If you look around online, you'll find a shotgun styled Taser rifle that will be rolling out to a protest near you. It's got a lot more range and volts and is just plain scary.

You've got a point there, but would you rather have Smith and Wesson's stock going up?

...because in the past, before this less than lethal use of force was available, they would have shot these people.

Thanks for pointing that out Dave.

Because of a screw up with the 911 call taker I was shoot with the taser on December 29,2007.

They would have shot peaceful protesters, Dave, Jerry? What about the first amendment?

Before the advent of Tasers, they would have used clubs and gas on the masses of protesters, maybe some rubber bullets too, but now they're in for the shock treatment. Yeah, they're less lethal than a bullet but with a body depending on it's synapses to regulate a healthy body, and the thought of heart arrhythmia... and on a shotgun? Bad news.

I'd hope that before the advent of Tasers they'd have tried to talk to the guy instead of shooting him.

Now they have an easier option.

Now that the Democrats are supporting everything that Bush has done, the first amendment really is “just a goddamned piece of paper” like Bush says.

Maybe they couldn't just talk to them because no one thought to bring along the water-boarding equipment.