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.
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 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. 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 three milliamps. Usually, anything from 60 milliamps or higher is considered fatal, meaning that regular stun guns, at 1-3 milliamps, are 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 lifespan. 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.
A lot of people may be asking, who sells stun guns online? Numerous online stores sell stun guns at fair prices such the amazon.com.
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.