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From the Police Blotter: Basic Info on Tasers
I’ve heard a lot of legal eagles offer their opinions on various political talk shows on Tasers in the Atlanta shooting.
I’ll try and clarify Taser classification as a weapon. There are two types of weapons under Oregon law. Deadly weapons and dangerous weapons.
A dangerous weapon is any item that was not designed to cause serious physical injury or death, even though it could cause serious physical injury or death. Examples would be a steak knife, chef’s knife, baseball bat, golf club, or an automobile.
A deadly weapon is designed to cause serious physical injury or death. Double-edged dagger, firearm, sword, etc.
A Taser could be defined as a deadly weapon or a dangerous weapon depending upon a state legislature, although it was designed to be a non-lethal means of incapacitating a violent subject. A Taser is capable of causing death in certain circumstances.
A police officer doesn’t have to go to the trunk of his police car and get his city-issued baseball bat if he’s being attacked by a baseball bat wielding subject. He can use his pistol to stop the attack. The same thing applies in an edged weapon attack, or if a suspect tries to Tase him. He gets to move up to the top of the Force Continuum, and use deadly physical force to defend himself.
Does that make sense? I hope so.
Published in Policing
And violating probation is not just a “hassle.” It’s actually another crime.
I believe that, aside from the leadfoot, he grew up.
There should be K-9 units. No human can outrun a dog and they are really good at “wrestling” with bad guys.
You mean police dogs? Like Bull Connor used?
That’s an interesting point. Firehoses remain evil but police dogs not so much.