Which DoD personnel should be required to carry Tasers? Should everyone be required to carry Tasers while deployed?

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Mon, 10 May 2021 17:09:37 -0400

It's my understanding that some parts of the DoD have personnel that carry Tasers -- I believe it's primarily folks who are in law enforcement/base security types of roles. Is that correct? If so, I was curious to ask RP members their feelings on whether the DoD should just have all personnel carry Tasers in a deployed environment. Would this be a good or bad idea? Could Tasers be a better option during Escalation of Force (EOF) situations with civilians or hostile combatants? Do you think it's inevitable that Tasers will be used all over the place in the DoD in the coming years? DISCLAIMER: I am not implying that I am for or against any of these outcomes...just asking the question out of curiosity.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made May 10 at 2021 5:12 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Mon, 10 May 2021 17:12:42 -0400

Never heard of it, other than MPs on duty

A CATASTROPHE IN THE MAKING

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2021 5:55 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 May 2021 17:55:20 -0400

Only on-duty Law Enforcement should have tasers, there is no reason for everyone to carry a taser, especially in a combat environment. You do not use less than lethal force to try to combat a lethal threat. On top of that a taser isn’t always effective even in perfect conditions. I just can’t see any reason why you would other than in garrison LE.

Response by SPC Cathy Goessman made May 10 at 2021 6:03 PM

SPC Cathy Goessman — Mon, 10 May 2021 18:03:56 -0400

Tasers aren't the easiest to deploy correctly and are the last attempt to save someone's life from being ended by law enforcement. Outside of law enforcement situations they have limited usefulness. Generally they are used in situations where the only other choice would be to shoot someone but the end goal is still to detain them. They are not something all personnel are going to be capable of responsibly and skillfully deploying or even find useful.

Response by TSgt George Rodriguez made May 10 at 2021 6:33 PM

TSgt George Rodriguez — Mon, 10 May 2021 18:33:23 -0400

Tasers will not stop a drug induced person. Knowing this the enemy can use that to make them useless.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made May 10 at 2021 8:18 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Mon, 10 May 2021 20:18:00 -0400

More 'Armed' trainees (flat ammo pouches and no magazines) guarding the gates after 911?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2021 10:03 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 May 2021 22:03:52 -0400

Let me tell you a story.

When I deployed to Afghanistan we would on occasion go outside the wire to our "weapons range," that being a nearby mountain side. The locals knew that if they saw the Americans staging at this spot what they were doing, and that there would be brass they could collect afterwords. One day after spending some time successfully adding mineral deposits to the mountain side we were getting ready to leave, and the locals started to gather around to collect their brass harvest. Some dumbass kid, doing what dumbass kids do, took a rock and threw it at one of our vehicles, shattering a light. One of my Staff Sergeants took offense to this, and in short order had acquired his breaching shotgun. He calmly loaded it with a "non-lethal" bean bag round, and then proceeded to shoot the kid center mass from <20'. The kid straight up did not have a good time.

The moral of the story? You give a soldier who is trained to kill people for a living a tool and he is apt to use it. You know what would have happened if this Staff Sergeant hadn't had less than lethal ammunition? He wouldn't have used it, and he certainly wouldn't have used lethal ammunition. The kid would not have been lifted off his feet, and his family wouldn't have likely gained an increasing hatred for Americans. Soldiers should not be put in a position where they are given less lethal options. Our purpose as military service members is to break things and kill people, and tasers do neither of those things.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 10 at 2021 11:34 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 10 May 2021 23:34:08 -0400

Why sure, and don't issue real bullets too anyone. You know that flack vests, armored vests and thick robes render Tasers ineffective right.

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2021 1:43 AM

SP5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 May 2021 01:43:20 -0400

I believe if your close enough to taser them, you're close enough to shoot them.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made May 11 at 2021 12:38 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Tue, 11 May 2021 12:38:56 -0400

Only military LEOs and maybe sensitive site security should carry them. This goes hand in hand with joes being authorized to conceal carry on base.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2021 1:06 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 May 2021 13:06:06 -0400

I'm black. There's no @#$@#$ way I'm ever going to carry a taser stateside. Any cop finding a taser on me won't care if I'm in uniform and carrying it in the line of duty, they'll shoot me just as soon as look at me.

Response by Cpl Mark Sullivan made May 11 at 2021 1:56 PM

Cpl Mark Sullivan — Tue, 11 May 2021 13:56:38 -0400

Stupid question

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2021 2:23 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 May 2021 14:23:30 -0400

Tasers are for public opinion. Service members would have to be additionally trained in both deployment of, and rules of engagement for use, and all for the objective to the outward image of softer, kinder, gentler. So, from a top level cost consideration is changing public opinion worth that cost.

Response by SrA John Monette made May 11 at 2021 2:32 PM

SrA John Monette — Tue, 11 May 2021 14:32:01 -0400

those engaged in law enforcement/security duties only

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2021 5:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 May 2021 17:11:21 -0400

I honestly don't trust some people to handle their assigned weapon, let alone a Taser. I honestly doubt everyone is going to get a Taser in the coming years either. Garrison or deployed. The only time I could have used a Taser is when I had a moron I thought was my friend think he could grope me. That would have come in handy then.