The State's Monopoly on Violence

This week's unnecessary tasering comes to us from the great state of Utah, where a state trooper decided to use non-lethal force to protect himself from a motorist trying to talk his way out of a ticket. The officer in question is "under internal investigation" but still on active duty. We have video. More discussion at Bitter Laughter, Cynical-C, and MetaFilter. For a look at the other point of view, check out the thread in the Policeman Forum at officer.com, where every tasering is a good tasering.



In other police state news, firefighters are being asked by the Department of Homeland Security to snoop in people's homes while putting out fires.