Let’s play with those Tasers
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The executive director of PEER, Jeff Ruch, points out that recent Taser-linked deaths in the news should inspire caution on the part of public agencies, but his main concern is that the cash-strapped Forest Service, still reeling from the costs of an intense fire season, shouldn’t be buying weapons.
Christine Romero, a public affairs specialist for the Northern Region of the Forest Service, says the agency plans to develop a Taser policy and train its officers in their use by next summer so they can be deployed in the field. Fifty-five of them are bound for the Northern Region, which includes Montana.
She says increased violence on national forest lands prompted the agency to add Tasers to its officers’ arsenals. She also points out that other federal land agencies, such as the National Park Service, already use Tasers.
“I know this has become a controversial issue, but we’d like the public to know that the safety of the public is one of our primary concerns,” Romero says. “To help ensure safety, it was determined that officers need to have more use-of-force options to allow them to safely and effectively perform their duties.”
Ruch says the Taser craze among federal land managers has all the appearances of a mindless arms race that has escaped public scrutiny in Congress. “As a result,” he says, “in addition to the howl of the coyote and the hoot of the owl, the plaintive cry of ‘Don’t Tase me, bro’ may soon echo through the forest night.”
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What the heck? So they're arming Ranger Joe with tasers? For what? So he can "pain compliance" us into not littering? Stop the country, I want off...
Tasers and other 'nonlethal' law enforcement weaponry have been sold to the public as an alternative to the use of deadly force by cops. Instead, they're used much more often as a substitute for the application of patience, common sense, reason and negotiation skills when dealing with nonviolent 'offenders'. No wonder the Forest Service LEOs are getting them.
pretty one-sided views here. when was the last time you were out in the middle of the forest and had to deal with an irate anti-governement, chainsaw wielding, gun toting, freak? the national forests are no longer quiet and crime free. have you ever camped out on the shores of hungry horse reservoir only to be cowering in your tent in the middle of the nite cuz the idiot in the next campsite is drunk and shooting (at god knows what) in the middle of the night, in the middle of the campground? or are you aware of all the little meth labs that are popping up all over the place on the forests? how would you like to ruun across one of those when the wacked out cooker was present ? this is the kind of stuff forest service leos are dealing with more and more regularly - not just firewood cutters without their permits. these guys are out there for are safety, why not give them options? leos are already carrying guns - which are obviously lethal. why would you be opposed to allowing them to have non-lethal weapons?
While I can't say I'm thrilled to hear there'll be more weapons in our forests, I can think of more than a few scenarios where a less lethal weapon would be preferable to a gunshot. It's ultimately at the discretion of the rangers to use any of these things with caution. Just because they have tasers doesn't necessarily mean they'll be irresponsibly brandished in place of negotiation. Regardless, I also think the money could've been better spent.
Its all intersting to me as I sell civilian use TASERS and you would be surprised who buys them or what businesses around western Montana have them but would not mention it. Would you rather be shot with a 9mm handgun if you are an aggressor or temporarily disabled with a TASER??Would you leave your family with a 9mm or a TASER for protection?What about kids in the house with a handgun around? TASERS are the most effective non-lethal personal protection device available bar none!!! E-mail at viperprotects@yahoo.com if you want more information.
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