The beauty of stunning devices such as stun guns and tasers, is that they provide effective self defense in a non-lethal manner that has proven reliable enough for law enforcement as well as private use despite delivering voltages as high as 800,000 volts. Given that this is comparable to the charge given off by a bolt of lightning, many people wonder why these stun devices do not kill people.

The answer lies in the low amperage inherent to these currents, meaning there is not a large difference between the positive and negative nodes of the devices, and so there the current does not oscillate to the high frequencies that cause heat and combustion. The amperage of stun guns and tasers is typically only 3 milliamps, which does not affect the muscle tissue of the body, and does not cause disruptions in the heartbeat that might cause cardiac arrest. It also limits the effects of the current to the body of the target, as the current is able to pass out of the gun, into the muscles of the attacker, and back into the device without the possibility of others who come into incidental contact with the target to be shocked.

As such, these stunning devices do not actually work by inflicting pain on the subject, but rather work by causing a chemical reaction in the muscles that causes them to rapidly discharge their available energy reserves: stored as blood sugar. Blood sugar is rapidly converted in to lactic acid, which is what causes our muscles to feel sore when we over exert ourselves from physical activity. Essentially, this causes the target of a stun device to expend as much energy from their muscles as they would by spending all day in the gym in just a few short seconds. This causes them to lose power until they can recover, and even then are likely to feel soreness and tightness of muscles. In rare occasions, the rapid amount of work done by the muscles in the body can cause convulsions that may themselves cause ruptures in the back vertebrae of the target, but this is rare.

The devices similarly disrupt the neuron transmitters that control motor functions from the brain to the rest of the body, and this similarly causes the target to lose control over their body and collapse to the ground. While the act of falling may cause additional injuries to the head and arms in particular, the effect does not rely on pain to disable the aggressor.

Also, there is a common misconception that blue electricity is hotter or more powerful than a yellow spark, when in fact the opposite happens to be true. While blue may make for a powerful statement, yellow sparks indicate a higher voltage and will typically disable an attacker in about half the time it takes for a lower charged, blue spark to achieve the same effect.

Tasers and stun guns are both highly effective personal security devices that operate on the principal of delivering a high voltage, low amperage current of electricity into a person’s body that drains the muscles of their energy and disrupts nerve signals that control motor function. While both have many similarities that make them equally effective for personal self defense, each has some key differentiating features that make them ideal for different situations.

Similarities:

Both stun guns and tasers work by passing a non-lethal current from the ‘nodes’ of the device into the target, and work by applying this charge, or ‘spark’ through the clothing and skin of the target into the body of the attacker. While applying these devices to any part of the body will suffice in delivering a shock to the nervous system, safety professionals advise that aiming for the body, back, or upper thigh area of an assailant is the best technique for achieving maximum disablement.

The current itself is high voltage, which creates as chemical reaction in the target’s muscles that rapidly converts blood sugar into lactic acid, which drains the muscles of energy and renders the target powerless to continue their assault. Additionally, the current disrupts nervous signals sent from the brain to the body, which both mentally disorients the target and interrupts the signals that control motor function. The net effect of this transfer of current will effectively disable an attacker for up to 15 minutes, which is plenty of time for the victim of a violent assault to flee the scene and seek help from law enforcement authorities.

The voltage of the current discharged from these devices typically ranges from 150,000 and 800,000 volts, while the amperage is typically as low as 3 milliamps. In general, the higher the voltage, the shorter the amount of time in which the stun device must be remain in contact with the target in order to accomplish the desired immobilizing effect. For example a 150,000 volt stun device will take up to 7 seconds of contact time in order to disable an assailant, while stun devices that range from 600,000- 800,000 will only take 2-3 seconds to achieve the same results. Many states have restrictions on the level of potency these devices are able to provide, so check your local laws before purchasing a device for personal use.

Differences:

The main difference between stun guns and tasers is that the ‘nodes’ of stun guns are affixed to the base unit of the device: like two prongs that stick out and allow the current to travel out from one prong and into the other. Tasers, on the other hand, shoot these ‘nodes’ out of the tip of the device and these projectiles are connected back to the taser by thin electrical wires. These projectile nodes are typically barbed in order to affix themselves to the target and the current passes through these barbs in order to affect the assailant.

The main advantage of tasers is that they can be used to stop an attacker from a distance of up to 5 meters, and allow the defending person to stop an oncoming aggressor from a safe distance without having to come into close contact with someone who might be armed with a knife, club, or other weapon. The disadvantage to this approach is that it relies somewhat on accuracy, and missing the target entirely can leave the defender with no recourse.

It is a common misconception that Tasers offer the benefit of distancing a defending person from the attacker so that in the case of incidental contact with the attacker they are not shocked as well. In fact, even stun guns provide the assurance that the current will not pass from the target’s body back into the body of the defendant, as the current travels back into the device rather than into other objects.

Conclusion

Tasers and stun guns are both highly effective devices that rely on a high voltage, low amperage current for disabling an attacker during a violent assault. The main difference is the ability to engage an attacker at a distance verses having to be in close proximity to the attacker in order to deliver the current. As such, stun guns rely somewhat on an element of surprise, as a forewarned attacker may be able to avoid contact with the device, or use some other weapon such as a bat or club to disarm the defending subject. Tasers on the other hand, can be used more effectively as a deterrent to ward off attackers prior to an attack, and have the ability to disable attacker before they reach the target.

In order to assess which device is right for you, do some research on the Internet and consult with your local law enforcement department to better understand what devices are allowing in your area and to learn of any restrictions on these personal self defense items before making your purchase.

When most people think about what the ideal weapon to have at your disposal to defend yourself in the event of a violent assault, the natural instinct is to wish for a gun. However, practical reasoning and real world statistics prove that relying on owning and keeping a gun in your possession for the purposes of self defense is in many ways a sense of false security, and may actually put you at greater risk of injury or death than simply remaining unarmed.

There are several reasons why owning a gun can be a danger to yourself and those around you; and we’re not necessarily talking about those you want to keep at bay. Thousands of American adults and children alike are shot and hundreds killed every year by accidental gunshot wounds from friends and family members who had absolutely no intention of harming the person in the first place. Thousands more are maimed or killed in the heat of passion, simply because a gun was at the disposal of an enraged or impassioned acquaintance or loved one who acted rashly and solved their anger with a permanent and irreversible solution.

What many people don’t realize is that there are several non-lethal alternatives to owning a gun, and many of them are even more effective than a gun for practical self defense in real world assault situations. Pepper spray, Mace, Tasers, and stun guns are all viable alternatives to carrying a firearm, and each one is highly capable of disabling an attacker in a non-lethal manner that requires no more strength than pulling a trigger.

In fact, in most cases one of the main factors that contribute to making these more reliable defenses is the fact that pulling the trigger of a powerful handgun and aiming the weapon while firing off a round requires a good bit of strength and technique. Most people assume that guns are simply point and click devices, when if fact a powerful recoil makes it very difficult to accurately use one in the instant it takes for a violent assault to occur. Alternatively, self defense sprays and shocking devices require very little if any strength at all, and rely very little on aiming. All of these devices can be safely used with very little training, and best of all, you’re not going to kill anyone if you accidentally discharge one of these devices.

While a gun may pose a formidable threat to any assailant, there is no guarantee that firing it will necessarily stop or disable an attacker. Even a direct shot to the gut may only maim a charging assailant, and drunk or drugged attackers may be impervious to any pain. Though perhaps even mortally injured, an infuriated attacker often will be able to struggle for several minutes after sustaining a gunshot wound, which is easily enough time to continue their aggression and possibly even wrestle control of the weapon out of the owner’s hands to use against them. Guns are also difficult to use against an animal attack, while self defense sprays work on all breathing animals. Pepper spray, Mace, Tasers, and stun guns will definitely disable an attacker if used properly, and do not pose a mortal threat to the owner of the device if it is taken and turned against them.

Consider also that guns are highly regulated, and will no doubt be restricted from many of the places you will find yourself in day to day situations. It might be convenient to have a gun in the home, but carrying it with you is highly impractical if not completely illegal.

Guns are also much more expensive than alternative forms of self defense, which typically can be purchased for as little as $20 through the Internet. This is another point: convenience. You can easily buy pepper spray and tasers online from a reputable online site such as PlanetMace.com, and receive your self defense products overnight through the mail. You can also purchase these devices at most local convenience stores and supermarkets.

While even non-lethal self defense products require some education and training in order to maximize their effectiveness in the case of an actual assault, they are still a much more practical and ultimately safer than a firearm.

When considering non-lethal self protection, there two classes of products you should consider buying: pepper spray and stun guns, and each has their own inherent benefits to consider. While both self defense devices provide adequate means of disabling an attacker during a violent assault, people should consider their own physical limitations and circumstances and do some research on each of these products before purchasing a self protections product.

Pepper spray is essentially pepper extract from the plant Oleoresin Capsicum known as ‘Capsiacin’ that has been concentrated into a potent resin. This is combined with a propellant and a binding agent that carries the resin as it is released from a pressurized canister, and often a concentrated dye that can be helpful in identifying attackers after the assault. Pepper spray is an inflammatory that works by causing intense swelling in the eyes and upper respiratory system of an attacker and can disable attackers of any size in just seconds. Once afflicted, an assailant will be unable to see; as his eyelids swell shut and his pupils dilate, and breathing capacity will be reduced to the level where he can barely gasp for enough air to retain consciousness. This condition will typically last for anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, which is plenty of time to get away from danger and alert authorities of the situation.

Stun guns, on the other hand, work by rapidly transferring a high voltage, low amperage energy dump into the attacker’s muscles, causing them to do a rapid amount of work in a short period of time. This exhausts the stored energy in the muscles, and interrupts brain signals to that control the bodies functions, causing the assailant to fall to the ground and loose consciousness for up to 10 minutes, which is enough time to escape and get a safe distance from danger.

Recognizing that each of these devices has its own practical utility, there are still some advantages and disadvantages to each of these personal protection devices, and understanding how these differences apply to your lifestyle is essential to selecting a product that will be best suited to saving your life in the face of a violent attack.

For pepper spray, the advantages are that it can be used at a distance, provides adequate stopping power for disabling an attacker, and keeps an attacker our of commission for up to 45 minutes. The drawbacks are that pepper spray may be less effective in windy or rainy scenarios, as the stream of the spray can be diffused by these inclement weather conditions. Additionally, as there is a short 2-5 second delay from the time pepper spray is discharged onto an attacker and the full effects of the spray are realized, there is a slight chance that an aggravated assailant will have time to briefly attack before being completely disabled. Stun guns, on the other hand, are not affected by weather, and work instantly to disable a violent aggressor.

But stun guns have drawbacks of their own as well, chiefly that they require close contact with an attacker in order to be deployed, and therefore pose the risk of being hit or disarmed from a defendant and possibly even used against them- though many come with a safety pin that disables the device if removed from the bearer’s wrist. This is particularly relevant in the case of wild animal attacks, which are rather alarming if hand-to-body contact is required to effectively disable an attacking beast. Another limiting factor is that stun gun victims recover more quickly, which means they are more likely to escape before authorities arrive on the scene.

Before you make a decision to buy either of these tried and proven self defense devices, make sure you also check with your local state and county laws regarding pepper spray and stun guns, as many of these products are controlled and can only be bought at licensed distributors and in controlled concentrations and voltages. Make sure you are thoroughly trained in how to use your devices, and do some research online to further educate yourself about the proper use and diversity of products available so that you are sure to find something that suits your lifestyle and personal safety needs.

Of course, you can’t go wrong in purchasing both a pepper spray and stun gun device, but even so, there are still benefits and detractions for each product for different situations, so even when preparing yourself for all types of violent encounters, you know which self defense weapon to use in each varied circumstance.

Stun guns are essential personal safety devices for disabling and fending off attackers during a potentially violent situation. Stun guns are proven to safely and non-lethally disable assailants for up to 30 minutes by dumping a load of high voltage electricity into the target’s body, with a low amperage that keeps the current from burning or damaging any body tissues. The energy dump forces the body’s muscles to do an extremely high amount of work in a short period of time, burning lactic acid, and rendering the muscles powerless. A victim of a stun gun shock will wake up feeling sore, tired, and confused, while the victim of the assault will have plenty of time to flee the scene and contact authorities.

In order to properly use a stun gun in a time of confrontation, you should get familiar with your stun gun product before you actually are faced with a violent assailant: there’s no time to read those tiny instructions when you’re being tracked down by a mugger or assailant, and proper timely use is critical to ensuring your safety, as misuse could possibly even disable yourself before the attacker even assaults you.

You can and should practice using your stun gun at least once a week by discharging it for short 1 second bursts, and recharging as necessary. Holding the charge on for more than 1 second can burn out the electrical mechanisms in the stun gun, and in some cases may void your warranty; it’s also a good idea to tap the conductive prongs of your device against a metal object once you’re done testing it to make sure you discharge any residual charge that may have built up in the device.

If you are indeed faced with an encounter that requires you to use your stun gun, be sure to prepare for the assailant’s advance by discreetly turning on the stun gun so as to be ready to strike. If you anticipate a dangerous walk from your place of work to your car, or back from a nightclub to your home, it is a good idea to turn your device on before you leave, so as to be prepared for any situation. If an attacker does come at you, hold the device against the assailants body; preferably not in the heart region, but rather in the shoulder, stomach, or upper hip area to most effectively deliver a debilitating charge.

Be sure to hold trigger down until the attacker is fully subdued, and make sure they are not faking it in order to get you to stop prematurely. Make sure you do not carelessly jolt yourself with the exposed prongs, especially after you have disabled your attacker and are still holding the live personal safety device which may be carrying a residual charge.

Once you’ve protected yourself, get away from the area as fast as possible and contact the local authorities to report the crime.

Stun guns and tasers are both effective means of disabling a potentially violent attacker through the use of a rapid application of stored energy. The main difference between tasers and stun guns, is that tasers shoot out probes into a target, and then produce an electrical current that shocks the assailant, while a stun gun is a hand held device with two electrical prods at the tip that dump a large voltage of low amperage energy into the target’s body, rendering their muscles useless.

Before considering your options for which self defense device is right for you, make sure to research the laws and restrictions in your state and county in regards to tasers and stun guns, as many jurisdictions place some restrictions on the type and strengths of seld protection devices allowed in their regions. Both can be purchased online as well, but you should still make sure they are legal to carry in your area, as being caught with an illegal self defense device is just as bad as carrying a concealed weapon and can carry serious legal ramifications.

If you’re considering the purchase of a self defense product such as a stun gun or taser, you should also consider when and under what circumstances you envision having to defend yourself, as this will play into your considerations for what product features are most critical to your purchase. Size, weight, and carrying method should be the key elements to consider in buying self defense products, as you need to make sure to be able to easily access and deploy your device under stress and possible confusion.

Carrying a small, discreet stun gun or taser will additionally give you an added element of surprise, and should be paramount in your decision. Safety features, such as specialized safety caps that inhibit accidental discharge of your product and wrist keys that deactivate the device if it is removed from your grasp during a struggle provide additional safety measures and are worth considering for your stun gun or taser purchase.

Of course with a small size, you still want to make sure you’re getting an adequate voltage, and with voltages ranging from 65,000 all the way up to 2,000,000, a charge of at least 750,000 should be good enough to adequately disable any attacker. Plus, the higher voltage devices give off a lounder snap, crackly, and pop when discharged, which serves as a powerful deterrent to any attacker or onlooking cohorts.

You’ll also need to consider the benefits of rechargeable vs. non-rechargeable devices, as non-rechargeable devices are simply used once and then discarded, while rechargeable devices use either Nickel Cadium (NiCd) or Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMh) and typically incorporate additional features such as flashlights, personal alarms, and other personal safety components. If you have a choice, NiMh is a better choice, as charges last almost twice as long, and the product uses recyclable materials.

The last major consideration for buying a stun gun or taser, is whether your product has a warrantee. Any reliable manufacturer will provide at least a 1 year warrantee against manufacturer defects, and many provide free service for the lifetime of the product. Make sure to buy from a reputable distributor, and keep in mind that these self defense devices are not toys, and can cause serious injury if used improperly.