Minnesota Police Stock Up On Tasers Before Republican National Convention

Minnesota Monitor:

The St. Paul Police Department is requesting 230 Tasers to outfit the all of the department's officers with the electroshock weapon, Fox 9 News reports. The SPPD will purchase the Tasers with $210,000 collected from drug raids. The St. Paul City Council will have to approve the purchase.

The purchase is expected to arrive in St. Paul just in time for the Republican National Convention prompting media speculation that the weapons are being purchased specifically for the convention. When asked by Fox 9 News whether the police will use the weapon at the convention particularly against protesters, police spokester Tom Walsh said, "Our hope is that no one will have to use any degree of force. If it becomes necessary, will that be one of the tools available to them? I suppose that's safe to say."

Read the whole story: Minnesota Monitor

Comments

[larryfishkorn]

This converntion may be a gathering of like-minded political party members, but it is also something of a trade show/convention for the crowd-control industry. Keep your eyes peeled for the Blackwater booth; they have the best give-aways.

[larryfishkorn]

I hate to say, but, as a New Yorker who was here in 2004, I can pretty much guarantee they'll use the tazers. If a crowd gathers, they form a line, walk up, and attack the first ones they get their hands on. A tazer would be much more effective; not in controlling the person safely or humanely, but effective as something that'll leave a strong impression when the footage is repeated in news reports on cable tv.

[adc]

Maybe they're stocking up for when Bill-O arrives?

[TakeSake]

Here are some ways to protest the Republicans at the Xcel center in St. Paul:

1) Walking on the sidewalk in a "wide stance".

2) Yelling out "Diapers! 2 for $5" at the corner of 7th and Kellogg.

3) Asking for signatures... on squares of toilet paper.

4) Rows of empty combat boots.

[wadenelson1]

How many law-abiding citizens, exercising their right to free assembly and free speech will be tasered protesting outside this convention.

And what would the founding fathers think.

[VOTER]

I think the protesters should be okay and allowed

to peacefully demonstrate.

The police need the tasers to monitor the

Craig's Rooms.

How many men's bathrooms are there?

[loki]

I dont think they will do much good when everyone is wearing 4 inch thick winter coats and overalls. You have to get to the person to use them. Although they might be great for the rabid maniacs inside the convention.

[NYC07]

It will make for a great banner outside the Convention Center:

"Welcome Delegate, to the "Don't Taze Me Bro" Republican Convention"

[pascaljim]

Ugh! What kind of reaction?, tasered on the toilet seat?

[LeftVetPatriot]

Better stock up on bibles, Viagra and hookers too, Minneapolis!

[Felicty]

Tasered Republicans?

You are just trying to get me all hot, ain't you, HuffPo?

[LeftVetPatriot]

I know... Chills

[mpgarr]

TASERS are a good option to LEOs (Law Enforcement Officers) instead of them pulling and using their firearms---but I think that in the many of the nation's police departments that have deployed them---the use of these devices in many cases now has become used as a first resort and not somewhere further along the "use of force" continum" as they are designed and as officres are supposedly trained to do. TASERS should be the next to last thing LEOS should rely upon when dealing with unruly suspects--with the last thing they use being deadly force. TASERS use for some individuals has become use of deadly force.
You can be sure--if the St. Paul area LEOs have TASERS, they are most likely going to make regular use of them when they are faced with the protestors who are bound to show up.

[wm1066]

Obama has to have a sports arena to handle the number of his supporters, McCain can barely fill a conferance room at a Ramada Inn, you never see him in a big arena. So why do we have to demonstrate at thier convention? We are going to win big in November.
Its the Republicans that want the protests to remain viable, and look tough.
So to quote some one from the sixties "What if they held a war and nobody came?"
Lets boycott the Republican convention.

[jrb35]

EXACTLY! There couldn't be a bigger waste of time, not to mention a more counter productive exercise in self-indulgence than to have protests that we all know will turn unruly outside of the Republican convention. I'm not saying no one has the right... Of course they do. But just because you CAN doesn't mean that you SHOULD. No one's going to change the minds of Republican delegates by protesting. In fact, it's far more likely that the Republican PR machine will use images of the handful of anarchist jerk-offs battling with police as "proof" that they are the party of law and order (excuse me while I gag) and that the protesters are indicative of the future under a Democratic administration. Nobody's going to stop the war in Iraq by protesting the Republican convention but you just might help get them elected to power. Think about it.

[Stirner]

Or better yet, go as a Ron Paul supporter! -- the neocon Republicans (you know, the "war and torture for freedom" folk) hate Ron Paul if only because he is a decent human being. Ah, be a bit careful when the armored cars and tanks that Cheney has in reserve try to crush anyone objecting to that war-hungry nut, McCain.

[floydSmoot]

Tasers can serve as defibrillators in a pinch. Perfect for the "only comes out after dark" crowd.

[TitaniumAvatar]

I'm shocked.

[Ides]

We should stock up on taser-proof vests.

[wm1066]

The convention is in August, 90 degrees in the shade and 90% humidity. But there should be a way to protect your self from them. Maybe wrapping something around your arm an using it as a shield.
Anyboby know how fast that taser is?