Stun Guns Info

Lets begin with the purpose of carrying a self-defense product. Statistics reveal that property crimes have fallen while violent crimes continue to rise. Violent crimes include murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. This is personal! It is most unfortunate that in this day and age we have to continually look over our shoulder. However, we do. The key to self-protection is Prevention. One way Prevention can be obtained is through the carry and use of a non-lethal self-defense product. By this, I mean carrying Mace, pepper spray, a personal alarm or a stun device, which can not only save your life but can play a huge role in the Prevention of a crime. Before the crime is committed… Prevent it! If an assailant sees that you carry some type of self-defense product, they might think twice before proceeding to commit the crime.

There are many types of self-defense products on the market today. There are a variety of pepper sprays that come in various strengths and sizes. There are also a good variety of personal alarms and stun devices, such as stun guns.

Mace and/or pepper spray comes in strengths from a 2% to 18% OC solution. OC is the main ingredient in defensive sprays. It is a derivative of the cayenne pepper, the hottest pepper in the world. However, the strength of the defensive spray does not necessarily mean that the higher percentage of OC in a spray…. the hotter. On the contrary, the OC percentage is a measurement relative to the other ingredients in the canister, such as tear gas or UV dye. The OC concentration does not measure the concentration of the other active ingredients in the spray. The effectiveness of a defensive spray is the quantity or concentration of Capsaicin. The higher the concentration of Capsaicin the hotter the OC spray. Defensive sprays also come in different sizes and types. The most popular type is the quick key release keychain pepper spray. One of the newest is the lipstick pepper spray. It looks like a lipstick container, however it is not. There are defensive sprays you can carry in your purse, on your keychain or on your belt. There are sprays with a leatherette holster, or sprays with a hard case or injection-molded holster. There is even a container that resembles a small baton. The sizes can be various as well. You can get ½ oz., 2 oz., 4 oz., and even larger canisters of spray (spray, foam, stream or gel). Check with your locality or jurisdiction for restrictions and legality of defensive sprays.

There are a variety of personal alarms as well. There is the Mace Brand Screecher Alarm, which is an aerosol alarm that emits an ear-piercing blast that is recognized as an emergency call for help and can be heard up to ½ mile away. The best deterrent is the combination of a 125db alarm and a flashing light, known as the Keychain Alarm. There is the 2N1 Alarm, which is a dual-purpose alarm that acts as a personal alarm and a burglar alarm. You’ve got the Personal Alarm With Flashlight that emits 130db of sound and the Electronic Pocket Whistle, which emits a loud 120db whistle.

Stunning devices are also very popular. However, some states have restrictions regarding the possession and/or purchase of these products. Before purchasing a stun gun you need to check with your locality or jurisdiction to see what or if any restrictions apply. Stunning devices can mean stun guns or tasers. Stun guns come in a variety of sizes and voltages. They come as small as the palm of your hand or as large as 8.75 inches tall. Voltages range from 100,000 volts to 1,000,000 volts. Almost all stun guns have safety switches and wrist straps. Tasers are a little more difficult to explain as far as the operation and legality of the unit. Most tasers have restrictions similar to stun guns. That is because it is considered a stunning device just like a stun gun. Again, check your locality for restrictions and legality.

There you have it. Now what type of pepper spray, personal alarm or stun gun would you choose? It can be difficult with all of the different types, strengths, sizes, sounds and voltages. Choose the self-defense product you think you will be most comfortable using, carrying and/or wearing. Again, do not forget to check with your locality or jurisdiction regarding the restriction and/or legality of defensive sprays and stunning devices.

By: Susan Eaton

About the Author:

Pepper sprays, stun guns, kubotans, they all work well for preventing an assault, but does one self-defense weapon really work any better than another? There is no short answer to this question. Each personal defense weapon has advantages as well as disadvantages. I’ve already written a number of articles on how some of these weapons work, so this time I’ll just attempt to give you a brief description of the pros and cons of some of the more popular self-defense weapons, and then only you can decide which one works best for you.

Pepper spray
Pepper spray is an excellent self-defense weapon but it does have limitations. The chemical heat generated from defensive sprays works extremely well at stopping an attacker in their tracks. Pepper spray causes an almost instantaneous inflammation of the mucus membranes in the eyes, nose, throat and lungs of your attacker, causing them a great deal of pain as well as the inability to open their eyes or catch their breath, thus allowing you to get away.

The average pepper spray on the market today has a range of anywhere from 8 feet up to 20 feet allowing you to use the device from considerable distance away from your would be attacker. The limitations of pepper spray are that your attacker must be hit in or around the area of their face for it to be effective.

Unfortunately, wind conditions can have an effect on the direction of the spray. Also many assaults happen from behind or by surprise, making it difficult to take aim with a defensive spray. On the other hand, if you have your pepper spray ready and are alert enough to your surrounding to avoid being surprised, then pepper spray is possibly the most effective non lethal defense weapon you can have.

Stun Guns
Stun guns are another excellent self-defense weapon. They use electrical voltage to disrupt the muscle functions of your attacker. The voltage produced by a stun gun causes some pain but more importantly, they interfere with the neurological impulses from the brain to the muscles rendering your attacker unable to control their muscle function. The down side to a stun device is that the electrodes must come into contact with your target. That means that your attacker has to be right in your face before you can use the weapon against them.

On the plus side, stun guns are effective almost anywhere on the body, so if you are attacked from behind or surprised, you don’t need to take aim as you would with the defensive sprays. Just reach around and jam the weapon into your attackers body, then push the button.

Kubotans
Kubotans are possibly the most popular of all personal self-defense weapons. One reason is that the kubotan is a highly effective pressure point weapon that is considered non lethal and legal almost everywhere. (I say almost everywhere because even though I don’t know of anywhere that they’re not legal, I also don’t know every law in every city in the country. I will however say this, if they are illegal somewhere, that law needs to be changed).
Another reason kubotans are so popular is that they are extremely easy to carry. While there are a number of different styles of kubotans, the average one is little more than a stick that’s about 5 ½ inches long and about ½ inch in diameter. They can be easily carried in your pocket and most of the kubotans today have a key ring attached to them, which makes them readily available whenever you are carrying your keys with you.

Knives
Knives are rarely used for self-defense purposes. While they can make an excellent self-defense weapon, few people are truly prepared to cut or stab another person. There’s something about slashing another human being that would make most people all too aware of just how soft and fragile their own bodies are. I have personally spent some time learning knife-fighting techniques, but it’s still not my weapon of choice.

Handguns
The final weapons that I’ll talk about today are handguns. What can be said about a gun that hasn’t already been said? Handguns are possibly the ultimate self-defense weapons. Even someone with minimal intelligence is likely to stop whatever they’re doing when they find themselves looking down the barrel of a loaded gun. The only downside to guns is that almost anyone can pull the trigger of a gun and kill another person. Even a small child can accidentally shoot and kill someone with a handgun. A number of people are accidentally killed every year by someone who didn’t know how to properly use a gun. This can make guns very dangerous in the wrong hands.
I am personally a strong advocate for the right to bear arms, but I am just as strongly opposed to anyone handling a firearm without the proper training.

That’s about it for today folks. I could go on and on about self-defense weapons, but this article is already getting a bit lengthy. I’ll go into more detail with some of my future articles, but for now, I hope that I’ve given you enough brain food to cause you to want to do some of your own research on self-defense weapons.

By: SA Rubin

About the Author:

Christopher Winkler asked:




Approximately thirteen million people (approximately 5% of the U.S. population) are victims of crime every year. Approximately one and a half million are victims of violent crime (source: Federal Bureau of Investigation). If you are a victim of a crime, it can make you react in ways that you can’t understand. During the crime, you normally feel a sense of helplessness, fear, and then anger. Afterwards, you may have a hard time relating to life experiences that use to pose no problems. A conflict usually develops between your idea of the world before the crime and your idea of the world after the disaster.

So how can you protect yourself in the 21st Century? Well, handguns are lethal weapons that do stop criminals, though they have severe ramifications. Not only could you be charged with a serious crime, most states prevent carrying a weapon without a permit of some kind, if one is available at all. Most of the time, you are breaking many laws by carrying a loaded weapon with you.

There are many types of non-lethal self defense weapons; defensive sprays, tasers, knives, alarms, batons, and a wide variety of stun guns in many shapes, sizes, and voltages. This article will focus on stun guns.

What is a stun gun?

A stun gun is a hand-held, battery-powered or electrically charged device that is designed to deliver a strong electric shock to stop an attacker. There not guns in the traditional sense because they don’t shoot bullets; rather, they shoot electricity into an attacker. A stun gun has two prongs at the end of the device. Touching an attacker with the prongs while you pull the trigger will cause a strong electrical current to go from the prongs through the attacker’s clothes into his body.

Pressing the prongs on the stun gun against a person will quickly immobilize an attacker by causing an intense pain and complete loss of muscle control. However, because they operate at low amperage, no serious or permanent injury is inflicted on the attacker; they will just be immobilized for 5-60 minutes depending on how long they were stunned. Stun guns are used by police departments, security agencies, and individuals desiring strong non-lethal protection against attack. They have been proven to be an excellent defensive device. They operate on one to three 9-volt batteries and range from 50,000 volts to 1,000,000 volts.

How does a stun gun work?

The stun gun uses high voltage and low amperage to affect the muscular and neural systems of the human body. They does not rely on high amperage or pain for results, rather most stun guns operate on milliamps. It feels like getting hit in the funny bone x 10,000. The stun gun dumps its energy into the muscles at a high pulse frequency. This makes the muscles contract rapidly, which results in energy loss, which depletes your muscles of needed blood sugars. The attacker cannot produce energy for his muscles, and exhausted, his body is unable to function properly for up to sixty minutes. The resulting energy loss makes it difficult to move and function. This causes disorientation and loss of balance, leaving the attacker in a passive and confused condition. Still there is no significant effect on the heart and other organs.

When the attacker’s neuromuscular system is overwhelmed and controlled by the stun gun he loses his balance. Just a 1/4 second contact will repel and startle the attacker, giving intense pain and muscle contraction. One to two seconds will cause intense pain, muscle spasms and a dazed mental state; this may drop the attacker to the ground. Over three seconds will cause intense pain, loss of balance and muscle control mental confusion, and disorientation. Generally any charge over three seconds will cause the aggressor to fall to the ground. The aggressor will be unable to recover for several minutes and effects may last for up to fifteen minutes. This gives you plenty of time to run for help.

Are stun guns safe?

Stun guns have been proven to be safe and effective non-lethal self defense products. They do not cause any permanent damage to an attacker. While I found an article about a death to an infant by a stun gun, I could not find any evidence that the electrical charge of the stun gun has adverse psychological or neurological effects on adults. The effects on the heart or other major organs are very insignificant.

Stun guns will not permanently injure or kill any adult because of the voltage; its the amps that will hurt you. One amp will kill a person. Most stun guns deliver only 3 milliamps or less. That is far below the amperage that could do any long lasting damage to an individual.

Will I be stunned if the attacker also touches me?

If an attacker touches you while you are stunning him, the electricity will not pass to your body. The electrical current is absorbed into the attacker’s muscles and will not pass out to you, regardless of the conditions. Even if the assailant is holding you, there is no way the current will pass to you.

Are stun guns legal?

Stun guns are restricted in some states, cities, counties, and countries;

States where stun guns are restricted: Hawaii, Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

Cities/Counties where stun guns are restricted: Annapolis and Baltimore, MD, Baltimore County, MD, Chicago, IL, Dennison/Crawford County, IA (According to Sheriff Tom Hogan), District of Columbia, Philadelphia, PA.

Countries where stun guns are restricted:

Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.

Before buying a stunning device, please make sure they are legal where you live. You may check stun gun laws and restrictions for some general guideline. If in doubt, contact your local police department.

Wouldn’t it be more effective to just carry a handgun?

Sometimes yes, most of the time, no. There are only a handful of states that allow you to carry a concealed weapon. Others require applying for a concealed carry permit from local authorities that usually require training as well. Some states say they issue concealed carry permits but only in rare instances. Some do not issue concealed carry permits at all. If you are caught carrying a firearm without a permit, the legal consequences can be severe including fines, incarceration and a ban on owning firearms, possibly for life, in some states.

If a firearm is the best choice to scare off an assailant, why do I need anything other than a permit and my handgun?

Just showing a firearm can sometimes stop off an attack. However, that can be a problem as well. My friend was just arrested for pointing a weapon at someone who he though was going to steal his car. In any state, people who carry weapons are well aware of the consequences of showing those weapons. Using a firearm for self-defense on an unarmed assailant can bring very severe legal consequences. One of the most important elements of concealed carry training is understanding that when a victim pulls the firearm, they must be prepared to take the ultimate step. The key is to know when and under what circumstances a firearm should be pulled from concealment. Pulling a firearm on an unarmed assailant may not necessarily cause the assailant to break off the attack. This is particularly so if the assailant perceives they can physically over-power you. Then you are in worse trouble than before you started. You must be prepared to use that weapon if you point it.

At that point the victim may face a physical confrontation and fight over the firearm itself. This is not a good situation. The vast majority of assaults don’t warrant the use of a firearm because the assailant is generally unarmed. This is where non-lethal protection is extremely critical. All Police officers carry pepper spray and/or a stun device knowing that in a significant number of situations they encounter, the use of a firearm is not necessary. With a firearm, it’s generally all or nothing. A non-lethal alternative offers an interim step that can save you an enormous amount of legal problems and money.

Remember, while using a stun gun, you cannot suffer a charge back to your own body, even if the assailant is holding you. Just make sure the stun gun you select has an anti-theft wrist strap, which will incapacitate the stun gun, if an attacker tries to take it away from you.

That’s our report on Will A Stun Gun Protect Me? It’s one of the best non-lethal defense products on the market, and used with pepper spray, gives you a 1-2 punch that should take down the most aggressive of attackers.

Every month we, the owners of the website WomenOnGuard.com, donate 25 non-lethal, self-defense products to an organization whose purpose is prevention and assistance in the war against violent crimes committed against women. Prevention is key. If we can assist in providing a means of self-protection to women, which will help in preventing such heinous crimes, that is a very small price for us to pay.

There are many and various types and styles of non-lethal, self-defense products that women can carry. Carrying one of these products can aid in the prevention of a potential crime and result in one less victim. Just showing a would-be assailant that you are carrying pepper spray or a stun gun, is a deterrent in itself.

Our website, WomenOnGuard.com sells non-lethal, self-defense products such as pepper sprays, stun guns, tasers, personal alarms and surveillance equipment for home or office. The newest non-lethal, self-defense product on the market is the Taser C2 Series, made especially for women. It has a small non-gun design; it is lightweight and easy to carry. It is a very popular product in high demand.

Defensive sprays and stun devices should only be purchased by those 18 years of age or older. Pepper spray is legal in all 50 states, however some cities and states have restrictions on sizes and strengths. There are some states where stun devices are illegal. If you are not sure of the legality in your area, you should check with your local city or state attorney’s office. WomenOnGuard.com does have a “State Restrictions” category on its website however, accepts no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.



By: Susan Eaton

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