Use of stun guns to commit crimes more prevalent

[SecularMotion]

Brent Woodall of Salmon Creek tossed a black TASER-like device to the ground before surrendering to Portland police June 20 after an alleged crime spree that spanned Washington and Oregon, according to live KATU footage of the chase.

Woodall cast off the device as a suspect would a gun to show the suspect wasn't a threat to the officer.

Marketed to the public as a form of self-defense against crimes, stun guns, such as Tasers, have gained popularity among robbers who use the devices to intimidate victims into cooperation.

"It's becoming more and more common as an item," said John Laws, a Vancouver police crime analyst. "Back in the old days when pepper spray was new, we had a bunch of pepper spray armed robberies."

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/jul/11/use-of-stun-guns-to-commit-crimes-more-prevalent-l/

[Remmah2]

1. Criminals finding alternate methods to commit crimes?

I'm stunned.

BTW, wasp spray has also been used by the criminal elite.

[Tejas]

4. Cheap perfume is a great deterrent.

It's been shown in several studies that constant use of cheap perfume wards off even the most determined criminals. The resultant nausea and watering eyes works to effectively disable the perp until the police arrive or the intended victim can make their escape.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

2. Seems silly. In many states, the onus for use is the same as that for other lethal force.

For example, in Ohio the use of a Taser device has the same requirements as using a gun... it's still considered use of deadly force. So, as a robber, why use one at all? I highly doubt that people committing aggravated assault really have the consideration of other's well being in mind when choosing a Taser.

I suppose ratoinal thought is not most criminals' strong suits

[oneshooter]

13. You could ask Hoyt.

He has experience in the trade.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

17. My guess is that their penises are already huge so they really don't need guns.

[ileus]

3. time to ban stun guns....rude criminals.

[mvccd1000]

5. Kinda like microstamping...

... don't most Taser models have tiny paper serial number tags that are spewed out with every shot? If these don't deter crime, why are we so anxious to commit to microstamping to do the same thing?

[jeepnstein]

6. They use "Taser" for all sorts of stun devices.

Kind of like when a "journalist" calls an SKS an assault rifle. Everything is an assault rifle to some people.

The Taser is expensive and the chaff from the cartridge is registered with the company. It's not a good choice for your average criminal. I really like the Taser as a less-than-lethal option for police work but they're not that useful for an everyday citizen because they have their limits. Oh, and if I'm on a call and a suspect produces a Taser, he's getting shot and that's department policy.

A cheapo stun gun is what the criminal set is using. The press just can't tell the difference between the weapons platforms so they use the wrong description.

[Clames]

8. Keep away from my semi-automatic assault stunner.

So what if it has a "high-capacity" 400kV capacitor...and a high capacity Li-ion battery.

[MicaelS]

14. The problem with Tasers for LEO use is that officers

Are using them as "tools of compliance", and I don't like that at all. People have died from being Tased. IMO, Taser use should fall under the same rules as use of a firearm. You draw and use it, you better have a damn good reason for doing so, not just because someone wouldn't obey your command.

[jeepnstein]

19. That's a result of lax supervision.

The Taser training is very clear on when and how to use the device. And it keeps track of each and every cycle of the weapon. We are permitted to test-fire the weapon, without the cartridge installed of course, when starting a shift but it darn well better not be cycled after that without a Use of Force report. It's a lot less harmful, when properly used, than an ASP or straight baton. OC spray has problems of it's own so some times it's not really such a hot idea to use it.

Many departments are so lax in their training and standards of conduct that it's a wonder more atrocities aren't committed. It reaffirms my belief that most people are basically good.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

7. I'm hard pressed...

...to understand why this is posted here. The OP doesn't mention firearms and neither the poster nor the linked source mentions the 2A.

[Clames]

9. Slow Google dump news day I guess. n/t

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

16. Maybe

[SecularMotion]

10. Why don't you try reading the article before making an ignorant comment?

Compared with a gun, a stun gun can reduce the risk of killing someone during a robbery and adding murder to the list of potential charges.

Stun guns also may be a safer choice for the criminal than an airgun.

Unlike an airgun, stun guns usually are easy to recognize, Laws said.

"They're block-like and square, so you can identify them as a Taser," Laws said.

That may reduce the chance of being shot by law enforcement in a high-stress situation.

[permatex]

11. If a thug tries to rob me with a stun gun

he's going to get shot. A stun gun can still be lethal.

[Clames]

12. Why don't you try reading the group SOP?

I'll even make it easy for you so you won't have to demand a link.

Discuss gun control laws, the Second Amendment, the use of firearms for self-defense, and the use of firearms to commit crime and violence.

I've even bolded the relevant terms for you.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

15. Relax

I didn't alert on your post.
I did find it interesting that my response was the only one to which you replied.

I did read the article. For me it isn't news.
Thanks, thou.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

18. Your point was the basis for my earlier comment...

The use of a Taser or stun gun is almost always lawfully regarded lethal force. If caught, they may still face attempted murder charges. You are right though, the chances of them ACTUALLY killing someone are much slimmer.

I highly doubt it would significantly reduce the chance of being shot. If you have a weapon, regardless of the weapon, and fail to comply with an LEO you're probably going to get shot. I would think police treat Tasers the same as firearms in terms of threat response... as a civilian-toter, I would.