Discussion
Robertj21a said:
Quite, why would anybody spend good money buying one ?
If we want to evidence 'Tough on crime' then we need deterrents - this should be a good one.
Ditto the dIf we want to evidence 'Tough on crime' then we need deterrents - this should be a good one.
heads who buy lasers and shine them at aircraft, potentially endangering hundreds of lives. Definitely add that to the 'minimum 5yr' list.The fact he couldn't purchase one in the UK should have been enough for him to want to know why, surely? Then he would have discovered they are illegal in the UK. Knowing that he would have discovered the penalty for being discovered with one. No excuse. Ignorance is also not an excuse assuming he really didn't investigate first.
A great shame really, life-changing actions for a 'novelty' if his intentions weren't for owning one for self-defence. He showed immense irresponsibility in showing it to minors and tasering himself - and publishing it. Stupid really.
Should tasers be legal? Yes! I'm pro-firearms being legal to licensed and correctly trained individuals with no mental or criminal records and would use a taser before my firearm if possible as the likelihood of less trauma all round is greater, exceptions notwithstanding.
A great shame really, life-changing actions for a 'novelty' if his intentions weren't for owning one for self-defence. He showed immense irresponsibility in showing it to minors and tasering himself - and publishing it. Stupid really.
Should tasers be legal? Yes! I'm pro-firearms being legal to licensed and correctly trained individuals with no mental or criminal records and would use a taser before my firearm if possible as the likelihood of less trauma all round is greater, exceptions notwithstanding.
andym1603 said:
No sympathy here. A stun gun/taser is classed as a firearm and as such is a prohibited weapon. Has he been living in a cave to think it was okay to keep this? Says a lot about airport security not picking this up.
Really? I'm in a room with four people all of who had no idea that carrying a stun gun would get you anything more than confiscation and a caution.A friend brought one back from Thailand last year, its a bit of childish fun, tasering each other as pranks etc...
93DW said:
He must have previous for something sinister surely?
Given how the system works I really can't see any judge imprisoning a family man over this? Especially for 5 years
There is not a lot he can do. He has to follow the sentencing guidelines. In fact, I think there are statutory and not just guidance.Given how the system works I really can't see any judge imprisoning a family man over this? Especially for 5 years
Having said that, there have been a raft of cases where the judges have had no problem finding "exceptional circumstances" when they wanted to. There was a case of a mother who found her gang-member son's Makarov pistol and hid it rather than take it to plod. She was let off with something quite minor in nature. Personally I think she should have had the book thrown at her!
StottyEvo said:
andym1603 said:
No sympathy here. A stun gun/taser is classed as a firearm and as such is a prohibited weapon. Has he been living in a cave to think it was okay to keep this? Says a lot about airport security not picking this up.
Really? I'm in a room with four people all of who had no idea that carrying a stun gun would get you anything more than confiscation and a caution.A friend brought one back from Thailand last year, its a bit of childish fun, tasering each other as pranks etc...
I'm not surprised that people weren't aware of the legal specifics but I'm very, very surprised that anyone thinks that possessing one (let alone smuggling them into the country) is anything other than a rather serious offence!
Have I gone insane or something? It's a taser... Someone zaps you on the back of the arm with it, you should "ahhh ya b
d" it stings for a few seconds then you get over it.Surely its far less dangerous than a paintball gun that people pay to shoot each other with, for a bit of a laugh and childish fun
boxxob said:
A bit of whatabout perspective seems reasonable here, since...a pen can be lethal. As for endangering lives, I'd say more lives are put at risk each and every day by drivers who text at the wheel.
I don't think this sentence is either fair or in the public's interest. A year suspended would have been ideal, as there have been no directly harmful consequences to him having owned this item. Keeping with he motoring comparison and to answer your last line: this guy will likely be in prison longer than some convicted drivers who have killed people will actually be banned from the road - yes, that's banned from driving, not just imprisonment.
The whole point is that the sentence has to be a significant deterrent - and this one is. It makes a nice change from the stupidly ineffective sentences that we're all too used to seeing. He's clearly an idiot and deserves to be treated as such.I don't think this sentence is either fair or in the public's interest. A year suspended would have been ideal, as there have been no directly harmful consequences to him having owned this item. Keeping with he motoring comparison and to answer your last line: this guy will likely be in prison longer than some convicted drivers who have killed people will actually be banned from the road - yes, that's banned from driving, not just imprisonment.
StottyEvo said:
Have I gone insane or something? It's a taser... Someone zaps you on the back of the arm with it, you should "ahhh ya b
d" it stings for a few seconds then you get over it.Surely its far less dangerous than a paintball gun that people pay to shoot each other with, for a bit of a laugh and childish fun
They are potentially extremely dangerous. Anyone who has a heart condition (which they may not even know about) could die as could someone who has a pacemaker fitted.
Seriously mate, if you think they are 'far less dangerous than a paintball gun' then you need to get help in making day-to-day decisions as your sense of critical analysis and assessment of risk is way out of kilter!
ascayman said:
StottyEvo said:
Have I gone insane or something? It's a taser... Someone zaps you on the back of the arm with it, you should "ahhh ya b
d" it stings for a few seconds then you get over it.I'd guess you're saying he was killed by a taser, so tasers are dangerous. If this is the point you're making, its ridiculously stupid for many many reasons.
StottyEvo said:
Have I gone insane or something? It's a taser... Someone zaps you on the back of the arm with it, you should "ahhh ya b
d" it stings for a few seconds then you get over it.Surely its far less dangerous than a paintball gun that people pay to shoot each other with, for a bit of a laugh and childish fun
These are very very serious weapons. They incapacitate people totally for 15 minutes and can kill.
Five years is the minimum sentence for a reason. If enough idiots get five years word gets out. I doubt any of his mates will be keeping the ones they had.
Stotty.
The problems are:-
1. They are illegal here.
2. Not everyone is build the same and a shock that might give you a bit of a jolt and a little tingle might kill someone else.
3. Not everyone has friends who still (over the age of 14) believe that dead legs, arms or a gentle friendly tasering is the sign of healthy male bonding in progress.
FWIW if one of my friends were to do such a thing they would very swiftly be advised never to do it again. No i would not be down the cop shop but i would be ensuring that the item was destroyed/handed in anonymously to Police.
I can see why people might want to carry them for protection but in this country you are not allowed them and so that is the end of the discussion for the time being.
The problems are:-
1. They are illegal here.
2. Not everyone is build the same and a shock that might give you a bit of a jolt and a little tingle might kill someone else.
3. Not everyone has friends who still (over the age of 14) believe that dead legs, arms or a gentle friendly tasering is the sign of healthy male bonding in progress.
FWIW if one of my friends were to do such a thing they would very swiftly be advised never to do it again. No i would not be down the cop shop but i would be ensuring that the item was destroyed/handed in anonymously to Police.
I can see why people might want to carry them for protection but in this country you are not allowed them and so that is the end of the discussion for the time being.
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