I can always count on digby to keep me up to date on taser news. I think we share concerns about tasers on a couple of fronts.
For me, there's a question of how many people who are allowed to carry these things have enough emotional maturity to use them. Second, I think it's amazingly arrogant that anyone could say tasers are safe enough for anyone to use against another human being. The science and technology behind these weapons of mass disruption has -- as near as I can tell -- totally ignored the idea that life (and health) is ultimately about energy and frequency.
Some years ago I came across the idea that electroconvulsive therapy (electroshock, or "shock treatment") is dangerous because any energy going into the body knocks more subtle life processes (for example, subtle energy bodies, chakra systems) out of alignment. This misalignment -- in some models of health and healing -- is considered a cause of illness. There's plenty of evidence for this, though much of it is denied or disputed by those whose power, control or greed give reason for it not to be so.
Not only is this a health justice issue: as long as people of color are unjustly targeted by justice and mental health systems, it is also a matter of social injustice.
This is why I, as a mental health professional, oppose any use of shock treatment and tasers. Here's an excerpt from digby's post (read the whole thing here):
It’s time for a heart to heart talk. If you are confronted by a police officer give yourself up immediately, do nothing at all to make him angry or believe that you are being uncooperative. Don’t argue or fail in any way to follow his orders to the letter. They have permission to electrocute you for any reason and nobody will do anything about it. You have no rights in practice, only in theory, as long as this is true.
via blogs.alternet.org
