"Don't Misbehave, Or I'll Taser Ya!"

Word on the street is that more coppers are going to start carrying tasers around with them. Ouch. Tasers (or stun guns) have been fired more than one thousand times in only four years since they were first introduced into the police force. At the moment only specialist firearms officers carry and use this weapon.

So what are the implications of stun guns being introduced to your average police officer (to be politically correct...)? Does this mean that we, as a country are feeling more and more vulnerable to the thugs that walk our streets? Should we support this change, or should we condemn it? Are they even safe to use?

One lawyer has said that tasers are "weapons of torture", yet Peter Boatman, a businessman (supposedly tasered two hundred times) said that a taser is "no more painful than a cramp", which leaves us to ponder on who's tale is true. Surely inflicting cramp-like pain on a criminal is not a form of torture? So that implies that it's more painful, unless the lawyer is lying.

Either way, Peter does make an interesting point in that he would "rather be tasered than hit with a truncheon". Tasers are far safer when it comes to them not breaking bones or making you generally look a hell of a lot more ugly; yet there is the slight problem of a possible misfire. Such as a shot into the face or even the tenders. I suppose that might be why the criminal is made to turn around.

There's also the problem a taser may cause a child, pregnant woman or generally frail person if fired upon. Surely it would cause major problems for all, and so there must be rules put in place for firing a taser. Is it right to fire a taser on a pregnant woman who is about to assault a police officer? Or stun gunning a frail old man who is about to stab someone in a pub?

The issuing of tasers to more front line police officers is bound to cause moral debates among the government and social groups, so what are your views?

^{How does a taser work?}