Stun Guns | Non-Lethal Weapons of Self Defense

Do Stun Guns Work Well for Self-Defense?

By: Survival Insight Team

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When looking into ways to protect yourself with non-lethal weapons, buying a stun gun will most likely come up as a strong option.
Although very effective, there is some debate as to whether stun guns can be classified as a non-lethal weapon, due to them being the cause of 300 plus deaths in the U.S. over the last seven years. Despite this, many people still buy stun guns for self defense, and there is no doubt that they can do what they are supposed to.
In this article, we give an overview of stun guns, how to use them, where to buy them, and the benefits of a stun gun purchase over other non-lethal weapons.

What are Stun Guns?

As an alternative to a regular gun, stun guns offer an excellent way in which to protect yourself with non-lethal weapons of self defense.
Stun guns are electroshock weapons that can leave an attacker temporarily disabled with a high voltage electrical charge. Most stun guns deliver between one to four milliamps of power, which is enough to keep an attacker immobilized for five to ten minutes.
The electrical charge that the stun gun fires on someone, will result in them loosing temporary control of their muscular system, causing confusion, disorientation, and loss of balance. Although 4 milliamps of power could cause significant pain, a stun gun will generally not cause any permanent harm. Bear in mind that it would take 1 amp of power to kill someone.

Stun Gun Advantages

In comparison to other weapons of self defense, stun guns fare well. Some advantages are:

Easy to Use.
Very light in weight and portable.
Fairly cheap, although cheaper models are not as effective.
Can come in disguised forms, so gives the element of surprise.
Can be used multiple times before the battery dies.
Easy to buy.

Stun Gun Disadvantages

There are also some drawbacks to take into consideration before you buy a stun gun:

You have to get very close to the attacker to be able to use a stun gun.
The stun gun may not leave the attacker disabled long enough for you to get away
Cheaper stun guns have a lower voltage and are less effective.
The effectiveness depends on how long the gun is kept on the attacker.

How to Use Stun Guns

There are different variations of stun guns, but usually they will all be used in the same way. It is important to familiarize yourself with the using technique, in order to determine whether or not a stun gun purchase would be right for you.

Where to Buy Stun Guns and Restrictions

It is very easy to buy stun guns online. Simply by doing a Google search for “stun guns,” you will find numerous websites selling them. You can even find them on Amazon and eBay.

If you do not wish to make a stun gun purchase online, you can also find them at self defense shops and firearm shops.

Stun guns are legal in most states in the U.S., however, some areas have heavier restrictions than others.

The following states do not allow for the general purchase of stun guns. To own a stun gun in these states, you will need the same type of license as you would for a regular firearm:
Illinois, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Wisconsin.

There are also some cities which have the same restrictions, independent of it's state.
Annapolis, Baltimore and Baltimore County, MD, Chicago, IL, District of Columbia, Philadelphia , PA.

Regardless of where you live, it is important that you check the restrictions on stun gun ownership in your area. Ask the store from which you are purchasing from, or better yet, call your local law enforcement and ask there.

Recommendations

Buy a stun gun with three to four milliamps of power. Anything under that will be far less effective. It is not necessary to have more power than that.
It is possible to buy stun guns for as little as $20. These are usually not so powerful and also cheaper in quality. Try to avoid these and go with something in the mid-pricing range.
Stun guns use batteries, so ensure that you purchase them along with the unit. The batteries will last a long time, but it may be worth buying extra anyway.
Buy a stun gun that you will feel comfortable with holding and using.
To further incorporate the element of surprise, you could purchase a stun gun disguised as a pen, a cell phone or lipstick.

Alternative Non-Lethal Weapons for Self Defense

By now you should be pretty much up to speed with stun guns and their capabilities. Maybe you have already decided that this would be your favored self defense option. If you are still unsure though, read some of the following articles and find out about the other non-lethal self defense weapons that are available to you:

Overview: Non-Lethal Weapons for Self Protection
Self-Defense Techniques
Protect Yourself With Airsoft Guns
Protect Yourself With Pepper Spray
Burglar-Proof and Protect Your House
Everyday Items that Can be Used as Weapons

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