What would a police state look like?

Taser electric stun guns are being used by police officers to routinely shock people who are mentally disturbed or who simply refuse to obey commands, according to an Amnesty International report released today.

The 93-page report concludes that officers are not using the stun gun as an alternative to drawing a firearm but instead are using it primarily to shock unarmed people involved in petty crimes, sometimes with deadly results.

[...]

Taser officials say use of the stun gun has led to fewer police shootings and has saved thousands of lives....Amnesty is "out of step" with the needs of law enforcement, the company says.

"We are dismayed that Amnesty International refuses to accept independent and comprehensive reports concerning the safety and effectiveness of the Taser system," Taser spokesman Steve Tuttle said in an e-mail Monday.

[...]

Police say Tasers end violent confrontations before they begin.

Arizona Central article

The pre-emptive model. It's patriotic.

November 14, 2004 — Miami-Dade police have acknowledged using a stun gun on a second youngster. It comes just weeks after an officer subdued a 55-pound first-grader with a 50,000-volt shock.

In the second instance, a 15-year-veteran officer used his Taser to immobilize a 12-year-old girl who was playing hooky from school.

Police Director Bobby Parker says he can't defend the decision to shock the girl on November fifth. But Parker says the use of the Taser was justified in shocking a six-year-old boy October 20th because the boy was holding a piece of glass and threatening to hurt himself.

ABC Action 6 article