Greg O’Conner on Breakfast this morning.
Why is Dominic Bowden interviewing Greg O’Conner and getting screwed for 5 long minutes on the issue of Tasers? It was the most unchallenged piece of police state propaganda with Bowden, who forgive me but wasn’t he the host of NZ Pop Idle? I never watched it, but isn’t that what he does, he’s the game show host who is now suddenly a Journalist? Great. So the ex host of NZ Pop Idle is interviewing the country’s Police Cheerleader, Greg O’Conner on the sudden move by the Police Commissioner to hand Police Tasers after an inquiry that Amnesty International described as not rigorous, independent or impartial. Dominic did his best, and I must admit that he’s been a lot less annoying than the other defects who tried co-hosting Breakfast during Paul Henry’s tour of capitalism (who would have thought such a small man could hide such a dearth of talent?) but he was so far out of his depth I almost dialed 111 for emergency services. Greg O’Conner is a terrifying prospect for everyone from hairdressers to paper delivery boys, he has the kind of self belief that made the Spanish Inquisition such a focused exercise in broken windows social policy, I imagine Greg has two of the most disciplined rottweilers known to man. He barely broke a sweat swatting Dominic aside and pulled a nasty face as if Dominic had just farted green mould when Dom had the temerity to ask if the Tasers were controversial. He didn’t discuss the 300 deaths in North America since the Tasers were introduced in 2001, he didn’t discuss the inquiry process and why Amnesty International was calling on a rigorous, independent or impartial inquiry into Tasers rather than simply the opinion of the Police, or why we should give Police Tasers when they can’t use pepper spray within their own procedures or that we still have a complaints process that is still 70% Police investigating Police? Um, no, Dom didn’t really get around to asking any of these questions. Pity. Great to see he got a gig after NZ Pop Idle though eh. Good for him. Neat. Tops. Gosh imagine if an actual Journalist had asked Greg actual questions and pushed right past the pulled faces and actually held him accountable to those very valid and serious concerns. But good for Dom.
posted by Bomber @ 7:31 am
10 comments
10 Comments:
There was a study in Canada recently on what has happened since they introduced tasers there. They have been used inappropriately in a small proportion of cases (but a sizable number in absolute terms) and they have killed a reasonable number of people by any measure. I blogged on it a couple of months ago.
So while we are happy to spend $200 million on a vaccine that last a few months to save two lives, we will sacrifice that number - and more - by introducing tasers.
I can readily understand police not wanting to have to frunt, sweat and risk injury or death to apprehend some arsehole. The appeal of the push-button taser is obvious in that context.
Maybe arseholes deserve what they get. That seems to be the underlying rationale that would support introducing a potentially lethal policing weapon.
I'd rather be tasered than beaten with a baton or shot with a real gun.
I imagine a crim agressively wielding a golf club or samurai sword (in fact any weapon other than a gun) will end up being tasered rather than shot, so surely this may even end up saving lives?
Why is Dominic Bowden interviewing Greg O’Conner
And people wonder about the state of current affairs in this country? The bloody tea boy probably has a degree in Journalism and would have done a better job. What next Jason Gunn interviewing Winston Peters?
Wow, I'm worried, I'm agreeing with Bomber twice today.
So while we are happy to spend $200 million on a vaccine that last a few months to save two lives, we will sacrifice that number - and more - by introducing tasers.
ummm... taser comparison with a vaccine? Dumb.
I agree, Bowden was a piss poor interviewer and Oconnor walked all over him easy.
I think the police should use tasers. It doesnt bother me as I know for a fact that they will never taser me. However, if I was a criminal, I think i would rather be beaten or shot, than tasered. Who the hell wants a fish hook embedded in their skin that lets a 50,000 volt through their bodies, compared to a relatively quick gun shot or a smack in the face? The police need tasers, but I worry about young enthusiatic arseholes abusing them.
Who the hell wants a fish hook embedded in their skin that lets a 50,000 volt through their bodies, compared to a relatively quick gun shot or a smack in the face?
99% chance of surviving a taser
10% chance of surviving a gunshot
50% chance of surviving a bash in the head from a baton
You'd really take the taser???
Its a bit ironic really Bomber questioning anyones journalistic ability given his own severe lack of it. Calling yourself a commentator when the best you can do is trot out the tired old 'all police are rapists' 'police misuse pepper spray' etc etc without any factual basis for your claims.
Incidentally you might want to look at Amnestys figures, people have died after being tasered but not as a result of being tasered. Check out the post mortem reports, theres a condition called excited delerium which has been around for some time, it also results in people dieing after being pepper sprayed, restrained, battoned etc, its nothing new.
bomber you are an idiot. like posted above, the majority of nz know they will never be tasered because they are not arseholes that play up.
My issue is the same as amnestys - the inquiry wasn't rigorous, independent or impartial, why not have a rigorous, independent or impartial inquiry?
if you play up, do not heed warnings and comply, then you deserve everything you get.
Why can't you understand the above post?
deal with it you tree hugger left wing self proclaimed journalist.
More blogger than journalist
oh, and you have the gaul to complain about bowdens efforts when you have never held an interview on a national mainstream station! hah
I am on RNZ monthly for debate like this, will appear on eye to eye next month and have hosted shows on the mainstream, Stake Out on Tv3 was nominated for best current affairs series in the Qantas media awards.
Its a bit ironic really Bomber questioning anyones journalistic ability given his own severe lack of it.
Yawn, come along Bosco you can do better than this.
Calling yourself a commentator when the best you can do is trot out the tired old 'all police are rapists' 'police misuse pepper spray' etc etc without any factual basis for your claims.
I haven't claimed all Police are rapists and the Police did misuse pepper spray, why do you think they paid Oosterman $5000, because they love him? If my credibility as a commentator is so low, why make two things up to prove your point?
Incidentally you might want to look at Amnestys figures, people have died after being tasered but not as a result of being tasered. Check out the post mortem reports, theres a condition called excited delerium which has been around for some time, it also results in people dieing after being pepper sprayed, restrained, battoned etc, its nothing new.
Are you smoking crack Bosco, you see no connection between being tasered and excited delerium as a condition that leads to death?
You need to get better work stories bosco.
"the majority of nz know they will never be tasered."
meh - i wouldnt be too certain of that. The line between a straight forward situation and a big bloody mess is pretty thin. Id say its about as wide as 1 beer too many.
Who can honestly put their hand up and say they have never been a bit too pissed?
"if you play up, do not heed warnings and comply, then you deserve everything you get."
umm.. the taser isnt meant to be used as a tool of compliance. Tho it porbably will be used that way by some.
I think bomber would have more credibility if he subjected himself to field testing. So big guy, which would you rather have inflicted:
- Gunshot to the torso
- Baton to the head
- Having your groin ravaged by a police attack dog
- Being tased.
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