Will a Vote Ban TASER Use in Columbia?

In Columbia a proposal to ban the utilization of TASER devices will appear on the upcoming November 2^nd ballot.

However on Monday, the City Council was seen to vote again the proposal, which if passed would see the employment of the self defense device banned inside the city limits. As the City Council voted against it, the final decision will now be up to the voters.

According to local newspapers, an organization by the name of People for a TASER-Free Columbia has managed to collect over 4,000 signatures from the people who want to see the ban go through. Furthermore, not only is the petition an attempt to see the stunning tools banned, but the petition would also make it a class A misdemeanor if someone is seen using or threatening to use one of the devices.

Previous news articles have stated that the same organization that is petitioning for the ban wants them prohibited because they consider them to be unreliable and unpredictable.

A police chief who joined a police department in Columbia has explained that since he became chief in April of 2009, the protocol and training for the use of TASER weapons has tightened considerably. He also went on to explain that he intends to train all 160 Columbia officers in crisis intervention.

While in May 2009, two officers took it upon themselves to talk to the Citizens Police Review Board about the stunning devices policy. The officers’ present argued that these tools offered a safer and more effective alternative compared to other tools they could use, for example traditional firearms.

The employment of the stunning devices has received a negative name in the last few years, especially if a death is related to it too. But it’s important for people to realize, that while there may be incidences involved, they do ultimately present a safer option.

Countless people can attest to the fact that their lives have been saved, and it’s all thanks to a TASER device which was utilized for their protection. Without such a tool, many people would find themselves unprotected against an assailant whose main objection is to cause harm to those it considers weak.

But with the help of one of these devices, no one needs to feel weak anymore, simply because they have a device that can effectively defend them in times of need.

So by banning a tool that many have come to rely on, the bad guys will know that they’ve won; and the crime numbers will steadily rise once again.