another case of authorities tasering a person who poses no threat to them. This time it’s the nephew of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. And it’s in Jefferson parish. At a hospital.
I’m on record somewhere around here as being completely against the use of tasers. I agree with Digby on this subject. Tasers were only supposed to be used when the police are in genuine fear of their lives. Now they are being used when mentally ill people get out of control, when people question traffic stops, and generally when the police feel like it.
The authorities cannot be trusted with these weapons. They are delivering 50,000 volts of electricity to people who have not been charged with, let alone convicted of, a crime. Me, I’d rather do a few months in jail, if given the choice. It’s like the electric chair without the chair.
This story also struck me because I once met Justice Thomas’ brother. He lived and worked in New Orleans. He died of a heart attack some years ago. I wonder if this terrible thing happened to his son.
