I was privy to a conversation about a month ago, and I'm just now getting around to posting anything about it. This was a conversation in which our friend Poindexter P. Parkenfarker pointed out that it is illegal for citizens to carry stun-guns inside the limits of the city of Bellingham. I was speechless. I stood there with my mouth hanging open in utter disbelief. For those, not familiar with these items, a stun-gun is the item which you actually hold against your assailant and stun them, whereas the Taser is the gun which uses compressed nitrogen to shoot two electrodes up to 15 feet, allowing you to shock your attacker from a distance.

The context of this conversation was the recent Little Squalicum Beach beating and rape of a fairly new citizen to Bellingham. This incident was set in contrast to the 21 year old woman who, based on what happened above became concerned for her safety, and was subsequently cited by Bellingham Police for possessing a stun-gun within the city limits.

Now, I am not blaming or pointing fingers at the Bellingham Police Department for enforcing the law. That's their job. But, the absurdity of this is in realizing that it would be perfectly legal for the first woman (or the second)to pull Glock from her coat pocket, and put a bullet into the forehead of each her two assailants, leaving them for dead, but she would be violating the law if she pulled out a stun-gun or a Taser and caused them to wet themselves and flop on the ground like fish while she got safely away.

In doing some research on this, I learned that in 2005, the Bellingham City Council made Bellingham the first city in the state to ban stun-guns inside the city limits. I cannot fathom the illogic of this! The police are advising concerned citizens to consider self-defense classes, and I don't argue the value of that. But I can envision the self-defense class teaching me the proper use of a stun-gun or Taser as well.

I think this is a decision that needs to be revisited.

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