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How Much Is Too Much?

How many stories like the death of "Scooter" Pikes, or the recent hospitalization of Mace Hutchinson, both involving excessive use of a taser, do we need to hear before we question the authorities? I can understand the use of a taser to subdue an unruly citizen, I get that, and prefer it over more lethal weaponry. My thing is, after two, maybe 3 shots with the taser (depending on height & weight), when does a cop just say "OK, let's try something else"? When does it step over the line of trying to get a situation under control and become police brutality?

9 times surely seems like it was over the limit, and that killed Pikes. 19 times is far too many, and luckily Hutchinson is alive, albeit suffering from a laundry list of ailments, including a serious fall that the tasering delayed.

If I went out and had a dispute with 5-0, and I felt threatened, legally had a taser on me and shot the cop with it, could I get off on a light rap? I highly doubt it. I seriously feel as its us against them. My thing is, my hood isn't nearly as bad as other spots in my area, and yet I get double looks from cops when I don't fit any kind of description. Shit like that makes a nigga feel like, while my taxes go to pay their checks, they could give fuck-all about me.

And then they wonder why people in the US can't trust them. Look at the timeless issues people in general (not just based on color/sexuality) have had against the authorities. And there are good cops out there, but it feels like the cats who are whupping upside your head or repeatedly electrocuting you are outnumbering the cats who help old ladies cross the street, walk the city beat and truly give a damn about our communities.

Hopefully we can see an end to these excessive forms of police brutality.
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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

i guarantee that it's not going to get any better.

Anonymous said...

Well said, Khal. I feel you on this and times are a changin. Or maybe they've already changed.

In related news, did you see the "Don't Taze me Bro" music video? As I say in my post, "...this all was terrible and in my opinion completely unjustifiable, but at least this well-done rap song gets my head knocking..." Not to mention the animation is humorous.

http://www.blogadilla.com/2007/10/08/dont-taze-me-bro-rap-remix/

THE INFORMED FAN said...

POLICE SHOULD BE TRAINED BETTER AND RECIEVE HARSHER PUNISHMENTS FOR THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR THAN MAYBE THEY'D STOP I BELIEVE THEY DO IT BECAUSE THEY CAN AND THEY RECIEVE NO REAL PENALTY FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN MOST CASES OF POLICE BRUTALITY THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION