Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

December 29, 2009

In the summer of 2005, Carl Bryan of Coronado, California, a 21-year-old man with mental and emotional problems, was pulled over by a police officer for a seat belt violation.

A visibly agitated Bryan exited his car and began what Officer Bryan McPherson described as a ?bizarre tantrum.? According to McPherson?s account, Bryan did not threaten the police officer, who was standing about 20 feet away.

Without warning , McPherson shot Bryan with a Taser, causing him to fall face-first to the pavement, shattering four of his front teeth.

Bryan sued the Coronado Police Department for use of excessive force and violation of his rights under the Fourth Amendment. On December 28 the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that there was no need to use a Taser on a visibly disturbed individual who presented an annoyance, rather than a threat. This is a small but significant victory against the promiscuous use of a consistently lethal weapon.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.