Writes DM: “I used to perform security functions in the military, and I think it’s important to point out that the police officers typically featured in your posts are using tasers in a manner that would be intolerable by military standards. Generally, military members performing security duties may use nonlethal (or, perhaps more accurately, less lethal) force as part of a continuum of force in response to a threat to their person. For example, if a person presents a threat to a sentry, the sentry should, if time permits, methodically escalate his use of force in order to resolve the situation with the minimum amount of force. They might start with a hand signal to stop, then a verbal command, then a nonlethal weapon, then and then, finally, a firearm. Of course, if the threat is clear and immediate, they may skip steps as necessary.

“What I find interesting (and profoundly disturbing) about the conduct featured in your posts is that the police are not using the taser as a step in a continuum of self defense activity. Rather, they use the taser to inflict physical discomfort in order to compel compliance with commands. The message is not ‘I will hurt you to prevent you from inflicting harm on me,’ but rather ‘Do what I say or I will cause you pain.’ This seems terribly inconsistent with the role of civilian law enforcement in a free society. How long until they are using these devices to disrupt nonviolent protest and civil disobedience?”