Tuesday July 7, 2009, 7:14 pm
Little Four Overstreet was six years old when he was murdered.

His mother was naturally distraught over his death. Police at the scene handled her, though. They TASERED the hysterical young mother in her grief.

Some police are so used to Tasing mental patients that they now Tase anyone who is not calm and rational, even grief-stricken moms.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION FOR CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON TASERS!

STOP Taser Torture In America - Please Sign the Petition

A Call For Congressional Hearings

http://www.petition2congress.com/2/1822/taser-torture-in-america-call-congressional-hearings/

Thanks for supporting this important petition.

WILL SOMEONE MAKE THIS A LIVE LINK, PLEASE? Thanks in advance.

Mary Neal
Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill
http://www.Care2.com/c2c/group/AIMI

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 8:00 pm
The mom's condition was not known at the time of the repor.

t Read the entire stoy in

NEW ORLEANS METRO REAL-TIME NEWS

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/frantic_mother_of_child_killed.html

Sad.

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 8:11 pm
This is horrible!

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 9:28 pm
Petition signed and letter sent. I can't believe they tasered her, how ignorant. Where was the compassion over the death of her baby for God's sake?!
Thanks Mary.

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 10:15 pm
Can we nominate the officers who did this for the most stupid heartless moron of the year award??? Going to sign now it is noted will fwd. GRRRRRRRR!

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 10:36 pm

My comment on form
I urge you to stand up for All children,woman,and men regardless of color against the police pre-trial electrocution tactics.
Here is an example of out of control police with a taser used in a situation where having people skills and some other method of calming the situation should have been used first.
The case of the Black woman in Louisana,There was the case of an elderly woman at a traffic stop not to long back -below is my opinion on the matter.

To taser a mother whose child has just been murdered is a stupid,heartless brutal,and unthinkable thing to do- while I am well aware of the danger police officers face -this is just ludicrous and way out of line. we are getting to many stories like these-do these officers not have any people skills??? One would think that would be important to their jobs. I know nothings perfect and someones gonna complain no matter what tactic is used but damn this is way over the top.Can we give the officer who did this the stupid heartless moron of the year award? Perhaps he can compete with the cop who tasered a 70 yr old woman while giving her a ticket.

faith, your letters are on the way to Congress!
Your email to Sen. Thad Cochran (R MS) sent!Your email to Sen. Roger Wicker (R MS) sent!Your email to Rep. Travis W. Childers (D MS-1) sent!

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 10:39 pm
now I am fwding still muttering drkly!

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 11:09 pm
I couldn't sign it as Iam not American , and i agree that police is acting out of a sadistic EGO, not out of service to the public! they have taken the law into there hands and that is global issue!

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 12:34 am
I couldn't sign as I'm not American.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 1:01 am
me neither
Thnxs for the share

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 4:01 am
Thank you, friends.

This coming to my attention right after the great grandmother was tased in Texas was too much! Just as Faith pointed out, there is too much Tasering going on around here.

THEY DID NOT EVEN KNOW THE MOTHER'S CONDITION! MAYBE SHE WILL DIE, TOO.

I did not write the petition. I know perhaps better than those who drafted the petition that police taser people no mater what age, race, country, or any other designation.

If we don't do something soon, they will be going into old folks homes and tasering the seniors who don't eat all their peas. Especially if the seniors get sassy!

They already go into schools with their Tasers. The youngest victim I know about was only six - an Autistic child who was out of control. I guess the baby created a trheat to the big officers. Killed her, I think.

GOD SAVE US FROM POLICE OFFICERS WHO ACT LIKE THESE.

Most police officers don't act like these, and we appreciate you very much!

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 4:15 am
Noted & signed ~ Thanks Mary
(I'm not from the US, but put a zero before my postcode making it 5 numbers & letter went thru ok)

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 4:33 am
this was found by Kristi:
"Morbidly obese man dies after being Tasered by deputies in Lancaster
Daily News Wire Services
Posted: 07/06/2009 08:32:11 AM PDT
Updated: 07/06/2009 08:34:22 AM PDT

LANCASTER - A morbidly obese man died in a hospital hours after deputies used a Taser to subdue him in Lancaster, but the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department today denied he died because of the stun gun.

The 43-year-old man, who was 6 feet tall and weighed 400 pounds, drove off Sierra Highway at Avenue J in Lancaster about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and when deputies tried to talk to him, he began acting "aggressively" toward them and firefighters, said Deputy Bill Brauberger of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.

Deputies shot him with a Taser, which had "little or no effect" on the man, he said, adding that they then physically restrained and handcuffed him.

The man was taken to a hospital and admitted for "reasons unrelated to the contact with the deputies," he said, but it was unclear what those reasons were.

About 11 hours later, the man died, he said. An autopsy and toxicology tests were pending."

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 5:28 am
When I first read your comments, I was outraged. Then I read the story. It stated the following -
The mother of Four Overstreet grew irate with authorities when she arrived at the Monterey Court apartment where the rampage happened before 4 a.m. Saturday. When she got physical, deputies stunned her to bring the situation under control, Col. John Fortunato said.
I saw another article which stated that she started to attack (I guess it meant that she started to attack the authorities). The point is that she was not just an hysterical grieving mother - she was very angry and she began to show her anger physically. They couldn't just offer her a cup of water. I know that many times the police do use their tasers when it is not necessary and this should be stopped. However I can recall a story of a woman who was being evicted from her apartment. A judge authorized the eviction because she had not been paying her rent for some time. She would not leave. The police were called because she seemed to be out of control. When they got there she attempted to try to stab someone with a knife. A policeman shot her and she died. A lot of people thought that she was mentally ill at the time but they had to subdue her as she was trying to attack others. That is one of the reasons why they decided to use the taser gun. It was figured to be better to taser someone in such a situation than to shoot them with a bullet that could kill them. Of course no policeman should use it against anybody as casually as many do.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 6:17 am
SPECIAL BULLETIN - HELP STOP A GROSS INJUSTICE!

THE SAME JUDGE THAT DECLARED THERE WAS NO COCHRAN FIRM OFFICE IN GEORGIA AND USED THAT AS A REASON TO CURTAIL JUSTICE TO MY FAMILY IN THE SECRET ARREST AND WRONGFUL DEATH OF LARRY NEAL

IS ABOUT TO MAKE A RULING ABOUT THE KATHRYN JOHNSTON MURDER RECORDS.

KATHRYN JOHNSTON WAS THE 92-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO ATLANTA POLICE GUNNED DOWN IN HER OWN HOME ON NOV. 21, 2006.

HER UNSUSPECTING FAMILY GOT THE SAME TRICKY ATTORNEYS WE HAD - THE JOHNNIE COCHRAN FIRM. THEY SIGNED ON TO REPRESENT THE FAMILY IN THE SAME COURT THAT HAD JUST DECLARED THE FIRM NON-EXISTENT IN GEORGIA - GEORGIA SUPERIOR COURT. THE SAME COURT THAT WON'T GIVE TROY DAVIS A NEW TRIAL.

THE ATLANTA POLICE ARE FIGHTING GIVING THE POLICE REVIEW BOARD MS. JOHNSTON'S RECORDS.

THEY GO TO COURT ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING. GUESS WHO THE JUDGE IS?

JUDGE WENDY SHOOB - THE SAME JUDGE WHO SEEMED TO WORK WITH THE COCHRAN FIRM TO DENY MY FAMILY JUSTICE. WE STILL DON'T HAVE RECORDS SIX YEARS AFTER LARRY'S MURDER BY SHELBY COUNTY JAIL.

JUDGE SHOOB MUST RECUSE HERSELF. I ALREADY CONTACTED GOV. PURDUE, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND MAYOR FRANKLIN.

I WILL NOT WATCH AUTHORITIES DO TO THE JOHNSTON FAMILY WHAT WAS DONE TO MINE.

SAME COURT -- SAME LAWYERS --- SAME ATTORNEYS --- WILL THEY HAVE THE SAME RESULT - NO RECORDS?

PRAY FOR MS. JOHNSTON'S FAMILY.

MARY

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 6:19 am
"When police arrived on the scene of 945 E. Monterey Court, Apt. A, at around 3:45 a.m., a 19-year-old woman, Domonique Sterling, was found lying on the living room floor with a gunshot wound to the back
An 11-year-old girl was found in one of the bedrooms, shot multiple times, police said, and was taken to the hospital where she is in stable condition
In a rear bedroom, a 23-month-old boy, Robert Claiborne, son of Domonique Sterling, and a six-year-old boy, Four Overstreet, were found by police each with a gunshot wound to the head. The 23-month-old was pronounced dead on the scene and 6-year-old was taken to the hospital, where he later died. "

fantastic scene indeed, it's really strange how she could get psyhical dear Eather
BTW I just read some articles from websites - they were black, very young (it was in context of having baby) and involved in drugs cases - so they probably just deserved it

and some comment from other site:
"Being in law enforcement myself, I in no way condone engaging in illegal activities, and I also believe that you die how you live, but you people need to stop being so judgmental. As for the mother of the child being tasered by JPSO deputies, this does not surprise me, they are well known for using heavy handed tactics and that’s what they do. I was not there but I do know from the training that I have received that they’re defensive tactics that could have been used to subdue this obviously distraught woman. I will certainly keep this family in my prayers and I asked that you do the same. "

tasers are supposed to be used instead of gun to avoid killing people not to make somebody calm "When she got physical, deputies stunned her to bring the situation under control, Col. John Fortunato said"

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 6:19 am
I WAS PREVENTED FROM PUTTING THE ABOVE MESSAGE AT MY GROUP - AIMI. THAT IS WHY I PUT IT HERE. CARE2 NEWS NETWORK SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THE CYBERSTALKERS ARE NOT IN COMPLETE CONTROL.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 6:56 am
Unbelievable.......Signed petition Mary........prayers for the family.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 7:20 am
I think compassion is another word like "common sense" that is going out the window in this Country. Even if the woman was attacking them, what was she doing...hitting them with her hands...could not some Officers have gotten hold of her hands, held her, restrained her, with some calm words talk to her, try to bring her and things under control, mention that they were sorry for her loss, and eventually I'm sure she would of released her pent of emotions...broke down and cried.
Why must we use force and these type of proceedures first. Poor woman. This Country needs to do better, jobs, affordable housing, affordable Day Care, affordable Health care, affordable educational programs so all with talent and intelligence has an opportunity, programs to help society get a hand up...not a hand out. Is there any wonder why there is so much crime, desperate people do desperate things, then innocent people suffer. Is there no wonder people are loosing control...they have had it shoved to them from every angle.
I know it is hard being a police officer in todays society, but it is hard being an average citizen too. We need to look at other Countries with low crime rates and see what it is they are doing right, then copy the good things. There is a wonderful dream that America holds, but we all must be able to rise up to it. We can't keep pushing so many down and walking on their backs without the society as a whole suffering. We also need to secure our borders so we can deal with who and what is happening now before we absorb any more.
We are in sad days, when Mothers who are in grief get tasered, a distraught woman at an airport is left alone in some room, handcuffed and dies, no one finding out why she is distraught, just drag her away, and our Border Patrol guards get placed behind bars for doing their jobs, the list goes on.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 7:26 am
Unbelievable. Noted Thanks for the post

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 7:30 am

 
PETITION:
 
A Call For Congressional Hearings
 
Signed, Mary!
 

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 7:40 am
Dandelion, you are so right on so many levels. This is one more reason why tasers should be outlawed.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 8:30 am
Noted and signed.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 8:47 am
Tasering has gone too far this time. Gladly signed and letters sent. Noted with anger. Thanks Mary.

Joycey B. | Canton, NC Wed., Jul. 8, 2009 11:43 AM

Joycey, your letters are on the way to Congress!

Your email to Sen. Richard M. Burr (R NC) sent!Your email to Sen. Kay Hagan (D NC) sent!Your email to Rep. Heath Shuler (D NC-11) sent!

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 9:04 am
Letters on the way. This is outrageous! Thanks Mary

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 10:15 am
Over the years I have come to belive that police in the US tend to use excess force and physical intimidation. I really think the courts need to rein them in. This is really unacceptable - by any standard. They shoot, taser, club - anything that makes their job of subduing any perceived threat. This is unacceptable when it happens in a third world country and more so in a developed nation where civlised behaviour is taken for granted.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 11:15 am
This is disturbing and I am appalled! This lady needed a shoulder, not a tazer. What possessed these cops to do such a thing? Whether is was a racist thing or not, it was WRONG! The cops should be terminated immediately with out pay. There is NO excuse for this action taken upon this poor Mother grieving for her child. My goodness, where is the compassion? My goodness! I think they should be should be slapped with a stiff penalty and be ordered to take some form of classes to deal with grief so that they can understand why "we" as a parent react to grief as we do. My heart and my thoughts are with you.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 11:54 am
Thank you, Care2 friends. Your compassion and outrage at this injustice has pushed this news to front page.

Thank you, Care2 News Network.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION FOR CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON TASER USAGE. POLICE OBVIOOUSLY NEED MORE TRAINING AND CLEAR GUIDELINES AS TO WHEN TO USE THESE LESS LETHAL DEVICES.

THEY ARE CERTAINLY NOT NON-LETHAL.

IF SOMEONE CAN FIND OUT IF THE YOUNG MOTHER LIVED, PLEASE SHARE THE INFO.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 12:13 pm
OMG..... I posted on facebook, this is INSANE!!!! My heart goes out to the mother of that little boy.... : (

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 12:51 pm
The Police seem to be using these stun guns as play toys.Who wouldn't be out of control if their baby just died.What goes around comes around.The same thing may happen to his child or grand child and some Dumb A** will tazer its mother.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 1:23 pm
While truely horrible, this is not indicative of the majority of police officers. We just hear about the bad ones.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 1:35 pm

And, while I appreciate the sometimes seemingly thankless jobs of police officers, and the fact that I, personally, would not want to be one . . .

The fact that they ARE assigned to uphold the laws, and to "protect and preserve," means that they have powers over and above an average citizen, such as myself.

As such, empathetic training under unusual circumstances should be a GIVEN . . . and reactions, without question, should be proven to be above reproach.

This is just one of many such incidents of which I have become aware. My point is that, even ONE is one too many. This is not an area where "human faults" should be easily forgiven; instead, a message needs to be sent that persons empowered with rights to inflict harm, detain others, surveil their actions, etc.

ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD -- and less will not be tolerated!

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 2:08 pm
those who are to protect us, they show no compassion or common sense, as carol has said, they are to be held to a higher standard. they carry guns and have the power to detain and question us , they arrive due to crisis, please they dont need to torture victims, this poor mother had suffered enough without being cruelly tortured, tasering incidents should be investigated internally like using a gun would be.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 2:28 pm
My 22 yr. old son was killed in a car fire in December of 2006. The Police record, is full of racial slures, and comments. My son's body was sent to the worse funeral home around, There where 3 funeral homes closer to the car fire, and my home, but they chose to send him there, because of racism. The Police pounded on my door, as if it was a drug raid, all caught on tape. after I heard the news that my son was burned beyond recognition , I was hysterical . overcome by the emotions of grief, and the Police officers, came into my home without, permmission and would not leave, even though I shouted and screamed for them to leave us alone, we just lost a child. They went out to the police car, and came back inside for another round of questions, we had already answered. Oh my God, what is this world coming to? Then the report they filed, was wrong, because the could not hear the answers correctly, because of my screams...of horror.
My son's body was in a black plastic zip bag, in a storage room, surounded by cleaning supplies, and boxes. Like he was a bag of trash. Thanks to the Police opinion,observence, and racial profiling.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 2:59 pm
Mary, I tried for a green star, but I've done so already this wk. So, unfortunately, I must give you a gold star. Signed, and noted. This abuse by police officers must stop. Did you notice that Col. Fortunato used the plural when referring to the "deputies" that tased her. Does anyone know how many times she was actually tased? Once was too much in this case.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 3:24 pm
How appalling. Tasers are just as insidious as guns. The incident where Robert Dziekański was tasered to death at the Vancouver airport comes to mind. At a time of great distress, this is just inappropriate and a blatant show of force. Shame!

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 3:32 pm
Anger is a HUMAN feeling, it is a part of grieving, and it should be handled in a HUMANE way.

Not with a taser gun!

Whoever thinks a taser gun was appropriate should also advocate tasers being used against grieving families after plane crashes, train accidents, natural disasters and so on.

This is ridiculous, criminal and appalling. It is a total disgrace.

Only a fascist police state, and/or sadistic cowards can allow this to happen.

The police is supposed to protect people, not torture them.

Mary thank you for raising awareness once again.

Delicia I am very sorry about what happened to your son, to you and your family. No one should be treated like that. Shame on those officers. Racial profiling is a terrible thing, and it seems so frequent. It should be punished and also prevented.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 3:48 pm
their response to her grief, I mean try to imagine this, finding your baby dead, murdered, their answer to the situation was abuse, brutality, that poor woman, those poor dead souls, how can anyone condone this shit? oh, they would definitely need the bullet to 'calm' me.
ridiculous, people are so often treated like livestock ready for slaughter.
ty for the post, this is disgusting, not to mention distressing.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 3:54 pm
I tried the 00000 zip and did not get thru as the petition needs a state.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 4:00 pm

Oh, you mean like the one you have -- now that you moved in with me -- Mosheim, TN 37818?

hehehehehe

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 4:08 pm
Thanks Joanna D. for your input. I think there are those in Police forces who are not suited to this type of employment.The vast majority of Police officers conduct themselves in an exemplary manner. Mind you, this is one of the jobs, I wouldn't want. We recently had a man in North Queensland that a Police officer Tazered 28 times (each shot lasts at least 5 seconds)...not surprising, it killed him. This has caused an uproar and re evaluation of training and usage. We had a Police officer try it on himself...the affect was so severe that they had to cart him off to hospital. I do think that every operator should feel the affect of the Tazer for at least 1/2 second during training, then they may not be so keen to use it on other people indiscriminately.
If we had a functioning legal system, these Police officers would have to face a court, justice, and most importantly, removal from the Police service if the case was proven.
This is another form of corruption that has our permeated society, from the family unit, all the way to Religion and our Prime Minister/President. Until we get the rule of law back on the rails, our society has to battle through these injustices. The belief of some is, "he who has the gold, makes the rules"...which is patently and morally wrong. The law should apply to all equally, without fear or favour.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 4:20 pm
I have signed petition and sent green star to Jae Matos as she expressed my thoughts so perfectly along with many others of you. There is no way to know what the health of the person who you are about to taser is and if this weapon will kill them. Certainly we do not have to always resort with violence esp with people who are only exhibiting overwhelming emotion due to a recent traumatic events.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 4:32 pm
Signed. I agree, all police officers should be tasered during training.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 4:42 pm
This is more than disgusting!

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 5:00 pm
This story is just so, so sad. Did the police officers try to calm this distraught, grieving woman who had just learned that her son was murdered? I think they took the quick route and tasered her, even tho' she was extremely agitated. (Who wouldn't??) learning that their child DIED? Everyone reacts differently with grief, (I know I do), and Delicia's story (comment) is also heartbreaking. Just like the grandma who was tasered here in TX, for the moving violation, I don't think that Tasering should be the way to approach situations regarding the law enforcement. She is grieving for her lost angel, and she's tasered. What have we become? To not help another? Signed, and Noted. Blessings to you, Mary for this article. And Carole for FW.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 5:00 pm
sIGNED AND COMMENTED~ THIS IS HORRIBLE, MORE THAN HORRIBLE!
TX RAFFI

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 5:02 pm
My deepest condolences to this lady, her family and the community. RIP, little Angel.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 5:05 pm
There is a great deal of disquiet over here too about the over use of Tasers. If your experience in the states is anything to go by police need to be trained on how to deal with emotional and even possibly violent reactions without resorting to either extreme force (fatal outcome) or strong force (possible fatal outcome). Our Police in the UK gunned down an innocent man on the underground four years ago in a case of mistaken identity and crass over-reaction...and found not guilty of any fault!!! They can get away with murder...and do.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 5:07 pm
thank you very much Mary, and Just "C" for the news and for all You both do for humanity! I signed, and all...it is ridiculous that police are sometimes trained to put empathy aside and treat people as objects rather than grieving humans! they should asses the situation, and HELP, not HURT, in such cases! bless YOu both!

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 5:26 pm
Mary,

You asked for help in making the following link live:

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/frantic_mother_of_child_killed.html

The code to use is as follows:



Place the full link in between the quotation marks " " it would look like this " Link goes " here or in the link you want active it would look like " http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/frantic_mother_of_child_killed.html "

You can name the link by placing a name between the great than and lesser than symbols > < so it would look like this: > Name or Link goes here <

So using the HTML code: and the link you want active:

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/frantic_mother_of_child_killed.html and with calling it Tasered By Police after baby is killed... it would look like this:

Tasered By Police after baby is killed...

I hope this helps you!

Take care,

The Sentinel’s Watch
(Were all in it together!)

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 5:35 pm
Mary,

Sorry, the I forget that the HTML code disappears when used... Let me try this again!

HTML code to use:

First Part looks like this: Place name hear or use link again

Leave a space and use this: It is all on sentence!

So using the HTML code: and the link you want active:

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/frantic_mother_of_child_killed.html and with calling it Tasered By Police after baby is killed... it would look like this:

Tasered By Police after baby is killed...

I hope this helps you!

Take care,

The Sentinel’s Watch
(Were all in it together!)

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 5:43 pm
Mary,

One more time the code to use is as follows:

Tasered By Police after baby is killed...


Take care,

The Sentinel’s Watch
(Were all in it together!)

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 5:49 pm
Petition signed. emails sent.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 5:49 pm
Mary,

The system is making it tough to explain... the code can be found at this link:

Formatting of the Link Relationship Attribute

Just remove http://www.example.com/ and remove Anchor Text and that is the code to use!

Take care,

The Sentinel’s Watch
(Were all in it together!)

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 5:51 pm
Mary,

Read over the instructions and try it... Yes, it is that easy and you can do it!

Take care,

The Sentinel’s Watch
(Were all in it together!)

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 6:01 pm
Mary,

I also sent the code directly to you... with a short instruction... the message service does not allow HTML so it should go through... just copy the code and save it some place that you can find it easily... then copy it past it were you want the link... add the link and add the name... type your message and it will work... give it a try and play around with it.

Take care,

The Sentinel’s Watch
(Were all in it together!)

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 6:08 pm
Mary Neal wrote on:

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 7:14 pm

Little Four Overstreet was six years old when he was murdered.

His mother was naturally distraught over his death. Police at the scene handled her, though. They TASERED the hysterical young mother in her grief.

Some police are so used to Tasing mental patients that they now Tase anyone who is not calm and rational, even grief-stricken moms.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION FOR CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON TASERS!

STOP Taser Torture In America - Please Sign the Petition

A Call For Congressional Hearings

A Call For Congressional Hearings against Tasers


Thanks for supporting this important petition.

WILL SOMEONE MAKE THIS A LIVE LINK, PLEASE? Thanks in advance.

Mary Neal
Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill

http://www.Care2.com/c2c/group/AIMI

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 6:32 pm
Petition signed. Thank you.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 6:48 pm
First of all,My heart goes out to this Mother and her family!! I understand that there is nothing like losing a child,and this precious one here for such a short time!! ITS HORRIBLE,and VERY SAD!! There was NO EXCUSE for tasing that distraught mother by the loss of her baby!!
But please,lets not make this a racial issue,people of all colors,shapes and sizes are tased everyday,and I think making this about race like so many other things are made about race is one of the BIGGEST problems in the world today!!I live in a very high crime city,and I believe in the taser program if used correctly,on the people that need it!! I believe that it is better than shooting and killing them!! I have 2 young sons in their 20s,that are at a partying age,and like to go out and have fun,and if they ever get in trouble I would much rather than be tased,than to be shot to death!! I also do believe that what happened to this grieving Mother was more than uncalled for,and they should pay for their crime dearly,and they should lose their jobs for it!! My Thoughts and Prayers go out to this Mother that lost her beautiful,innocent baby!! God Bless!!!

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 7:28 pm
I am a senior here in Louisiana & I relocated here from Texas. My college major was criminal justice and law enforcement. I was married to a Chief Deputy in Texas and most of our friends were from those career fields. Tasers were not available during our careers. I have mixed emotions about the use of them. When offiers try to subdue somebody that is 'high'on illegal drugs, the perpetrator of the offense has "Superman" strength which requires 4-6 officers to subdue the offender. I can appreciate the use of a taser in that type of situation. However, I have noticed excessive use of tasers throughout America the past decade--- when the circumstance never called for the use of a taser in the first place. A law enforcement officer has the right to use such force (and/or their batons)as is "reasonably necessary under the circumstances to make a lawful arrest". However, this national epidemic of tasers being used in cases like this falls into the legal terminology of 'excessive force' in my opinion. I am especially against the use of tasers on the mentally ill or mentally disabled. Tasers should never be used on the elderly or the emotionally distraught over the death of any family member! Police brutality is the intentional use of excessive force, so this violation is more difficult to prove in a civil litigation. I believe our law enforcement officers are underpaid and under-appreciated much of the time by the general public. However, our state officials need to implement better training for our law enforcement personnel so this travesty of justice will cease to occur. Perhaps psychological testing should be part of the entrance exam for our police academies. My heart goes out to this Mother and her family over the loss of her child. This situation calls for legal counsel.

When any law enforcement personnel displays 'excessive force'

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 7:40 pm

PS: I meant to say "When any law enforcement personnel is cited for 'excessive force', they are to be suspended while the circumstance is looked into. Even if the officer is not found guilty by the legal system, the civil complaint will go into his employee record and should impede future career promotions.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 7:43 pm
Thank you, Sentinels Watch for the code instructions. I will try it.

THANK EVERYONE FOR NOTING AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS TRAGEDY!

I believe Tasers could save lives and have in some cases.. But the time is long overdue for police officers to recognize Tasers should only be used in situations where it is WORTH using lethal force., because so many times, that is what happens - death and permanent injury. Most often, it is the fact that officers are TRAINED to think of these as non-lethal weapons that causes problems. But we are long past the point when police can use that erroneous training as an excuse, because the whole world knows now that Tasers kill.

OFFICERS, IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH A SITUATION WHERE YOU WOULD NOT SHOOT THE PERSON, ALSO DON'T TASER THEM. LET THAT BE YOUR TEST, PLEASE.

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 8:54 pm
Mary, the problem with tasers is that our police are NOT trained to think of tasers as "lethal force"! Our state officials truely need to address this issue! Perhaps law enforcement and politicians need to be tased--- so they will fully understand the dangers of tasers?

Thursday July 9, 2009, 12:22 am
I agree!! Any officer that is allowed to carry a taser should be tased,so that they are aware of the pain that it inflicts on others,And know the dangers that could come from it!!! There needs to be more training when it comes to tasers,its not a toy,and can and has killed people!!

Thursday July 9, 2009, 12:53 am
I don't know how anyone with a heart and a conscience could think fascism and this kind of behavior/attitude is ok EVER? I don't know how any person with a heart and conscience could perpetrate this kind of horror? It's unconscionable to me. Sadly this is what happens when people have been deliberately dumbed down and have not dared to come up for air, take a serious look at themselves and make the choice to partake of a reality check................for one to allow them self to go through life ignoring their intuition, their inner voice which contstantly alerts us to the difference between right and wrong is really very, very sad.................

Thursday July 9, 2009, 2:29 am
Damn cops! Where's their compassion??

Thursday July 9, 2009, 4:38 am
DONE!! Thank you Mary! I will come back later to send letters to the Capital as well!! Thank you again for posting!!

Thursday July 9, 2009, 4:44 am
Thanks to all of the great Care2 members! You have shared valuable insight on this problem. I know that means you have given Tasers a good deal of thought. You did that because you CARE. May God bless you for your concern for this bereaved mother who was so cruelly treated after very tragic personal loss. I love her baby and I only saw a picture of Four.

My condolences go out to Four's mom and entire family. I hope his mother is OK after her Tasering, and that she will find it in her heart to forgive the police officer(s) who did that. So many police personnel are literally sick from PTSD. Some others are on steroids and other drugs that overtake their sanity.

Thank all of you for noting and commenting on this news and sharing it with your friends. Special thanks to Nona for coming forward as one whose career was in law enforcement, but who understands the ethical problems with overuse of force and shared her insight with us. Like Nona, most officers would never have Tased a young mom who just lost her baby to violence. If she screamed at them or kicked them, or whatever, they would only have felt compassion for her pain. Unfortunately, Four's mother and Delicia (whose post is above) experienced something quite different from the officers who relayed their tragic news.

Delicia, I am so sorry about your son and the way you were treated right after losing him. God bless you.

The points you made in your comments, Care2 members, are so valuable. I hope that you all signed the petition and also shared your viewpoint with your representatives by doing so. I hope that Four's mother will see this news article and your comments and know that people care about her and her loss. We care about how she was treated during her hysteria after learning of her son's death.

We have compassion for you, Four's mother. We love your baby just by looking at him, and we are so sorry for your loss. God bless you.

Mary.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 6:36 am
Thanks Mary. other proffesionals such as firemen nurses ect all have training to help support people with stress and anxiety i think its about time the police in whatever country recieve this training also.The police are suppose to support the community not become the enemy of the same. love n peace.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 7:39 am
I have signed Mary...Where there is a way there is a will:-) And for all that may follow...All you need is a 5 digit zip code to sign this very important petition...00000 works well...

But for all of you, read this...When is fair unfair?...

From Times Online June 18, 2009

Man shot up to 28 times with Taser by Australian police
(Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
A police officer demonstrates a Taser gun
Sophie Tedmanson in Sydney

Police in Australia are to review how they use Taser guns after the death of a man in Queensland who was stunned possibly as much as 28 times by one of the powerful electronic weapons.

Antonio Galeano, 39, an amphetamines addict, collapsed and died 15 minutes after being stunned by a 50,000-volt Taser gun during a confrontation with police in Brandon, near Townsville in far north Queensland last Friday.

Police said initially that he had been shot three times, but data recorded on the Taser gun has shown that it was triggered 28 times. It is unknown if Mr Galeano was hit by all of the electric shock bursts.

Mr Galeano had gone on a naked rampage just days after being released from a psychiatric hospital. According to police, he was threatening to harm himself and officers so they tried to use capsicum spray on him.

Ian Stewart , the Queensland Police deputy commissioner, said that police were investigating whether the gun used in Friday’s incident was faulty.

He said that police had no guidelines on how many times a Taser could be fired in one incident, and a joint Crime and Misconduct Commission and police ethical standards command investigation will look into whether there needed to be a cap on numbers of firings.

"The review has three main elements: we are going to look at our policies in the use of the Tasers; we are going to look at the training we provide our officers' and we are looking at the monitoring of the use of Tasers by the police service,” Mr Stewart said.

Who is right and who is wrong?...When is sick not sick?...Tasers are death and should not be in the hands of idiots!...Unfortunately they are...

Is it not time to ban tasers?...

Thursday July 9, 2009, 10:35 am
Thank you, Pete. I think it would help immensely if police had to undergo sensitivity training. They encounter so many people experiencing extreme reactions to stressful situations. Too often and too many of them reach for the handy Taser.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 10:42 am
David, thanks for supporting the petition and for the article on Tasers. It is the same story everywhere Tasers have been sold. Austrailia, at least, is planning to institute some guidelines for the police.

That is what the petition is for. At Congressional hearings, American lawmakers could sit down and evaluate the data and issue laws that will

protect people from deadly multiple tasing,

protect children and seniors, pregnant women, and

establish that Tasers should not be used to curtail any activity that a bullet would not be used to stop. They have almost equal power.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 12:18 pm
I've signed too Mary. This new "weapon" must be banned.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 1:30 pm
Have placed story live http://www.care2.com/news/member/100661215/1189410

I am so appalled by what happened that I do not know what to say or think. My hubby thought that it was a joke to begin with because he didn't believe that anyone could do that to a grieving mother. Are the police not trained to deal with someone in distress? Are they not human enough to be supportive when facing a mother whose child has just been killed? Whoever was responsible needs to be dismissed, his supervisor disciplined and the department offered training - and I can't believe that I'm having to say that!!!!!!!!

My heart goes out to this poor woman.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 1:59 pm
Thursday July 9, 2009, 1:30 pm
Have placed story live http://www.care2.com/news/member/100661215/1189410

The link is activated!

Thursday July 9, 2009, 2:00 pm
Thursday July 9, 2009, 1:59 pm
Thursday July 9, 2009, 1:30 pm
Have placed story live http://www.care2.com/news/member/100661215/1189410

The link is activated!

http://www.care2.com/news/member/100661215/1189410

Thursday July 9, 2009, 2:19 pm
Cynthia, your letters are on the way to Congress!
Your email to Sen. Ron Wyden (D OR) sent!Your email to Sen. Jeff Merkley (D OR) sent!Your email to Rep. David Wu (D OR-1) sent!

Thursday July 9, 2009, 5:21 pm
Thank you again and again for FEELING.

We need to FEEL for each other and care about one another. In the end, that is all human beings ever had - a shared bond of humanity. Sometimes, that is not recognized and embraced, and we have horrible accounts in history that show where it leads when people who are in authority feel no connection with the people they have authority over. It leads to atrocities like:

The trail of tears

The Jewish Holocaust

Slavery

Guantanamo

Thanks for showing your congressman that you care about how police officers treat people in our communities by signing the petition for Congressional Hearings. Thanks for showing you care about this young mother -- our SISTER -- who was in agony and was tasered. God help.

Thursday July 9, 2009, 7:03 pm
they need to outlaw them guns

Thursday July 9, 2009, 8:40 pm
I have Heard of TOO many Cases of Men with Knives being Shot To Death By Scared Cops; These instances are Where tasers should be Used...
Tasers should ONLY be Used as the Last resort before Gunfire;
NOT By Lazy Brutal RACIST Thugs; To Replace thier Training to Deal with Persons with Restraint and COMPASSION.
To Many People Die, both from Gunshots When a Taser Would Work as Well; and From TASERs When backing Off or Using the Combined Force of More than one Officer SHOULD DO.
I recently Held a 25 yr old Purse Snatcher (both Taller and More Muscular Than Me) for Several Minutes Waiting for the Police;
he Knocked Me to the Ground, I grabed his Leg So He Couldn't Kick Me; He lost His Shoe, I got Up and Tried To Hold Him; Finaly Grabbing his Belt and Pants; He Hit me Repeatedly in the Face and Body; I held on Without striking ANY Blows as I was Unsure of His Age and Didn't want to go to Jail for Striking a Minor; AND I WASN'T PAID, or Trained To Disarm and Control a Violent adversary; But I took it..
Why ARE So Many Police Such Cowards/Bullies that They have to use excessive Force..
Using a taser should Result in the Same Desk/Off Duty; and Investigation that Firing a Gun Does..

Thursday July 9, 2009, 8:42 pm
Oh yeah;
Signed the Petition; and That was my comment and Email to All Relavant Parties..

Thursday July 9, 2009, 9:48 pm
Electric Shock kills and gives brain damage! That is one heavy duty voltage being passed.
Sad but my hubby and I are the 24th and 25th signer from California. Need more signatures desperately.
This will not stop at grieving people and is only the begging.

Friday July 10, 2009, 4:39 am
Signed $ Noted

Friday July 10, 2009, 5:51 am
PLEASE FRIENDS, see the Michael Jackson VIDEO at this link.

Authorities know by now that Tasers kill, but they continue to teach officers that they are non-lethal devices, and police use them carelessly and unnecessarily.

HERE IS WHAT MICHAEL SAYS - "THEY DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT US"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCqQ2JcQWGs

Friday July 10, 2009, 8:08 am
Thank You Sentinels for the live link. LOL

Friday July 10, 2009, 11:53 am
Robert Dziekanski case is even on wikipedia - can you believe that his family have been campaignig all the time and nothing was done yet - to see videos just put robert dziekanski into google you will get also links to petitions - I read somewhere reports from people who tried to help Robert - it was horrible!! - that was murder without any doubt
news: http://mnfu.wordpress.com/tag/robert-dziekanski/

there is also his mum blog but I can't find it now

to see what police is doing in UK just go to BBC UK site .......

Saturday July 11, 2009, 12:47 pm
Now this is what you call a irresponsible act!!!!!!!!!! Noted!

Sunday July 12, 2009, 6:06 pm
noted and signed.....unbelievable.

Sunday July 12, 2009, 7:38 pm
When is too much never enough and how do we stop it?...Surely we employ these guys to protect us...Why?...Is there not something written into the constitution allowing us to dismiss the idiot war child who loves his gun more than he cares about you and me?

Monday July 13, 2009, 12:29 am
Holy Mother......I needed a few minutes to realize what I was reading. That's......horrific, unemphatic, callous, sad, unbelievable, insane, and jaw-dropping. Another reason to not trust cops. If I was the mother, I would have beat those cops senseless after getting over being electrocuted. Talk about the worst day in your life, you lose you baby child, and get tased by the cops for being freakin' upset. Man.....I'm not going to forget this one.

Tuesday August 11, 2009, 10:55 pm
Noted and signed. Thanks Mary and thanks to Chief D. for bring it to my attention. I was rather late in learning about this heinous act by the police because I had no net access for about three months. How could a cop do something so heartless? I know nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes, but It seems like this guy was just too eager to use that taser.....and against a mother who's baby was just murdered? It just seems too horrible to even think about.

Nancy L., it may be true as you say that this officer's behavior is not typical of all police officers, but I don't see how you can say that excessive use of force on the part of police is real uncommon either. I've had to deal with some police officers myself who were needlessly hostile and clearly had anger management problems. These are individualswho are not screened thoroughly enough before they are hired and probably should not be in law enforcement.

Wednesday August 12, 2009, 6:23 am
Thanks, Charlie. Yes, your response came late, but the statements you made are so true. This is not typical of all police officers, but it is not uncommon either. Since publishing this article, I published one on an Idaho man who was sodomized by a Taser and an 80-year-old white-haired lady on a cane who was body-slammed by police in a Walmart parking lot and cracked her head. There is a soundclip for the sodomy in the comments strand, and the old lady's abuse is a Video. Look for the articles in my strand of submissions to Care2 News.

Thanks for commenting. I hope the young mother is comforted to know so many people care about her bad treatment and the loss of her baby.