I think that what Fletch is saying is that you can't expect an officer to stop handling a resisting subject on the spot, because you want his badge number. You wait till the officer is done and THEN ask for number.

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That is more commonly known as self defense... the act of defending one's person against an aggressor (one who initiates force against the other).

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Not quite. It is not self defense to resist officers of the law when you are being detained for breaking the law.

Fletch, thanks, excellent post

Incidental deaths related to the use of Taser notwithstanding, The Taser is a non lethal weapon. You may argue as many have, that Taser is dangerous to those who are either under the influence of significant amounts of cocaine or other narcotics or experiencing a state of "excited delirium". In those cases, I believe many physical responses by Law Enforcementwould be "dangerous" (we had a subject run himself into a coma trying to get away from us without being touched). The trade off is that under most known circumstances, the suspect needs to be taken into custody without delay. If a special circumstance is known (what he is on, medical considerations, etc.) then the Taser may be contraindicated the same as certain drugs would be in a medical procedure.

The problem is that the escalation in most police confrontations is driven by the resistance of the subject. The subject holds all the cards as his body will bear the effects, positive or negative, of the Taser. Under most normal known circumstances, the Taser is effective in it's intended use. I don't think the point you are making is specifically about Taser anyway. I believe that your point is about the role of police in society which...borders on politics, something that is not up for discussion here.

As for the aksing for a badge number while I am physically involved with detaining a subject? If you read what I said instead of trolling and spinning, you'll see that I said everything in it's time. Their getting my badge number does not take priority over my immediate concern of the resisting subject, and the safety of everyone.

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The problem is that the escalation in most police confrontations is driven by the resistance of the subject. The subject holds all the cards

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Exactly.

sopwith21,

It seems that you are arguing simply to argue. In many places in the United States, there are laws against disorderly conduct as well as those that specifically injure people or property. In such cases, a person's actions might not be an immediate danger, however history has indicated that if those actions are not addressed that great harm can follow. Take for instance the act of inciting a riot...rebel rousing. Simply freedom of speech? Some think so.

That one should be easy....Let's make it more difficult. How about resisting arrest? What constitutes resistance? Simply refusing to comply? Going limp and forcing officers to carry you and thus distracting them and dividing their attention from another incident? What if another officer needs help and is getting beaten up while officer Joe and officer Bob are carrying someone who has decided to "passively resist"? What if officer Bob injures himself trying to carry a "passive resister" and cannot respond to help a fellow officer who has been badly injured himself?

This is all addressed fairly clearly in most "Obstruction of Justice" statutes. The fact that you so casually dismiss it indicates that you at best have a rather myopic view of what cops should and shouldn't do.

The ultimate decision is made by the person who chooses to resist (not comply) with officers. I would not be so naive to think that if I chose to resist (passively or actively) that I would not be harmed. Physical injury is always a possibility and an important factor to consider.

This is the assumption of risk clause taken to the next level.

"I certify and declare that I have been advised and duly considered the consequences of my actions. I understand that physically resisting the cops either actively or passively is a hazardous practice that will likely result in a great degree of physical discomfort on my part. I acknowledge that this physical discomfort can be experienced in the form of bending a twisting of my limbs and appendages, blunt force trauma from being taken down and/or struck with impact weapons, facial and eye irritation from OC Pepper spray, shocking from a Taser or being shot with a firearm. I do fully accept the risks listed here as the possible and likely consequences of my actions and take full responsibility holding noone liable but myself."