# Are Tasers increasing police violence, not decreasing it?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tasers-increasing-police-violence-not-decreasing-it/546511>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [July 13, 2010, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tasers-increasing-police-violence-not-decreasing-it/546511 "2010-07-13T10:00:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tasers-increasing-police-violence-not-decreasing-it/546511/61 "2010-07-16T05:03:58Z")

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I think some cops have come to view tasers as time and labor saving devices. They’re certainly easier and safer than a physical struggle or a chase, and they also are great at shortening arguements. Plus, the consequences for using them almost always less than using a gun.

If the world is a kitchen, the tazer is a micrwave.

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**Author:** ![Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Skinley_Von_Clipper)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tasers-increasing-police-violence-not-decreasing-it/546511/62 "2010-07-16T22:45:52Z")

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Some cops use tasers as a penis extension (metaphorically). The taser itself is not a problem, it’s the moronic thugs who have been authorised to use them.

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**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tasers-increasing-police-violence-not-decreasing-it/546511/63 "2010-07-17T10:38:11Z")

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> [@Shodan](#):
>
> I think a lot of it is this. Coupled with that is that Tasers usually leave no marks, and do no lasting damage. Even the apparently excessive and inappropriate use of the Taser in the OP does not seem to have injured the subject at all. Which, I suppose, is why it is considered a step _down_ from the violence of a nightstick. Is that appropriate? Dunno.

I wonder if maybe they should take a book from the military, and require them to use it on themselves as a reminder of how bad it is. Heck, since apparently it’s not cruel and unusual to use them in the first place, maybe taser misuse should be punishable by taser administration.

If a cop has to worry that he himself might be put into horrible pain, I’m sure it would restore the balance.

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