Tasers are substitutes for lethal force, not to be used in subduing people

The NYPD should be prosecuted.

(h/t Melissa McEwan @ Shakesville)

Related post:

• Police brutality

Police brutality

See video at the Washington Post.

A student was arrested immediately after asking Sen. John Kerry, “Also, are you a member of Skull and Bones… Are you in the same secret society?”

He was then tasered.

Update: John Kerry responds to taser incident:

In 37 years of public appearances, through wars, protests and highly emotional events, I have never had a dialogue end this way. I believe I could have handled the situation without interruption, but I do not know what warnings or other exchanges transpired between the young man and the police prior to his barging to the front of the line and their intervention. I asked the police to allow me to answer the question and was in the process of responding when he was taken into custody. I was not aware that a taser was used until after I left the building. I hope that neither the student nor any of the police were injured. I regret enormously that a good healthy discussion was interrupted.

For the record, I wouldn’t mind hearing his answer to this (somewhat garbled) question.