A number of Columbia residents met with police officials Tuesday night to sound off against the department's goal to equip all officers with taser guns.

Many citizens came out because they were either unclear, scared or angry about the idea of doubling the number of taser guns for the department's officers.

During the meeting citizens were shown a video with clips of men and women being tasered, and one man actually removed himself from the building.

"It was a little bit dramatic for me to watch," said Columbia resident Marlon Jordan. "I felt my breathing begin to escalate a little bit and I was getting a little bit shaky."

Members from organizations like Grassroots Organizing, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union asked for a public meeting to talk about more tasers.

The Columbia City Council unanimously approved the purchase of 40 additional taser guns for the police department in early June.

Jordan is against the use of the taser because of a personal encounter with the Columbia Police Department and before leaving the building, peacefully demonstrated his opposition.

"They're so valuable to us that they reduce officer and suspect injuries and in many circumstances without ever having to use the actual device itself," said Columbia Police Chief Tom Dresner.

This taser is used four different ways by the police department. In the past three years, it has only been used in the classic sense 69 times out of 166. The other ways include the laser sight display and the spark demonstration.

Although groups against the idea of more tasers called the town meeting, not all were completely against their use.

"We need to either stop the taser guns from being distributed or set up very strict rules as to how they can be used," said Grassroots Organizing representative Ed Berg.

REPORTED BY: Cierra Obioha