I am all for tasering or the use of baseball bats. If you are dumb enough to run out onto a field in the middle of a game - you deserve it. If you are dumb enough to run from the police who are telling you to stop - you deserve it. If you are dumb enough not to listen to someone that gets paid (poorly) to carry a gun -you deserve it.
As for him being 17 - as the mother of a 17 year old girl, I think all 17 year olds should be tasered on their 17th birthday so they know what it feels like. That way when they go to a party with all their stupid friends and the police show up, they don't think running their mouth is such a great idea. I would like to buy a taser actually, it would save me from losing my voice like I do currently. That and I bet her room would be immaculate.
In Florida they are fond of tasering elementary kids.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11...r_kids_zapped/
I do draw the line there. Keep tasers out of elementary school. But, high school - 16 and up - go for it.