Stun Guns and TASERS
Stun gun sales are on the rise, as police departments have discovered their usefulness in subduing criminals. Although stun guns have for some time been the province of police officers, more and more private citizens are turning to these effective tools for personal self-defense. The stun gun is preferable to a conventional gun in that, while it temporarily incapacitates an attacker, it does not cause lasting harm. The high-voltage generated by a stun gun is combined with a low-amp electrical charge. This enables the gun to deliver an effective shock through an assailant's clothing that knocks him down (and “stuns” him) without causing permanent damage to the body.
Being able to get away is the essence of surviving an attack. Attackers rely on a combination of surprise and fear to rob or assault others: they rarely expect their "victims" to respond with an effective self-defense. Simply possessing a useful weapon imparts a confidence that shows up in your bearing, alerting criminals, who may decide to pass you by. In the event that you are attacked, you can use your stun gun to halt the attack, drop your assailant to the ground, and escape.
Stun guns work on the simple premise that the human body is an electrical system. Our brains and muscles work on the creation and conduction of electrical impulses. Hundreds of times a second, our bodies' cells generate electrical impulses that travel in waves across the body. Because our bodies are also about 85% water, we are susceptible to shocks in the course of everyday life. When we scuff across a nylon carpet, the friction creates static electricity sending a small shock from our fingers to whatever we next touch. The large amount of water in our systems conducts electrical impulses with a frightening efficiency: a lightening bolt can knock you out of your shoes, or end your life.
Stun guns need their own energy supply, and since they are meant to be portable, the energy they use comes from batteries. The batteries work with the gun's electrical circuits that charge the electrodes. The electrodes are metal plates separated by space. When you apply the stun gun to an attacker's clothing or body, the charge moves through him on its way from one electrode to the other.
Providing a psychological deterrent, many stun guns contain a second pair of electrodes placed closer together so that, while they are not widely spaced enough to use for shocking an opponent, they are far apart enough to create a crackling spark. Sometimes, just seeing a stun gun is enough to change an attacker's mind and send him running.
If he doesn't run, apply the stun gun to him, anywhere on the clothing or body. The stun gun charge creates paralysis and confusion, causing muscles to contract, but without any particular purpose. Your opponent is left weak and unable to control his own muscles.
Stun guns are available in different strengths, ranging from 100,000 - 750,000 volts, and are designed in different sizes and straight or curved versions.
The TASER
The TASER works in much the same way as the stun gun, but with the added benefit of not having to be within arm's reach of your opponent. The TASER has additional wires that are "fired" by compressed gas. The electrodes reside at the end of the wires, and are barbed to attach to clothing. The electrical charge travels through the wires and stuns your opponent in the same fashion as the ordinary stun gun.
The TASER was invented by Jack Cover, who named his creation “Thomas A. Swift’s Electric Rifle”, after one of his favorite childhood books. Although the name is playful, the TASER means business: your opponent will lose muscular control and crumple to the ground when hit by the weapon’s charge.
TASERs work at a distance of 15-20 feet, (4-6 meters), but they are designed for only one use at a time. The wires are connected to the gun, and must be retrieved and the gas cylinder replaced before reuse. Because of the TASER's specific requirements, most individuals choose to use a stun gun for simple, effective personal safety.
Whether you choose a stun gun or TASER, it's important to become thoroughly versed in the weapon's maintenance and use. Batteries must be replaced at regular intervals, or your weapon will fail you when you need it most. Read the accompanying manual and instructions, but also get personal instruction in the most effective ways to handle the gun. Ask your instructor for the best storage solutions: you may want to purchase a holster or have a special compartment made for your coat or purse. Make sure and keep weapons locked away from children or even other adults who have not been trained in its use.
