Legal Weapons

phil24_7

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

I've seen a few broken bones from baton strikes but no lasting effects from being sprayed of tasered. Maybe broken bones don't hurt you, I can't say a shock from a taser is that painful.

I know a fair number of people that wouldn't be bothered by the site of a baton but mace is a different kettle of fish. It makes winning or escaping the confrontation a LOT less likely!

phil24_7

Either way...I don't believe US police have been banned from using Mag torches...more likely another torch manufacturer won the contract to supply them!

skivenov

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

With a can of pepper spray, a baton, taser, 9mm hand gun and shot gun or assault rifle they still need a makeshift weapon? Link please then.

If you're checking a building/area in the dark, you need one hand for the torch, one to open doors, so it's not always possible to have a weapon out.

The reason mags used to be good was that they were dependable. You could drop them, get them wet, and the batteries would last forever. LED torches have made them pretty much obsolete in this regard though.

Silver-Surfer_2

phil24_7 wrote: »

So by that reasoning tasers (a firearm) should be used before batons too?Yes.

Lasting affects aside, a taser or mace will take someone...anyone down instantly where as a baton wont. Sprays don't always work and a taser relys on you hitting them.

I would think when deciding what to use the officer would think about the risk of injury to themselves first, not the risk of injury to the suspect?The risk to the officer won't see him in the !!!!, whereas excessive force will.

............

Silver-Surfer_2

skivenov wrote: »

If you're checking a building/area in the dark, you need one hand for the torch, one to open doors, so it's not always possible to have a weapon out.

The reason mags used to be good was that they were dependable. You could drop them, get them wet, and the batteries would last forever. LED torches have made them pretty much obsolete in this regard though.

Why not? There's a light on a taser and gun.

RichardD1970

stator wrote: »

Many police forces in America have been banned from carrying Mag lites because they are far too easy to use to beat someone with. They've been replaced with rubber versions.

stator wrote: »

You missed the point. The police were carrying them not because they are good torches but because they were big and heavy and metal and hence good weapons. Even when provided with a better, lighter torch, they still used the old mag lites because they like to have a weapon. So they had to ban the officers from carrying them at all.

What, the American police, who are routinely armed with guns, batons/nightsticks, tasers, pepper spay etc?

And they ban them carrying a torch that could be used as a weapon?

Edit, just seen the other replies, serves me right for jumping down to the end of thread to reply before finishing reading it

stator

Each US state has it's own regulations. Most police aren't armed with battons, not even with tasers or pepper spray. If they fire their gun there is an investigation. If a suspect gets a black eye resisting arrest there isn't.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:M2Y5IOR0U1MJ:usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/2007-04-09-flashlight-usat_N.htm&num=1&hl=en&gl=uk&strip=1&vwsrc=0

Big flashlights, 10 inches or longer weighing more than 12 ounces, were banned by the LAPD more than two years ago after one was used in the beating of a car-theft suspect. "That was one of our considerations," Bratton said at the conference.

I hope this ends the silly discussion

Silver-Surfer_2

stator wrote: »

Each US state has it's own regulations. Most police aren't armed with battons, not even with tasers or pepper spray. If they fire their gun there is an investigation. If a suspect gets a black eye resisting arrest there isn't.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:M2Y5IOR0U1MJ:usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/2007-04-09-flashlight-usat_N.htm&num=1&hl=en&gl=uk&strip=1&vwsrc=0



I hope this ends the silly discussion

But that's not what you originally said is it?

stator wrote: »

Many police forces in America have been banned from carrying Mag lites because they are far too easy to use to beat someone with. They've been replaced with rubber versions.

I_have_spoken

Q and A: Self defence and burglars

In England and Wales, anyone can use "reasonable" force to protect themselves or others, or to carry out an arrest or to prevent crime. Householders are protected from prosecution as long as they act "honestly and instinctively" in the heat of the moment. "Fine judgements" over the level of force used are not expected, says the Crown Prosecution Service.

phil24_7

Even reasonable force outside of burglary is a very fluid thing.