The Taser Story: Who Do We Blame, Bro? « This Week's Top Scrooge

Entering the Andrew Meyer taser debate with both eyes wide open

This Week’s Top Scrooge - September 21, 2007   

The definition of Taser as found in Wikipedia:

The name Taser is an acronym for “Thomas A. Swift’s Electric Rifle”. Arizona inventor Jack Cover designed it in 1969; naming it for the science fiction teenage inventor and adventurer character Tom Swift.

Modern taser-type weapons fire small dart-like electrodes with attached metal wires that connect to the gun, propelled by small gas charges similar to some air rifle propellants. The maximum range is up to 10 meters (30 feet). Earlier models of Taser needed the dart-like electrodes to embed in the skin and superficial muscle tissues layers; newer versions of the projectiles use a shaped pulse/arc of electricity which disrupt nerve and muscle function without needing the metal prongs on the projectile to penetrate the skin. Early models had difficulty in penetrating thick clothing, but the ‘pulse’ models are designed to bring down a subject wearing up to a Level III body armor vest.

Tasers are currently in use by a number of police forces worldwide to try to reduce firearms-related deaths.

Andrew Meyer is obnoxious. According to several reports, his is quite the attention seeker. However, did he deserve to be tasered while disrupting a John Kerry Q&A and then making quite a fuss while police attempted to subdue him?

You can look at it from many angles and judging by a few quick internet searches, opinion runs wide and wild.