News-Record.com

Interesting, but hardly evidence that tasers shouldn't be carried by our local SROs.

The potential for good - namely, protecting good kids from violent ones - far outweighs any potential risks. At some point, law enforcement officers have to be able to use force when other means fail.

I'm far more concerned about a thug stomping a classmate into a coma (which happened at Smith High School a few years back) or a juvenile delinquent bringing a loaded gun to school than I am any dangers of tasers.

After all, if students aren't behaving violently, they have zero risk of being tasered.

Jennifer or Morgan,

We have never seen an update about the "gun"
incident at a local high school. I'm sure
you will not be able to copy it from MSN
so here is a little more info to help you with your investigative reporting ..........

By the way, Peeden Drive is the address of both
schools.

http://www.guilfordcountysheriff.com/interactive/crimestats/details.asp?casenumber=061016016

concerned parent,

We'll have something in tomorrow's paper.

Officials said they did charge a 17-year-old student with carrying an unloaded gun to school Oct 16. This was at Eastern High.

Sorry, I had to confirm the info and get the name of the student.

Tasers, when first introduced to law enforcement, were presented as a "nonlethal" alternative to an officer's sidearm, that could be applied in situations where the only other viable option would have been to use lethal force.

(Note here that officers are trained to use their sidearms only in their most deadly way - not to "wing a perp" like used to happen in so many television shows. In reality, when it's time to pull the trigger, the point is that someone is supposed to die.)

The current problems with tasers might well arise from their use in situations where lethal force would never have been considered. When applied that way, they represent a net increase in deaths, than would otherwise occur. Taser instead of Glock = less deadly; taser instead of de-escalation of a confrontation = more deadly.

There's also evidence that tasers are used disproportionately on individuals suffering from mental illness and addiction.

It's a case of unintended consequences, arising from introduction of a new technology.

Kirk

Since when does a student hollowing "Jesus" deserve to be killed. We might need distance from him, but we don't need him killed. Where was the lethal weapon. The Officer used the Tazer because the had it. Do you believe a State Trooper should kill someone because he want stop? Shoot now and ask questions later. What has this country come to?

I am sure we will find that this student suffered from a mental illness.

So if a child is mentally ill, and cannot be contained, would we shoot him?

We were told that the tasers would only be used as a last resort, like using a gun, and because the taser was less dangerous, that was a good thing for law enforcement to have at a school. So in a case where a gun would have been used, they would taser first to try to gain control before using lethal force. SO would this officer have shot the student for shouting and acting erratic? I imagine they would have taken more time, and used more negotiating, and would have waited for the child to de-escalate before shooting. Again, I am sure this student was mentally ill.

So they "shot" a mentally ill student because they felt the taser would not really hurt him. THe evidence says tasers are not safe, especailly for children and elderly people.

We don't need them in our schools. And if a student is being beaten, the taser would not be effective. You cannot taser in that unstable situation. My little brother was beaten and almost killed at school when he was a sophomore, so I am sensitive to the issue of safe schools. He now has several metal plates in his face and has permanent damage. He also suffered post-traumatic stress for years after.

In his case, 5 teachers stood there while he was thrown to the ground, kicked in the face and head with steel-toed boots, and hit over the head with a lead pipe. More than anything, it bothered him that the teachers and administrators just stood there.

We need to train our staff members in how to safely restrain students who are out of control or fighting, There is a way to do that. I have been trained, as a mental health practitioner, in how to gain control of someone who is in danger of harming themselves or others. It is not easy, or pretty, but you could train first responders to intervene in fights.

If you have a positive school climate, you should rarely have to deal with that stuff anyway.

Joe and Terrina,

It seems that the two of you are jumping to some mighty big conclusions based on an initial news report, which doesn't provide all of the information needed to assess what actually happened. Perhaps, it would be prudent to wait until more information is provided. There may be more to the story than we see in this report, and we may find that this wasn't a mentally-ill person, but under some other influence. We may find that the law-enforcement officer didn't just shoot and ask questions later.

The question? Could this life be saved?
The answer? Yes

Question 2? Did he endager the lives of others?
Answer: No

Last evening during a debate between B.J. 'Taz-em' Barnes and hopeful Berkley 'Shootin' Blanks broadcast on WFDD, Barnes talked about an incident at a Guilford Middle School involving a student carrying two toy guns that shot plastic pellets and a "glock." He specifically said this was a middle school student. Now either the venerable Sheriff of Guilford is telling a little fib in the election run-up or the recent report in the paper and on this blog in inaccurate.

Should I assume that the fire bumped the gun at the high school story?

Thank you Joe & Terrisa for your comments regarding the Miedeval approach some in this community have when it comes to addressing the challenges our youths have today.

I warned our community about the use of these guns and look what happened. Now you'll listen to what I say.

KEEP STUN GUNS (TASERS) OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS.

BJ Barnes must go.

Concerned, the problem isn't "challenges our youths have today". The juvenile delinquents and thugs ARE the challenges! And they threaten the good kids who just want to learn and be left alone.

Terrina and Joe, you always offer thoughtful opinions, but I have to disagree on this one. If the sheriff believes tasers will make schools safer, I'm inclined to defer to his expert judgment.

I agree that if you have a positive school climate, you shouldn't have to worry about this stuff very often. The problem is that too many Guilford County schools don't have a safe, positive environment. A big part of the reason is the GCS administration and school board bends over backwards to appease activists who don't want certain kids punished. The message from GCS to the good kids is, "We won't protect you; you are on your own."

As a result, teachers and principals find their hands tied when it comes to discipline. That, in turn, only escalates the violence in schools. Just think back to last year when three GCS principals were hospitalized in attacks by students.

Joe,

So, you were there and witnessed the event? It would seem that a little more investigation is needed before we arrive at those conclusions.

Zhak,

We ran something the day after I posted that we would. I was told it was a high school student, 17 years old.

Maybe Barnes got his info mixed up?

Concerned,

Given the fact that Eastern might have been saved if had sprinklers, and the vast majority of county schools don't have sprinkler protection, I am more concerned about the risk of fire to students than Tasers. Let's get focused on the real dangers childern face in schools.

Terrina and Joe are mature enough to sign our name. Why can't you?

Terrina,

First responders (teachers) are not going to intervene in fights for fear of losing their jobs or being sued for accidently hurting a child in the scuffle. Remember the principals who were hurt before. I think the principal at Central was injured twice.

I would think in a situation like that of your brother - "almost killed" - that the use of a tazer would have been justified. It sounds like his injuries were quite serious and could have been prevented.

Resource officers are trained to used tazer only in necessary, serious situations. If a student brings a loaded gun to school, what teacher is going to try "restraining him" if a gun is being pointed at the teacher?

Each situation has to be evaluated for it's seriousness. Have you read the recent violence reports in Guilford County on the number of assaults on school personnel? These are only the ones that were actually reported. What's it going to take before a teacher or student is fatally injured by someone who brings a weapon to school?

No comment to signing your name?

Sort of reminds me of those creepy white guys who wear the white hoods and are willing to make a statement but not willing to show their faces... just kind-of cowardly and creepy...

I know most of the people who hide behind these fake names on this blog... and I think all of them are good people. Even though they take pot shots at me personally, I think they are good people who are still very hurt by some of the policies this BOE has made, and somehow, myself and others, are the new target.

It's not the truth of who they are.

What a waste of time. It's called projection... look it up. I know those who blog here are educated people, so look that one up.

We can actually have a blog that creates positive thoughts and energy versus a cesspool of negativity that goes no where and creates nothing.

So are we going to use this blog to throw &%# on the wall or a blog that might raise us to our higher ground?

So many people are afraid to post here because of the negative, personal attacks... so can we be over that?? Just a question...