Comments about ‘14-year-old boy Tasered by Salt Lake police’

Good for him.

Before anyone tries the "Poor, defenseless little kid" argument, I'll just volunteer that not all 14-year-olds are small and helpless. I was a big dude at that age, as were several of my friends, and I could certainly understand an officer electing to use a painful-but-harmless taser to avoid what may otherwise be a messy altercation. I'll wait for the facts.

Serves the brat right!

He fought the law and the law won!

stupid punk thinks he has a right to do whatever he wants.
maybe more will get the message and act appropriately in public ... but I doubt it.

Cops don't know how to subdue combative people any more without reaching for the Taser. Funny how they managed to do the job for a hundred years without them.

Maybe a spank when he was a little younger would have prevented the tazing?

So the cops and the kid were unharmed, and the other patrons of the mall were able to get back to their shopping without having to worry about unattended and threatening punks. Perfect outcome.

In this particular case (in contrast to other previous cases that made the news) the use of the taser was necessary.

We all know impulsive teenagers tend to act as if there were no consequences for their bad behavior, or that they have the right to such bad behavior.

Our society has a huge problem with bullying. I am glad this youngster got what he deserved.

Dear Dependent
The taser works well, because it is quick easy, and usually harmless.
Fists flying and batons and/or guns, that does some permanent damage. I'm glad the taser has become a first choice for combative people.

Would you have rather the cops got into a fist fight with the boy? The taser worked great, from what the article states, and nobody got hurt any more that they deserved.

MAYBEE THE OFFICER SHOULD DO THE SAME THING TO THE KIDS PARENTS, THEN BOTH PARENTS AND KID WILL FINALY LEARN

WOW! A cop cannot handle a 14 year old? I don't care how big the kid is, any cop should be able to handle a 14 year old without a taser! Especially an unarmed teenager. This gives me serious concerns over how well trained our police our and these are the people who are to protect me? Don't let the media or the police fool you, taser are no safer then batons or fist.

I can see how this would be a difficult situation for a police officer. If a 14 year old is refusing to leave a building, but not really putting anyone's life in danger, what does the officer do? He can't pull a gun on the kid. I guess he could arrest the kid for not obeying the officer's orders, but that would almost be more work than it's worth. The taser sounds like a good solution in this case.

So does that mean if my teenagers get mouthy with me I should be able to tazer them?? Have there been studies as to the possible long term neuro affects in a still developing child?? I understand cops have a tough job but many are quick to jump to enforce their "power" if that was my kid I would file a complaint!!

"aggressive stance", what does that mean? What next an "aggressive eye position"

Yeah, police got by for a hundred years by whacking people with batons or just punching them in the kisser. Which would you rather have: a good ol' fashioned beatdown or a few seconds of a taser?

Dear Dependent,
The taster is way less damaging than any other methods used to sub-due a combative person. The pain is intense during the actual shock but after, no pain, no burses,bumps, or dislocated joints. That kid should be thankful. If he is not going to comply to a uniformed officer he could have gotten worse. Good work officer!

Good for the cop. More kids should be tasered. I hope the parents are embarrassed their kid caused such a problem, but I doubt it. They are probably more worried about consulting their lawyer today and preparing a lawsuit against the SLCPD.

Maybe we should allow parents to disipline kids. I read to many articles on social services getting involved. We can not have it both ways, society is headed in a direction that allows government to make decissons but not parents.

I agree the officer did the right thing here, but when I was young, the fear of facing my parents was greater than the fear of the police. I do not feel kids are worried about parents, maybeit's time for the old wood shed to be used again.