Dude get's tasered for asking John Kerry if he was a member of Skull and Bones...

... he was (and is).

No matter if you believe he was wrong or not, you have to admit that the cops did not handle the situation correctly.

Yep - this made me pretty upset early when i watched it (besides the fact that it's in my town!). I think it was totally unfair . . .

I was JUST reading that story - makes me want to throw up. Welcome to the land of the free.

That happened at my alma mater, the University of Florida. I was very disgusted to see that this happened. It was completely unnecessary and ridiculous.

There's more on INFOWARS

What really pisses me off - (yes, I am pissed!) - is the fact that NOBODY tried to help him!

There were some 300 people there (from what I could see), man - is everyone THAT scared of a few police!?

No matter what, NOBODY deserves this type of treatment, nobody.


Sad. Disgusting. .... ***fuming

Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely

As I was flipping channels- I heard most talk show hosts (especially the conservative hosts on Fox) talking about how this guy did this for publicity. People who have been tazed said he was over reacting just for attention. They say that his friends had a website up within a very short time of this happening- not thatt it's an excuse to taze him, but perhaps he was playing it up.

I'm just sayin

That's fine... and may be the case.

But think about it. He did nothing that wasn't covered by the 1st ammendment.
He must have known (if what you say is true) that by asking certain questions this would be the result. So either way, we need to be thankful that this is known.

Again, from what I saw, he didn't break any laws.
He was not a threat to Sen. Kerry in any physical way.
Kerry did not act as if he were threatened.

The police overreacted - period.

I've seen people removed from Bush's speeches in the same manner for "disrupting" his speech. That dude was being escorted out and he would not stop flailing his arms and resisting... You can clearly see he's resisting while he's yelling "what have I done???" I dunno, I thought he could have taken a few more shots with the taser.

I love when conservatives talk about suppression of free speech. Have you read the Patriot Act????????

I have read the Patriot Act - it too pisses me off!

Meyer (the guy tazed) did nothing, you see him flailing his arms - I see a natural response by someone being bullied by power mad cops.

Can you tell me why he was being arrested in the first place?
Why they felt the need to escort him? Was he a threat in any way?

For the record, I am neither a democrat nor a republican, nor green, nor libertarian etc.
You can call Bush a conservative - be he's a liar, all of them are liars.

Bush, Kerry, Gore, Daddy Bush et al = evil corrupt men hell bent on destroying our liberties and controlling the masses.

Watch TerrorStorm

bad scene all the way around. The guy was a bit overboard, but the cops handled it pretty poorly.

BTW--I got tazed once--(don't ask) and I'd say he was a bit dramatic in his screams. Don't get me wrong, it hurts like hell, but my experience caused me to clamp up and not say much at all--and then hurt like hell for a coupla' hours after.

Sad that it happened.

Ummm, I'm a bit confused. While I'm not sure why they were arresting him in the first place he was definitely resisting arrest. There's no way that's a "neutral response" he even tries to run at one point.

Personally I think all Liberals should be tasered once a week just on principle. (Conservatives should just have to skip eating one day.)

In this case, however, he was removed precisely because he wouldn't allow anyone else their right to speak. Then he resisted being removed, and then he resisted being arrested. And he acted like a p****y throughout the whole thing.

Ironically, of course, it was John Kerry speaking. Liberals are their own worst enemies (thank god).

hmmm.. i dunno. its reported that as soon as he was out of camera's view, his attitude and demeanor changed considerably.

i wish you would try to see it from the other side.

police officers are trained to notice things we dont normally see. a lot of times, they are watching us, when we dont even know it. they can tell when something is about to escallate. they are also trained to detain people, BEFORE they become a threat. the kid's demeanor was just that, he was beginning to act like he could BECOME problem

had they not stepped in when they had, and the kid pulled out a knife or a gun and caught everyone off guard, what would the topic of this thread be then?

i do not condone police officers beating up people without just cause - of course not. but, i do know that there are times when things appear to be nothing on the outside, but had they not stepped in, could have transpired into something horrific or just plain nasty. sometimes they just dont have the luxury of a lot of time to assess the situation correctly and have to take into account the safety of other people as well.

Did you actually just write this and approve it by clicking "Add Reply"? Wow. Personally, I think anyone who divides people into "Conservatives" and "Liberals", even jokingly, is contributing to the polarization of this country and probably doesn't even know what a conservative or a liberal are. Justmjust parrotting information they get from their parents or partisan hacks they buy books from. (strains of "Dueling Banjos" fade into the night)

I weep for this country and our democratic process when I see people pulling our discourse into the mud. As I've said before, if you are going to try and be funny by mocking discourse on something like a possible question of police brutality and/or freedom of speech, can you at least do it with some panache and well...be funny? You could have said something clever like:

"That's how I like my hippie activist: Well done with a side of ozone"

Or you could have lowered it even further by saying: "Oink oink, zap zap, ah ah! And that means I love you!!!"

Talk about LIBERALS being their own worst enemies...who is this really? Bill O'Reilly is that you, weekend warrior wedding photographer? Ugh...

The fact of the matter is that there was NO need to taser the kid since he had a pig pile of cops on him already. You can't tell me that all those officers could not get the kid in handcuffs. That is police brutality at it's finest if you ask me. Sad, sad, sad...

The hypotheticals are overreaching in this case.

He had a book, not a knife or a gun. He is a student at the college. There were no indications that anything other than an annoying 21-year-old wouldn't give up the microphone until he got to harass a US Senator about his failed presidential run and membership in a secret society.

The police officers in this case escalated the situation by making it physical. Once they had him at the bottom of a pile of 5-6 officers they then Tasered him.

While not nearly as bad as the UCLA Tasering, this is pretty chilling, IMO. Note about the link: the UCLA Tasering is much more disturbing. The University police Taser the student repeatedly while telling him to get up and threaten other students with Tasers when they are asked for their badge numbers.

right. i am sure they are thinking those same things at virginia tech.

If you can't see the difference between the student Tasering incidents and the VA Tech killings then there's really no point in even furthering the discussion in that regard. I suppose there's no room for nuance with you on this.

that's just my point - where do you draw the line? how do you know? sure that kid was just a student at a college but so was the freak who killed everyone at virginia tech.

You work for a lawyer in England, correct?Can you explain how what you've mentioned here isn't the same as 'thought policing' or acting on an assumption on the part of the polce? Did fellow students act threatened by Meyer as he passionatly asked his questions? I know that Big Brother is alive and well in all countries, but at least here in the USA we still have constitutional freedom (even though that BS 'Patriot Act' dissolved our freedoms) and we should not feel threatened by cops if we get a bit excited or passionate about our beliefs."To Protect and Serve"... whatever happened to that. Where were his miranda rights as he was pinned to the floor and tasered? He was warned that he'd be tasered, but he wasn't read his rights from we can hear...This isn't a matter of police brutality, but police state mentality. The public is being conditioned to cooperate or be removed. If the kid wanted to pull a knife or gun, he could have right as the police went for him - but he didn't. And besides, the police clearly didn't feel that threat or they would have drew their weapons and searched him. Nope, they knew he wasn't a physical threat - he was a mental threat, someone who was willing to stand up and challenge the doublethink being spewed out of our govt. leaders.+1 Well said Damon.And I agree - I had to stop watching the UCLA Tasering because it reminded me of CIA torture you hear/read about. Chilling is the correct word.

what does my working for attorneys have anything to do with this?

i stick by my comments.

Thank you Ryan! I could not agree more about our country and the divide...well said.

You have access to more legal information and understanding than myself, an armchair researcher. I was seriously asking you a question in order to help me understand how you can see this guy, Meyer, as being a threat.

ok, i work for corporate attorneys now, not litigators or criminal defense attorneys - big difference (better scotch ).

maybe i didnt write it correctly, or maybe you didnt understand my point - my point is this, but first let me state that i do not condone this type of behaviour, but i was merely trying to point out that there is another side to it.

its just liek with attorneys, everyone bad mouths them, then when they are sued, who do they go running to for help?

police officers' lives are on the line every day. they never know when they may pull someone over for speeding and they have a gun. can you imagine earning a living like that? yes i know its their choice, but i commend them for this. but because of the freaks out there - there is a psychology to being on the street - (sorry, not trying to be tooo dramatic) - you hve to be prepared for everything and anything at all times.

yes, i will admit/agree that this taser incident was probably ott - i have only briefly read the cnn article, i havent seen any video. but i am open enough to try to see both sides. but had this gone the other way, and this student had turned into a psychotic murdering idiot, and the police were caught off guard and he popped some shots off and killed a few, then this post would be about how lazy the police were and how they were not on their feet and could have prevented this.

i may not be writing this exactly how i am feeling about this - i hate writing things out so maybe i am not coming across clearly. i have done a lot of research into this because i was involved in a rather high profile criminal case in houston texas a couple of decades ago.

i realize things are changing into more of a 'police state' of mind - and i think i would be right by saying its only going to get worse, but that is just how things are now. get used to it. (said in a loving tone, not a sarcastic one)

Watch the videos (there are multiple videos). It will provide some context for why I don't think this is similar to the VA Tech killings other than that they involved colleges and students.

yes it just so happens he had a book, but looking at the video at that moment - how do you know without a doubt, he didnt have a gun in his pocket?

i've watched the video but cannot hear it so i can't tell what is happening when they have him down, and its probably way over the top, and as i said earlier, i do not condone this behaviour but i am merely trying to point out the mentality of the police officers in these situations, they happen fast and they have to think on their feet quickly and assess situations in split seconds and its horrible that in some situations they over react. but it happens.

You should watch it with sound. The screams are real, IMO.

Thanks for clarifying that for me.



Yes, there are two sides to every story, sometimes 3 sides...



Same with dentists and photogrpahers lol!



I understand that their lives are on the line every day, I have friends that are cops.
But like anything, there are those who use their power for good and those that use it for evil.
Plus, the majority just follow the party-line and don't/won't/can't question the authority above them.

You mention the 'freaks out there' ... who is that in your mind?
Are you a freak to speak your mind?
Are you a freak to have an opinion that differs, dramatically in most cases, than the poplular thought of the day? Is everyone who questions the established authority a 'freak'?



Do you live in fear? Do you assume that everyone who disagrees or questions the status quo is ready to go on a murder spree? If so, then your mind is not truly open...
You are making assumptions when the evidence we see in the video clearly points out that Meyer wasn't a physical threat to anyone. If he wasn't a physical threat, then why are the police allowed to physically assault him?

(fwiw - I would feel the same if ANYONE was speaking their mind and endured this torture.)




Your statement here sends chills up my spine - it is a defeatist attitude... for all that passion you have for your beliefs in other threads, to read this makes me sad. Of all the people here on OSP I was certain you would be just as upset about this issue... I am confused by your indifference towards the issue of a police state. Please do not take what I said as an insult btw, it wasn't intended as such - but I am surprised that even on this issue we have differing opinions.

The statement above made me think of a line of scripture (I know, I can't help it - it's part of who I am)... It's in the book of Revelation 13:4

"Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?"

The 'beast' being referred to here is the revived roman empire and its ruler... aka - the police state and the Antichrist.

In order to keep the peace of conversation, I will refrain from further scriptural references because this isn't a 'religious' issue - but an issue of Freedom.

Your statement, again, struck a chord with me and I immediately thought of that verse.

i know i may sound wierd with this type of opinion, and i have to admit, it has changed as i have gotten older. i have been a rebel since day one. my parents can attest to this. i go against things just to go against them.

but.

i see things differently now that i live in another country. i know i never though i would feel this way or view thigns this way, but i just do. i see how the violence has risen in the US and how bad things truly are there. please dont think i am bad mouthing the US, because i love my country sooo much. but i live somewhere where i feel so much safer. its nice to walk to the train station at night and not feel scared. seriously. and yes, there are thugs, in fact, i was stabbed in london on my lunch hour back in april. but that was an exception and another story. a gun murder (drug related) made the news the other day... it made the news because that just rarely happens in this country. (although it is starting to rise.....sad).

i dont know, i think i am rambling and may be totally off subject now.

yes, what happend was horrible, it was an over reaction to the highest degree. i feel sorry for the poor guy for being so passionate about what he believes in, but we do not live in that 'let freedom ring' state any longer. that ended a few years back, or hadnt you noticed?

you would be stupid to not realize you must follow a certain decorum when speaking to a politician in an open forum, this boy was trying to grandstand, and he is paying the price for not backing down when he should have. having freedom is one thing, but acting like an ass is another.

Wow, that was amazingly stupid on the part of those cops. They were on tape, from multiple angles, they had to know that... We could debate forever whether he needed to be escorted out, but what is clear is that they did a horrible job. Anyone who's ever worked as a bouncer at a bar could have escorted that kid out the door without any incident or excessive use of force. No handcuffs, no takedown, just twist his arm and walk him out.

Let's see.. what did they do instead?

Excessive use of force? Check
Thug mentality? Check
Mis use of their 'training'? Check
Major spectacle? Check
All on tape? Check.

WTF?

yah, were these university police or municipal?

Thank you for shedding some light on your opinion for me, Tami - I appreciate it.




I have noticed, hence my 'pissy-ness' regarding this matter.
I have read news item after news item for the last 10 years, and this BS police state stuff is on the rise - - and more and more people that try to stand up and 'let freedom ring' the more they get 'quieted'...

And you pity the guy for being passionate? Why? Again, it just doesn't make sense to me since YOU are equally passionate about your ideas and views.

because he could be much more effective had he channelled his energy in a more positive manner. where or where is spell checker these days?

there are many things i believe in, passionately, but i dont go into a public forum with a politician and scream my head off.

Okay - I can agree with you on that point.
Keeping a cool head is key to any discussion.

Really? Are you serious? Are you telling me you would have joined him at the risk of being shot dead?

Yes.

the issue wasnt that important was it?

The issue is important.

Some history:

Growing up , I was bullied, a lot.

I don't like oppressive and intimidated force, I hate scare tactics and fear mongering.
And no matter what, I will stand up against it.

Call me David if you will... or Don Quixote....

David? Hardly a good comparison, for reasons that should be obvious.

Standing up for a guy who is clearly out of control (from a legal standpoint) in the face of a police force who has both the right to bear their arms and use them is, I believe, pretty foolish. He was clearly resisting his arrest, whether justified or not, and he has recourse for addressing that.

I think it's very important to consider the context and environment surrounding this event.

Bruce,

I've never been in a fist fight. But I have years of martial arts training, the kind that cage fighters use, I've helped train local sheriff officers to defend themselves, I've helped implement riot training for city cops. I respect cops, but those cops were so out of line I had to get up and walk away from that video, like Johnny, I was pissed. I'm not sure I wouldn't be in jail now if I was there. Getting shot wouldn't even have crossed my mind, guns are pretty useless at that range (easy to defend against).

But you're right, it wouldn't have been 'better' if a student uprising had happened, the one thing for sure about cops is there is more of them on the way. Their training in that kind of situation has more to do with numbers and simple brute force than any kind of finesse.

The bigger issue isn't 'those cops' or 'that situation', but the fact that we in this country still romanticize about 'freedom' and for the most part it doesn't exist any more. And it's not coming back. Our government is more powerful and sophisticated than any grass roots uprising can overcome.

OK... Now I really have to calm down and get to work!

Hmmm. I guess I'm not seeing where too many of us have lost freedom in the context of our larger world. And I also fail to see what it is we have to overcome!

Did we actually ever have the "freedom" we believe was once there?

"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

The Declaration of Independence

"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."

1 Peter 2: 13-17 KJV


Critical wording and condition for righteous rebellion, yes?

Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.

"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion.
The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is
wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts
they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions,
it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ...
And what country can preserve its liberties, if it's rulers are not
warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of
resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as
to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost
in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from
time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
It is its natural manure."

Thomas Jefferson

Mr Jefferson thought that a revolution, a bloody uprising, would be required once per generation. I suspect that he, and the other signers, would not recognize what we have now as 'freedom'.

Ok. my 2 cents.

obviously, I wasnt there and only saw the video posted so I have no idea what led up to the final question, but from what they showed, he was getting pretty loud and obnoxious. Is that a bad thing? well, welcome to Post 9/11.
The world isnt the same place it was a few years ago.
It looked like to me that he was getting out of hand and I feel he should have been told to sitdown and shutup or be escorted out.
There comes a point where your doing nothing more than trying to disrupt a meeting.
Even if he shouldnt have been asked to leave, thats something for the courts.
But then he did start resisting arrest. period.
After he did that, the reason for being escorted out is not even in question anymore.
Now, did the cops react correctly? I dont think so.
But I know a few cops and they have even told me, they always look for a opportunity to taser someone. Since it's really bad these days to shoot someone.
They even talk about like its an honor. "It's my turn to taser!"
I'm serious.

He will have legal recourse in that.

As for helping him out during the whole thing. Sure, you could have beaten up all the cops, ran out the door with him. Maybe jump a motocyclist, be chased into the mountains. Live off the land for a while, while a huge man hunt is on. Then finally go back into town and blow it all up.
Wow, sounds like a movie. Oh. it was. sorry

I mean come on. There are times to get involved no matter what the cost, but this definately wasnt one of them.

Do I feel sorry for the kid. Sort of for being tased, but more for not having the common sense to know when to obey authority.

Thanks Mark, you just saved me a bunch of typing.



One thing to add...
There are a few whiffs of a publicity set up going around. If so, then I have no pity on the guy.

Excellent scripture Bruce.
We did a study a little while back in Bible study called "Behaving a Christian under human government" and this was the opening verse.

And I cannot say I disagree with it. You've convicted me and have helped me to settle down, thank you. I just get so mad about seeing people ganged up on and I want to help them.

In fact, it is a Christian desire to do so - Jesus said in John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Obviously pertaining to him dying for all mankind, but still - it is a greater love to stand up for people who are being ganged up on - even if you disagree with their viewpoint. Of course, if someone runs around shooting people then that is a different matter.

For example - say I was praying the rosary outside an abortion clinic. Imagine a woman being upset with me about my presence there that she becomes irate and seemingly violent towards me, the police taser her to control & subdue her ... I would stand up for her and stand up against the police for mistreating her.

Violence only begets violence. But sometimes you need to fight.

Take the example of when Jesus was handed over in the Garden.
He told Peter to bring swords, Peter did and cut off the soldiers ear - Jesus then healed the soldier.

Here we have an example of gang behavior.
The gang that came for Jesus, the gang of the apostles trying to protect Jesus (they were doing a just thing for defending an innocent man - even though he had to suffer) and the behavior of Jesus himself being the perfect example of how to handle the situation.

So yes, we are to be obedient as unto the Lord, but I know that there are times when we are called to stand up as well.

+1
Lots of folks want to be victims. I suppose he'll play this one up as much as possible.

And Bill, while I agree wholeheartedly with the theory and sentiment of the ideas (and ideals) of our founding fathers, our world simply doesn't function within that context. I think we, the people, have great power to bring about immense change, whether it be the price of gas, the tax code, or the more serious issues of hunger and poverty. Nonetheless, we Americans still have great freedom and opportunity, while much of the world suffers. I enjoy life. Many don't.

Johnny, keep in mind that their is a very big difference between a defenseless, fragile old woman praying the rosary and a big, brawny college student getting out of hand in a very fragile environment (the public appearance of a very high-profile Senator).

1 Peter 2: 13-17 = Corrie ten Boom

Mark, Nate, Bruce,

I'm not a fighter. I probably wouldn't have gotten involved. But if I had my goal would have been what the cops goal should have been, to diffuse the situation. Like I said in my first post, they just did a horrible job. My goal in any confrontational situation is to prevent violence.

Was the kid grandstanding and playing up for the camera? Sure he was, no doubt. But that's exactly why they should have just removed him as quickly and painlessly as possible. That fat cop that picked him up should have just kept walking right out the door. It wouldn't even be a news story at that point (at least not a PR nightmare and a Youtube hit).

And Bruce, I agree that those words, and ideals don't function now, but that is something lost.