Let's Stop the Taser Madness

Following an earlier post about the problem of death by Taser, some commented that extrajudicial execution was an insignificant issue because there should be more concern about black criminals killing black people than police officers killing black people.

I argue that we should be concerned about both.

And we need to sound alarms because those who stand on the thin blue line take an oath to protect and serve us -- we the people. Officers of the law must abide by the highest standards of protocol, and, at the very least, officers are required to not violate our Constitutional rights.

It is time to put an end to the Taser madness otherwise known as extrajudicial executions. Here are just some of the most recent Taser victims courtesy of the African American Political Pundit and Electronic Village:

Baron Pikes (Winnfield, La.) - police officer Scott Nugent indicted for murder after he Tased the handcuffed 21-year-old black man to death.

Valreca Redden (Trotwood, Ohio) - pregnant black woman Tased by officer Michael Wilmer when she went to police department for help.

Eugene Snelling (Austin, Texas) - Tased by officer Thomas O'Connor while driving with his mother on Thanksgiving.

Donnell Williams (Wichita, Kan.) - deaf black man Tased in his home.

Major Lemon (Madison, Wis.) - black man Tased while holiday shopping at the local mall.

Darryl Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) - unarmed 17-year old killed when officer Jerry Dawson fired at him with a Taser gun.

James Garland (Miami) - unarmed and naked 41-year-old black man killed by police Taser gun while disoriented in the street.

If you feel this has got to stop, then it's time to take the next step. Click here to sign the Petition2Congress "Taser Torture - A call for Congressional hearings."

The Fifth Amendment of the Bill of Rights guarantees that none of us shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law. It is the least we are owed. No officer should be using what we now know is deadly force unless a life is being directly threatened.

Our Lens Sept. 1

Hector Jackson (C), who impersonates the late US pop star Michael Jackson, gestures while he takes part in the "I do dance Thriller" event which attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the biggest mass "Thriller" dance, in Mexico City, on August 29. Up to 15,000 people are expected to take part in a potentially record breaking mass performance of Michael Jackson's famed "Thriller" dance on the day he would have turned 51.

Omar Torres, AFP/ Getty Images

A long line of fire marches west towards the communities of Acton and Sunland-Tujanga on August 31 in Los Angeles, California. At least 18 homes were destroyed and 12,000 more homes and 500 commercial buildings are being threatened in the fire which already took two lives. The wildfire, which broke out Wednesday afternoon near a ranger station and the Angeles Crest Highway above La Canada Flintridge, has forced thousands of evacuations.

Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

Venus Williams of the United States reaches for a shot against Vera Dushevina of Russia during day one of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, in Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Chris McGrath, Getty Images

A Kenyan Muslim child reads verses from the Quran, Islam's holy book, on the fifth day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a Madrassa (Religion School), in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Aug. 26. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, where observants fast from dawn till dusk.

Sayyid Azim, AP

Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center on August 28, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Discovery is scheduled for a 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Host Vanessa Williams performs with dancer Gilles Marini onstage at the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at The Orpheum Theatre on August 30, in Los Angeles, California.

Jesse Grant, WireImage

A girl plays with tomato pulp during the annual "Tomatina" tomato fight fiesta in the village of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 26. Bunol's town hall estimated more than 40,000 people, some from as far away as Japan and Australia, took up arms Wednesday with 100 tons of tomatoes in the yearly food fight known as the 'Tomatina' now in its 64th year.

Alberto Saiz, AP

Tom Wainaina recounts the events that lead to his being burned over most of his upper body August 26 in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Wainaina was burned by a group of men during post-election violence in Kenya's disputed 2007 presidential election. Ethnic-tribal violence left over 1,000 people dead. The non-governmental organization (NGO) Concern, in cooperation with local Kenyan groups, has launched a campaign to provide the urban poor with cash grants to start a business or get back on their feet after suffering disproportionately from post-election violence in 2007. The money is transferred to the recipients via a mobile phone which insures a safe and simple financial transaction to customers who don?t have bank accounts. Wainaina is one of dozens of Kibera residents to receive the assistance of a cash grant. Hairdressers, grocery stores and food vendors are just some of the businesses that have been financed through the program.

Spencer Platt, Getty Images

People standing near the grave of Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) look at the grave of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) at Arlington National Cemetery August 30, in Arlington, Virginia. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) was buried yesterday next to his brothers President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) after he died of brain cancer on August 25.

Brendan Smialowski, Getty Images

US President Barack Obama takes out his daughters Malia (R) and Sasha (2nd L) and niece Suhaila Ng (L) to shop in the Alleys general store on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on August 30, 2009.

Jewel Samad, AFP/ Getty Images

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