US town organizes $5 raffle to tase city officials in the name of 'public safety' - The Verge
The town of Van Meter, Iowa doesn't apparently do irony. I mean, come on. " The small municipality with a population of just under 1,100 is putting on a raffle for a public safety fundraiser, and, as the only prize, is offering citizens the chance to tase a public official. City Administrator Jake Anderson told the paper: "The joke was sort of, 'Yeah, let's tase the administrators. The winner will be given the the choice of tasing either Anderson or fellow council member Bob Lacy ("I didn't want there to be a 100 percent chance I'd be tased," said Anderson), and a certified officer will be on hand to help with the proceedings. Van Meter's police chief William Daggett assured the Register that Tasers are only dangerous when someone has a prior medical condition or the device's prongs go across the heart. "Most officers will tell you they'd much rather be tased than pepper sprayed," said Daggett. For example, at least 540 people were killed by police use of Tasers between 2001 and 2012. Let's just hope Van Meter's public safety fund raiser doesn't get any more ironic. Source: www.theverge.com
