| When choosing a Self Defense product, you have | | | | The Taser |
| many choices. Some of the best, non-lethal | | | | The Taser is the final word in Self Defense and |
| choices are stun guns and Tasers. Both of them | | | | there are now two consumer versions of the |
| are effective in stopping someone from attacking | | | | Taser. The original is the M18, which has the |
| you, and they have their pros and con's. While | | | | shape of a standard .45 colt pistol. The second is |
| they are similar products, in reality, they are quite | | | | their new consumer model, the C2, which is sleek, |
| different. | | | | curved, and much smaller. It comes in colors, and |
| Stun Guns and Tasers are designed to send a | | | | is marketed to ladies and consumers as a small, |
| charge of high voltage, low amperage electricity | | | | yet effective self defense product. Both versions |
| into a person's body through the skin, to disrupt | | | | use nitrogen propelled cartridges to fire two |
| their central nervous system. The electricity will | | | | electronic probes at a speed of 135 feed per |
| affect the ability of a person to function like they | | | | second into the body of an attacker. |
| normally would; you loose complete control of | | | | The probes are attached to thin wire, and will |
| your body, and you usually fall to the ground, | | | | penetrate up to 2 inches of clothing. The best |
| unable to move. | | | | distance to fire the Taser is 7-10 feet away. |
| The Taser goes one better, in addition to the | | | | Further than that and the probes will separate too |
| electricity, it uses something called Shaped Pulse | | | | wide and possibly miss the target. Closer than |
| Technology, which is a sophisticated pulse wave | | | | that, and the probes might not spread enough to |
| that initially uses a high voltage when it penetrate | | | | ensure proper function. |
| barriers such as clothing followed by a series of | | | | While the Taser's output is only 50,000 volts, the |
| lower voltage pulses that causes involuntary | | | | Taser also has higher amperage than a stun gun. |
| muscle contractions and a resulting sense of | | | | The reason it works so well is that it shocks the |
| vertigo. What this means is the punk you shoot | | | | victim for a 5 or 30 second cycle, which |
| will turn into a quivering pile of Jell-O, hit the dirt | | | | temporarily devastates the person's central |
| like a sack of blubber, and he won't be able to get | | | | nervous system. The Taser M-18 operates on a 5 |
| up or move for a while. Some stun guns do offer | | | | second cycle, and the new Taser C2 operates on |
| a pulsating feature. Both devices will stop | | | | a whopping 30 second cycle when you pull the |
| attackers. | | | | trigger. That means you can drop the Taser after |
| Stun Guns | | | | you shoot it and run for help, and it will still be |
| A stun gun is a small, hand held device that | | | | shocking the attacker for the rest of the cycle. |
| comes in a variety of sizes and voltages. They | | | | Since the Taser can only load one cartridge at |
| range in size from a pack of cigarettes or tiny | | | | one time, it has a back-up feature that acts like a |
| flashlight, all the way up to a large item that is | | | | regular stun gun if you need to use it on another |
| similar in size to an older portable phone. | | | | attacker. Hold it against the attacker and pull the |
| Stun Guns range from 80,000 to 975,000 volts | | | | trigger, and the electricity will flow between the |
| with about 1 amp of energy. Unless the attacker | | | | two exposed contacts at the end of the Taser |
| is on drugs or a gorilla, a stun gun should take | | | | and the attacker's body. It is equally as effective |
| them down. Their success rate is about 85%. The | | | | as the probes. |
| attacker does have to be next to you. If he is | | | | The Taser C2 starts at $299, and the M18 starts |
| beyond the distance of your arm, the stun gun is | | | | at $399. Both have models with a laser sight that |
| worthless; unless you throw it at him, which is not | | | | is highly desired to ensure you hit exactly where |
| a good idea. The stun gun will not work if it is not | | | | you are aiming. |
| touching the body of the attacker. | | | | Both stun guns and Tasers are extremely |
| Stun Guns affect the victim's central nervous | | | | effective self defense products. If you have the |
| system. You have to hold the stun gun to the | | | | funds, a Taser is the best non-lethal self defense |
| person for 3-7 seconds for it to work effectively. | | | | product on the market, and it provides the |
| Just touching the person with it will drop them to | | | | furthest distance from your attacker for it to |
| the ground, though they will get back up. It needs | | | | work. They should not get close enough to hurt |
| a few seconds of electricity flowing to the body | | | | you, unless they have a gun. |
| in order for them to work. | | | | Stun guns are effective also, are less expensive, |
| Stun Guns cost $10 to $100 dollars, depending on | | | | and require you to be within arms reach of your |
| their voltage. They come in many forms, as well | | | | attacker. The risk is the attacker could take it |
| as integrated into flash lights, and disguised in | | | | from you and use it against you, so you want to |
| items like cell phones and stun batons. Most are | | | | choose one with an emergency wrist strap that |
| battery powered, though there are a few do not | | | | will disconnect quickly, rendering the stun gun |
| require batteries, and plug into an electrical outlet | | | | useless. |
| to charge. | | | | |