Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer - Defective & Dangerous Products

U.S. Chamber "Madoff" With the Truth

Steve Lombardi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:01:00 GMT

Mike Bryant wrote an interesting piece on the underlying facts behind the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ads and how distorted the conclusions are from the facts that underlie those ads. What I believe Mike concludes is that if you examine the facts the conclusions seems to be a mockery of the truth. Mike’s analysis shows just how naïve people are when it comes to believing a firmly stated conclusion presented by someone with money. In essence the Chamber has “Madoff” with the truth. I find this subject fascinating because during the Bush Administration it was like we were in Alice's looking glass. And now hardly anyone who voted for him will admit it.

Guess What: The U S Chamber TV Ad Attack Really Did Need A Closer Look, Mike Bryant, November 3, 2009, 3:27 PM

For me, the truth with the US Chamber of Communism is a fleeting thought. They operate sort of like a communist regime and like most communist regimes the truth isn't something that gets in the way of stating the conclusion we are all to believe; irrespective of the facts. Like any communist culture the end run is always the same, corruption infects those in power for the sake of taking a profit from the citizens that actually did the work or saved their earnings. It just happened and it’s happening repeatedly, and under their watch. But when it comes to corporate corruption and irresponsible citizenship the US Chamber along with the other two evil triplets say nothing.

You’ve got the ATRA and the Chinese arm of the Chamber. Together they brought us Y2K, Enron, Worldcom, Health South, Wall Street bonuses, Madoff, Davis Investments, hedge funds and now CDO’s backed by liar’s loans and then raiding the Treasury through a $700 Billion bailout. Think for a minute about why this seems to be happening at an increasingly faster pace and the fact we’ve heard nothing of any significance from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the ATRA or their evil sister in China. Trillions of your hard earned money, savings that were put away for a rainy day, dividends that never get paid to the shareholders and now your tax dollars bailing out the very CEO’s who created the latest mess; and we hear nothing about corruption and corporate irresponsibility from those who claim to be the corporate honor guard in America. How can that be?

Why isn’t the U.S. Chamber of Commerce saying anything about the SEC’s look the other way approach in the Madoff Ponzi Scheme?

We saved our pennies in pension funds and they robbed us of it. Then they told you if you don’t give us bonuses that we didn’t’ earn, we won’t be able to rob you anymore – AND THAT’S UNAMERICAN! Of course with this being America the U.S. branch of the Chamber of Commerce change their approach, not by much but enough to distract most voters from the truth that they were being robbed. And that’s the point of how they are operating; in the end the truth still suffers and never seems to get in the way of the conclusion they want the American public to believe. Truth is exactly the opposite of what the Chamber preaches. Their style is commonly referred to in Communist countries as propaganda.

Below are several video clips: One of the CCP and several others of the US Chamber of Commerce. Is this the America they stand for? As for the CCP versus US Chamber of Communism, each would have its people believe free thought and speech is anti-Country. Each believes they have the only good ideas. Each organization believes in a lack of tolerance and hording the profit earned by public corporations.. Each is rigid in thought, rejects the acceptance of new ideas and each believes in itself and not the people that did the actual work. They claim those who ask for a piece of the pie aren’t sacrificing for the good of the country, while those in charge reap billions in unearned bonuses and stock options. In each instance they steal what they can’t get legitimately. Welcome to Wall Street and Madoff’s world of thugs roaming the hallways of Wall Street glad-handing with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the ATRA. Mind you I’m a Republican saying this. Those on Wall Street stole from me just like they did you Democrats.

Remember Senator Ted Stevens and the charges in Alaska?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIc9xjiBnto

Here is the challenge the U.S. Chamber of Commerce faces and ignores. The U.S. Chamber believes Wall Street’s CEO’s in charge of mismanaged public corporations actually earned billions of dollars in bonuses and yet they strongly oppose (d) quality of life damages for those injured through no fault of their own. The Chamber preaches that common citizens should receive no compensation when the mistakes of others cause their arms and legs to have to be amputated and then hand out Participation Trophy bonuses to the Wall Street gang. It’s an unconscionable position they take: One that sanctions Wall Street corruption and denies quality of life and an earned retirement to working Americans. We’ve seen and heard this before. Their rhetoric is a throw back to the Stalinist Era with the Communist Manifesto that believed no one was entitled to pain and suffering damages or a decent retirement since all workers owed their pain and suffering to the state. (or the Red Army)

Who are the real Americans? Where are the real Americans? Why are they putting up with this?

You do realize the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is in China? They are no longer the U.S. Chamber, but instead appear to me to be the U.S. Chamber of Communism, exporting our jobs overseas, spending tens of millions of dollars on ads meant to disenfranchise American taxpayers from American workers and thereby allowing more American jobs to be exported, while real Americans stand around arguing. This Chamber is not on our side. They are in every sense a false “profit”. And I have to wonder if the Chinese Communist Party isn’t providing financial support for their work. It would make complete sense that they would; because the more jobs America loses, the more China gains and the wider the U.S. trade deficit. If you were Chinese why wouldn’t you want a greater trade deficit and all the American manufacturing jobs? What is occurring is the largest transfer of wealth in the history of the world. And don’t wait for the Congress to come to your aid because through campaign contributions our Congressmen and women work for corporate America, not the voters.

http://www.uschamber.com/international/asia/china/default

Who really is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chAJeuBmmog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePW0Dpuuu6c

These guys ought to do a little traveling and I’m not referring from the board room to the water cooler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2kRH9-UazY

The Bonus Boys at AIG – Good US Chamber Members

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K02pnuWfON8

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce should disclose all of its contributors, even those from Communist China.

I apologize for the length of this post, but this subject bothers me and it should you. Our jobs, the American middle class and the welfare of our country is at stake. We took this country back during the 1960's and 70's and we can do it again. Join me by protesting the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its evil twins, The USCCC and the ATRA. They are ruining America, but together if we reject their ideas, we can take back our country.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Trick or Treat! Halloween Safety

Barbara Tubridy Lombardi — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:59:00 GMT

Trick or Treat!

Trick or Treat! Memories of childhood….begging for candy at neighbors’ doors and the fun of being out in the dark on a school night. Most of my childhood Halloween trick or treating was spent in a snow suit or at the very least, a coat that covered the costume I had spent months thinking about. I grew up in Buffalo, NY.

Things are different now. No longer is it the standard princess or fireman costume. Costumes today reflect our culture of television, movies, and politics instead of the jobs we want to do. For example, the most popular girl costume for 2009 is Hannah Montana, which quite frankly I don’t understand, maybe it is a generational thing. For boys, the most popular costume is Wolverine X-Men, which considering that Hugh Jackman portrayed this character in the movie, I completely understand the attraction with this choice. These costumes were the most popular on the Extreme Halloween website. At the Do It Yourself website, Michael Jackson is the costume of choice. With the opening of the movie, This is It, that should help tremendously to push this costume to the top.

Safety tips for a fun and safe Halloween:

Children under a certain age should be accompanied by an adult.

Costumes and masks should not restrict movement or vision.

Costumes should be reflective and a flashlight should be with each group. It would be beneficial for each child to carry a glow stick as well.

If your child is old enough to go trick or treating with friends, agree on the route they will be taking and what time they will be home.

For this same group, make sure they know that vandalism is not an acceptable trick.

Talk to your children about safety; about looking before crossing the street and not getting into cars with strangers.

Stress the importance of checking the candy with you when they return home. Make a game of it for young children, have them sort it by type and this will allow you to make sure it is safe to eat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkjtctcuQ9Q

Happy Birthday to my own little treat who was born 23 years ago on Halloween, my daughter, Katrina.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q53m02bBGY&feature=related

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Barbara Tubridy Lombardi

Is Taser, Int'l. hiding a smoking gun?

Steve Lombardi — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:23:00 GMT

On October 2^nd 2009 a Georgia man died after being stunned by a Taser during a law enforcement BADGES investigation. While the investigation is ongoing and there has been no word yet on how many times the individual was Tased, we have to ask ourselves how safe are these devices? And, should the public continue to call these devices non-lethal weapons?

The BADGE officers stated that they stopped the vehicle Friday afternoon in the area of the Turtle Lake Apartments, the officers saw that one of the vehicles occupants was, “consuming an unknown amount of what appeared to be narcotics” and in an attempt to prevent him from “consuming or destroying” a struggle began which is when the officer pulled out his Taser X26 and began to stun the man. While the stun guns are only designed to have 5 second blasts it is unknown how many times the officers stunned the individual. When the officers realized that he was in need of medical attention they rushed him to the hospital. The facts of this case raise questions of what substance the arrestee was eating and how that may have contributed to his demise.

Two other individuals in the vehicle where arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, and a third was charged with weapons and drug charges.

Without referring to the facts of this case I’m predicting there will be continued litigation involving Tasers, how they are being used, how they function and it will lead to research that will demonstrate the internal functioning is not as reliable as has been assumed; the question will arise as to a defect in that the electrical pulse isn’t as constant, predictable and reliable as we are being lead to believe; or even what we have assumed. The Taser supporters can get as mad as they want towards those raising questions about the Taser’s reliability and how they are being used by law enforcement, but that will only spur on those asking the questions and demanding more research. Those individuals commenting on this blog in support of Tasers like to accuse the lawyers of trying to drum up business, but that only serves to deflect the main concerns of lawyers and other citizens. The civil rights of Americans is what is at stake, something much more important than a stock’s price. Many lawyers, including this one, believe there is a place for the Taser in the weapons police carry and are authorized to use; but we can’t blindly accept the notion that civil rights take a back seat to convenience or a stock's price. This fight is long from being over.

How about if Taser, International opens up its research library and testing data to some news organization along with what it gives to the Wall Street Journal?

Taser's stock price was down to around $4.62 from a high of over $33.00 since January 2005. One has to wonder if the 'market' suspects something about the product that most of America is willing to ignore or remain ignorant about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dik-mgCDcg

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Is your cell phone service a deadly weapon?

Steve Lombardi — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:07:00 GMT

Is US Cellular’s poor service to blame for the death of a Clear Lake man? Ann Poole has filed a lawsuit in Cerro Gordo County District Court alleging that on May 18th, 2008 she dialed 911 from her US Cellular cell phone after her husband, Rick Pool, went into cardiac arrest and was incorrectly routed to a call center in Cedar Rapids. She is claiming that the lost time due to the incorrect transfer contributed to the death of her husband. In cardiac arrest situations minutes can be the difference between life and death, could it in this situation have been the difference between living and dying? I'm guessing that's the issue to be decided at the trial. Can U.S. Cellular afford to have that question answered?

Should elderly people be concerned with what cell phone provider they use? I'd like to see the transcripts from depositions; they might answer a lot of questions that rural Iowans would find interesting.

They tell us one thing but is it all true? Advertising can be so misleading.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MswHJOwbUjA

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Another ATV accident in Iowa leads to death of driver

Steve Lombardi — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:08:00 GMT

According to the Iowa State Patrol accident report, Rodney Vanmeeteren, age 62, from Sheldon, IA was driving a Honda ATV on September 18, 2009. Driving in the east ditch off of Log Ave. near highway 18, Vanmeeteren was coming out of the ditch when the ATV rolled over onto him. Time of accident is unknown but a person passing this area found Vanmeeteren at 3:00pm. No seatbelt was used and the driver was transported to Sanford Sheldon Hospital.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Glenrock’s Beat Cops Kicked Out of the Taser Parade

Steve Lombardi — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:17:00 GMT

This one is coming out right, Wednesday’s Star Tribune reports the two officers who Tased the 76-year-old parade participant over where the parade should end, were given their walking papers and told to take a hike. We reported earlier on this mess out of Glenrock, Wyoming and suggested deeper budget cuts that included the police chief and the county prosecutor.

The Bush Legacy Paraded in Wyoming: An Intolerant Police State, a new low for America. September 7, 2009.

Now if they kick the prosecutor and police chief out of office we can all have a parade.

Town officials announced the firing this morning in a press release.

"After considering all aspects of the unfortunate event which occurred after the parade during Deer Creek Days this year, the decision has appropriately been made that the two Glenrock police officers involved are relieved of duty," the statement read.

The officers, Sgt. Paul Brown and officer Mike Kavenius, can appeal the decision.

Star Tribune, Wyoming

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

The Bush Legacy Paraded in Wyoming: An Intolerant Police State, a new low for America.

Steve Lombardi — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:08:00 GMT

Does bad judgment or rude behavior by any citizen justify the use of force of an electric shock by the police in America?

Here we go again, another officer with poor or nonexistent communication skills using the Taser in a manner unacceptable in a free society. This new report comes from not New York City where you expect rude behavior to be the norm, but from the wild west of Glenrock, Wyoming.

Wasn’t it the Bush Administration that coined the phrase, “Freedom isn’t free.”? I’m left to wonder, free of what; free of excessive force from our own police force? Just going through the airport in America I’m made to feel like a criminal in ways you won’t feel going through airports in Europe. In Russia you get robbed over luggage charges but you expect it. In America we now get not just robbed by Wall Street, but there is a growing trend of being mugged by our own police forces.

Like many of the reports seen on YouTube and those that have made recent news, the police are using the Taser to effectuate an arrest but in a way to also punish citizens for what the officers perceive as some level of behavior that justifies force when the evidence would simply support either bad judgment or simply rude behavior. In this instance a 76-year-old man with a heart condition riding an antique tractor in a small town parade misunderstood where the parade route ended. Assuming tractors would do what they had done in years past at the end of the parade the elderly driver veered off towards the town park where in recent years a tractor pull had taken place. Apparently the office took offense and started a chase that culminated in a car accident. It seems the parade wasn’t going to end in the usual location. Instead of merely letting the old man on the tractor go, the officer chases the near octogenarian, another joins in with an SUV, there is an accident and while one officer removes the grandson from the tractor another points a Taser at the old-man and shoots him with it. The grandfather was unarmed and apparently in the officer’s eyes un-American. There isn’t any indication of resisting arrest, but then again there wasn’t an arrest so how could there be?

Why didn’t the guy who took the child off the tractor ask the old man to get off the tractor? Or if need be, he simply could have pulled him off the tractor. Why the use of the Taser? What were the facts about an old man that warranted the use of the Taser? But then again what are the standards for when law enforcement can use electric shock on citizens? Is saying it can be used to subdue citizens enough of a standard?

If there wasn’t any illegal behavior what justified the use of force? What fact justified an American police officer taking out a department issued weapon that can cause death and using it on an American citizen taking part in a parade? Once again we are back to traffic stops and the use of the Taser to punish the questioning of authority.

Has the 9/11-America redefined the Constitutional limits of excessive force?

Or is a declining America so scared of losing its place in the world that we are willing to punish anyone who questions our authority?

Are citizens so fearful of losing jobs to the developing world that emotionally we enjoy watching someone who questions American authority being shocked and made to go limp?

Are a few deaths acceptable to the many in order to quiet the demons in our heads that make us fear what the Chinese labor force is doing to our labor market?

Is speech free only when we speak it; but not for the other guy?

The wrong-way tractor driver is shocked and quickly the parade crowd gets ugly with the officers and no arrest is made. Really, no arrest is made? I wonder why that might be. Following the incident, the police join ranks, hunker down with the local county attorney who says there will be no apology and denies the police did anything wrong. After a post-parade circling of the law enforcement wagons they rationalize that no arrest was made because the situation was getting out of hand and nearly turned into a riot. Really, a riot? I wonder why that might be. Perhaps the county attorney and the Glenrock Police Chief should pick up a book about why the American Revolution took place.

9/11-America clearly is losing control of its government – we are quickly becoming a police state with a police-state mentality run by thugs. The only difference between the American police state and those like Venezuela is the level of education of those running this one. The county attorney and police chief can rationalize the situation all they want but the facts speak for themselves and so did the crowd that saw it in real time. The American way of life is becoming, or maybe it’s become an intolerant society post 9/11 being run by a police force with a thug mentality. Sort of like the thugs on Wall Street. The Wall Street thugs steal our retirement funds and the politicians and law enforcement thugs steal our constitutional rights to freedom, but especially free speech. Like the SEC rationalizing how they missed Madoff operating an investment fund that never traded stocks, this county attorney rationalizing the accident as a ramming is an over-intellectualization of the truth. Just like anyone with a brain knows the SEC turned a blind eye to an obvious Ponzi scheme, the county attorney not filing charges against the officers is just as lame.

As a lawyer I’m finding it difficult to understand what has happened to America since 9/11 and the advent of the Bush Doctrine. Under the Bush Administration one day of multiple terrorist attacks was and is used to justify the use of force against American citizens for any behavior that questions authority. The use of the Taser by law enforcement is a prime example of how the U.S. Constitution has been gutted. This technologically sophisticated cattle prod is being used so frequently and in so many situations that it’s clearly not justified nor understood by law enforcement and perhaps the American judiciary. What ever happened to just good old police work that required good communication skills, an even temperament and thick skin? Alternatives exist that professional law enforcement could use and would be better suited; but it seems that officers with low intelligence, poor communication skills and quick tempers too quickly use a jolt of electricity to justify what can only be understood in real time to be the meting out of punishment. It isn’t being used to enforce the law, instead it’s being used to punish for minor infractions, bad judgment or speech that simply questions authority.

I’m seeing commenter’s on this blog that have shamefully low communication skills and whose temperaments mirror the officers who are quick to pull out the Taser and use it on American citizens who deserve nothing more than a good tongue lashing. Conditioned by the sitcom we want instant gratification and the Taser seems to dish it out in a way that we get to see someone with a bad disposition shake, then go limp and fall helplessly to the ground. None of us want to look at the ones who run, shake, drop and die. Those are too messy. Like American reality show mentality we justify the officer’s bad behavior through rationalization to win. Like the Bachelor or the Bachelorette we fool ourselves into believing that valuable human qualities can be developed and discovered in just a few short weeks. Like Big Brother we give the officers and the county attorney the power of veto (POV) so their own bad behavior is exempted, then empowered and require no intelligent explanation. Just say anything and you'll get to the final four because lying, cheating and scheming is now acceptable behavior in post-9/11 America. And this is the true Bush legacy.

It seems post-9/11-America can justify anything; even criminal behavior by law enforcement.

Is Free Speech Illegal in Post-9/11 America?

Where did people get the idea that questioning law enforcement is illegal? What created the impression that talking is resistance and can justify an arrest? If the standard-less use of the Taser continues to be tolerated by politicians and misguided citizens then the courts must step in and do what the other two branches of government are unwilling to do: stand up to Taser International and its growing league of thugs and say enough is enough. How many people have to die before the Court’s do what the U.S. Constitution mandates?

If freedom is not free then free speech certainly is.

One reader questioned why I draw the analogy that we are looking more and more like a communist regime backed up not by the rule of law but by a police force that use force to control speech, citizen temperament and the mere questioning of authority.

The traffic-stop-Tasering situation in New York involving Mrs. Harmon and the one involving the man in Alabama remind me of the U.S. Supreme Court’s situation in Jacobellis vs. Ohio, 378 U.S. 184(1964) in which Justice Potter Stewart in talking about pornography stated, I may not be able to define pornography but I know it when I see it. When watching the following video clips in real time and thinking through what law enforcement does in each I can say this: I may not be able to completely define police brutality but I know it when I see it. Like the crowd in Wyoming, the prosecutor can take a single fact, spin it and justify the officer’s position, but in real time the rest of us aren’t fooled.

To the people of Glenrock, Wyoming, as law abiding citizens you still have a choice. You can honor the Constitutional rights of every townsperson by throwing the bums out of office. Remove the prosecutor and the police chief and fire the officers involved. You’re better off with the criminals not wearing badges and having the right to “legally” carry deadly weapons. Take back your government and take back our country.

The terrorists may have taken down the World Trade Center towers but they didn’t rob America of its soul. America is still free to choose who runs our government. Freedom may not be free in an esoteric sense, but you better damn well not forget that in America speech still is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHyw9LHTSF8

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

On her knees and with hands up, Cincinnati Police tase Daughter of City Councilman

Steve Lombardi — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:35:00 GMT

Cincinnati Police Department, Ohio – August 28, 2009 – Teenaged daughter of City Councilman Tased. What did she do wrong? Charges: She’s accused of obstructing official business and possessing an open container.

A videotape of the incident recorded from a camera in one of the police cruisers doesn’t show the tasing, but other officers on the scene have told the Chief that Thomas was on her knees with her hands up.

"What we’re trying to accomplish here is for a citizen to submit to arrest," the Chief said Friday. “If a person goes to their knees or puts their hands up, I’m here to tell you that with 38 years of experience, that person is submitting to arrest. They’re not being combative. They’re not being threatening. When you’re on your knees, hands up, that means ‘I give up.’"

Memphis, Tennessee - the City of Memphis has said no to the police carrying Tasers and there is a Petition circulating for congress to hold hearings on the number of deaths being caused during an arrest where this non-lethal weapon is used.

Los Angles, California – August 27, 2009 – Shocked three times with a ‘stun gun’ the man died.

Montgomery County, August 27, 2009 – After an argument over a bicycle a man was tased and charged with domestic assault. He ran and then collapsed and died. It appears he may have been trying to swallow contraband. This report is very sketchy.

Alabama - Never Pass the Sobriety Test – You Could Be Tasered – Fear is the Standard – Punishment the Norm - Communication Skills Not Required

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmByfTKKUV4

Newest Taser Weapon – August 2009 - Taser XREP – Slight problem develops with users ability to aim it.

New Scientist reports:

In test firings, [the Taser XREP] proved difficult to aim, as the aerodynamics of the projectile caused it to fall below the aiming point at a range of 20 metres. “Any lack of accuracy means a greater risk of hitting an unintended part of the body and therefore greater risk of injury,” says security researcher Neil Davison.

New Scientist – August 26, 2009 – Long-range Taswer reignites safety debate

Government-funded tests on initial versions of the new Extended Range Electronic Projectile (XREP) have revealed possible health risks to people on the receiving end, New Scientist has learned. The manufacturer, Taser International of Scottsdale, Arizona, says the issue has been addressed in redesigned devices, but these have yet to be independently tested.

Unlike the current Taser X26, which fires darts attached to short wires, the XREP is wire-free. Its projectile, the size of a shotgun cartridge, is designed to pierce the target's skin and contains battery-powered circuits that deliver a debilitating shock. It has a range of 20 metres or more, compared with 5 metres for previous Tasers.

Glenrock, Wyoming - A 76-year-old riding an antique tractor in a parade and the police Tased him because of an argument over where the parade should stop. No charges will be filed.

Arizona City, Arizona – A 37-year-old man died of what is reported to be cardiac arrest after being Tased. His offense was a traffic violation. The suspect resisted arrest and the deputy tasered the man.

Police say the taser was not successful on the suspect and he continued running until collapsing to the ground. Officers said the suspect had gone into respiratory and cardiac arrest.

Corpus Christi, Texas – August 24, 2009 – A 67-year-old woman was robbed by an unidentified woman using a stun gun.

The thief is described as a Hispanic female, 18 to 23-years-old, 5' 1", 110 to 125 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.

Taser International Inc (TASR:NASDAQ) – Stock price closed at $4.44 on September 2, 2009.

Shares of TASER Int'l (TASR) Fall 2% After French Court

Suspends Use of Stun Guns For Local Police

1:41 pm ET 09/02/2009- StreetInsider

Shares of Taser Int'l (Nasdaq: TASR) are down almost 2% today after reports that the French court has suspended the use of Taser stun guns for local police.

Dow Jones reports that the Taser stun guns were given to police without proper training and safeguards.

The State Council, which is the highest court of appeal in France, rejected a September 2008 government decree allowing France's 20,000 local police to carry Tasers.

Currently, 4,615 Tasers have been issued to French police.

And that today is the news....

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Is the Taser a tool to protect or one used by Communist Regime Style thugs? You be the judge.

Steve Lombardi — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:15:00 GMT

Yesterday I ran several posts about the way police are using the Taser and an especially unprofessional statement by a Broward County Police officer about there’s always a good time to use a taser. Today I ask you to watch these video clips and consider whether the Taser is being used properly by these officers who are part of the American law enforcement system.

Whan watching ask yourself: Is the Taser being used to subdue or to punish? Also, is the Taser being subsituted for good communication skills?

Is the use of a Taser being justified when the officer is nervous? Yes.

Can a Taser make you catch on fire? Yes. Homeless man catches fire after being Tased.

How many times can an officer use a Taser on a suspect?

Repeated use of a Taser gun on a 16-year-old boy brings call for discipline.

"In its decision, the Law Enforcement Review Board calls for charges of "unlawful or unnecessary exercise of authority" and "insubordination" against Const. Mike Wasylyshen. …. Wasylyshen fired his Taser at Fryingpan eight times over a period of a little more than a minute.

The Taser is considered a casual side-arm by some officers, not a deadly weapon. Taser was used allegedly in a joking way. Can something that can lead to a death ever be considered a joke prop?

A Cleveland police officer requested a jury trial Monday in Municipal Court for a misdemeanor assault charge.

Patrolman James Hummel, 41, who pleaded not guilty this month, is accused of firing his stun gun at a gas station employee in December.

Hummel said he fired the Taser accidentally. He said he jokingly told the gas station employee to "hit me with two packs of smokes." The employee tossed the cigarettes at the officer, and he responded with some playful banter, according to a police report.

Is a mother accused of speeding considered a threat for asking to see the radar gun?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgaEaLXbhVk

Is it legal to Taser a juvenile in the head if she wants to run away?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvHwgFEq9uw

Is Tasing a 16-year-old boy 19 times law enforcement or legal punishment?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jWa2X4d0aM

“He refused to comply…” Give me a break, I'm sick of hearing this statement to justify using the Taser.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Arrestee’s Death after Tasering, Leaves RCMP Explaining and Re-explaining their first explanation

Steve Lombardi — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:25:00 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83avGztMIWA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSOeceqenX8

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were left explaining why they kept a citizen’s footage of the arrest and then why their first public explanation didn’t match up with the later released footage shot by a citizen at the airport.

I simply can’t understand how the use of the Taser was justified. Perhaps the Board of Directors and CEO of Taser International can shed some light on when a Taser should or should not be used.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi