I said tasers were presented as an alternative to lethal force - that is, to guns. They were supposed to be used, we were assured, in cases where otherwise guns would have been.

You said that wasn't true, they were also presented as an alternative to billy clubs and choke holds.

I said you were wrong and called on you to cite evidence in support of your claim.

You offered none.

Instead, you pushed a line of "argument," if I can abuse the word that far, that amounted to "well, if you taser somebody early on, you won't have the possibility of a more serious situation later," by which logic cops should be tasering anyone they stop for any reason, even just speeding or a broken tail light, because hey, who knows, that might escalate into something worse. You could be saving a life!

That is, you have not answered the question: What is your proof that tasers were presented as weapons to be used in non-lethal situations, that is, situations other than those in which firearms would be used if the taser was not available? Answer that question directly or admit you can't and no, repeating your previous evasions and dodges does not constitute an answer.

As for billy clubs, your equation of hitting someone on the arms and/or legs with "shooting them in the hand" is utterly nonsensical, as is your contention that using them in that way, even to the point of breaking bones, would have no effect. That is so far beyond absurd as to deserve no further comment.

As for choke holds, I was careful to use the phrase "proper use" and said "if it is done right." (Emphasis added, of course.) The reason the choke hold has been banned in a good number of places is because it is difficult to do it right, i.e., it is easy to do it wrong and so cause injury or even death.

The point was and remains that even if done right, even if done exactly according to best practices, the taser involves extreme pain and a real possibility of death. That clearly differentiates it from both billy clubs and yes, even choke holds.

I agree with the bans on the choke hold because, again, it is dangerously easy to do it wrong. I call for a ban on tasers because they are dangerous - and too easy to use - even if done right.