Stun guns are growing in popularity as means for self defense. Often chosen in place of pepper spray, knives, or guns, they offer a chance to seriously incapacitate an attacker without the long term effects that may make purchasers wary of knives or guns. This relatively new technology can be confusing. Here are a few things to consider when purchasing a stun gun:
Stun guns are often confused with a TASER device, but in fact the names cannot be used interchangeably. The TASER fires a pair of barbed projectiles which use a wire to give the attacker a 50,000 volt shock. They can be used at a distance of up to 15 feet. In contrast, a stun gun must be pressed against the assailant’s skin in order to work.
A stun gun uses an electrical current to disrupt the natural electrical currents in the attacker’s body, rendering them unable to come after you. The effects will last at least ten minutes. Today, stun guns are specifically designed not to cause permanent damage. Although they are very effective at incapacitating your assailant in the short term, you will not have to worry about the long term repercussions of shooting or otherwise wounding an attacker. Though there are a few cases of people dying after being shocked by a stun gun, these deaths have been attributed to an underlying health problem which made the shock more harmful for them than for other people.
A stun gun may range up to 1 million volts. Most people think that this is extremely dangerous. After all, home outlets are usually 120 volts. Actually, the amps are what makes electricity dangerous; most home outlets are between 15 and 20 amps, while stun guns usually only use between 1 and 3 milliamps. Usually, anything from 60 milliamps or higher is considered fatal, meaning that regular stun guns, at 1 3 milliamps, are actually quite safe to use. The high voltage will quickly immobilize the attacker, while the low amperage will cause no serious injuries. There are many different voltages of stun gun available; generally, the higher voltage units will immobilize an attacker faster.
Stun guns typically have a very long life span. They can be used more than once before the battery needs to be replaced or recharged. Battery life is not a big issue with stun guns, because they are not meant to be frequently used. Most models use a simple household 9 volt battery to produce the required electric charge.
Before purchasing a stun gun, be sure to check the laws in your location. Purchasing, carrying, or using them may be governed by your state or local laws. In addition, it is always a good idea to seek out training in using this device so that you will know how to handle and use it safely.
Although you may have a mental image of what a stun gun should look like, they actually come in many forms, including those the size of pens to those the size of a large household flashlight. Your choice depends on your intended use; smaller, portable units are a good choice to carry with you, while the larger units may easily intimidate someone breaking into your home. Look for a model with disable pins, so that the stun gun cannot be used against you if the attacker manages to grab it from you.
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