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Stun Guns
Stun guns are electronic devices that disable an assailant with as much as 200,000 volts of
pulsed electrical current. When used properly they are effective in putting a large man on the
ground in seconds and disabling him for a half hour or more.
Stun guns will not permanently injure or kill anyone regardless of the voltage. You cannot be
shocked even if the assailant is holding on to you because the stun gun electrical charge is used
up in the muscle tissue of the assailant.
Stun guns come in three basic styles. The "mini" stun gun is usually about four inches long and
has a voltage range between 50,000 and 80,000 volts. The stopping power of these compact units
is surprisingly good.
The standard size guns are about six inches long, with voltage ranging from 50,000 to 150,000
volts.
The third basic type of stun gun is the "baton" style. These are usually about 16 to 18 inches long
and 2 inches in diameter. Their voltage range is 120,000 to 200,000 volts. Baton stun guns are
used primarily by law enforcement and security personnel.
The advantages of a stun gun include:
• The sound of a stun gun being discharged, particularly the higher voltage models, is very
intimidating.
• The stun gun is the ideal device, provided it's already in the victim's hand ready to use.
• Many physical assaults, particularly against women, come from behind or the side and occur
quickly. The assailant is already close enough for the stun gun to be used.
Defense Sprays
When looking for a defense spray look for an OC spray (oleoresin capsicum) because it is not an
irritant. It is an inflammatory agent that is not life-threatening. It is temporary but very debilitating.
OC has the effect of putting up a brick wall between the assailant and the victim.
OC, on the other hand, is a natural chemical, a derivative of various hot pepper plants. For this
reason, OC sprays are often called pepper sprays. It has not been found to be toxic in any way
and will not harm tissue in the strength used in OC sprays. They take about 20 to 30 minutes to
wear off.
OC usually comes in concentrations of 1%, 5%, and 10%. A 1% spray can be just as effective,
or more so, than a 5% or 10% concentration. OC sprays generally come in three spray patterns: a
thin stream, a cone-shaped mist, and a fog.
A stream spray usually has a greater range, up to 15 to 20 feet. A stream is not as affected by
breezes and winds as a cone mist or fog.
A cone mist unit has a wider spray pattern and finer density then the stream sprays. A typical
range is 6 to 8 feet. Cone mists can be uncontrollable in the wind.
Fogger sprays put out a super-fine mist similar to a fire extinguisher and are generally
considered to be the most effective in terms of stopping power. Most foggers have a range of 15
to 20 feet. They are only slightly affected by breezes outdoors and work well even against a wind.
The advantages of pepper sprays include:
• Small, convenient size; easy to carry.
• Non-lethal, no permanent effects.
• Easy to use; just point and shoot.
• No psychological fear of hurting someone.
Personal Alarms
Personal alarms are electronic or aerosol devices that emit extremely loud, high pitched siren-like
sounds. The alarm startles and distracts an assailant and makes him fearful of attracting attention
and the intervention the loud alarm will bring.The alarm's loud sound makes the risk of
continuing the attack too great for most attackers.
Electronic alarms are activated by either pushing a button or pulling a pin out of the unit. They will
emit a siren-like sound in the 105 to 130 decibel range. Listening to these alarms for more than a
few seconds is extremely uncomfortable. Most electronic alarms are small and can easily be held
in the hand or clipped onto a purse or belt. Some of the latest models come with strobe lights or
flashlights, and one even has a built-in OC pepper spray canister.
The aerosol personal alarms are small canisters of inert gas under high pressure. The volume
range for most of these units is from 105 to 140 decibels. The aerosol alarms will not stay on
unless the button is depressed. Because they use compressed gas, the life of an aerosol alarm is
limited by the number of times it's activated. Most canisters contain between 20 and 40 one-
second bursts. For this reason, aerosol alarms should be replaced immediately after use in an
actual assault.
Both the electronic and aerosol alarms are easy to carry and operate. They are excellent
protective devices for individuals who are uncomfortable using anything like a defense spray or a
stun gun. They are strictly passive devices. When used in conjunction with sprays or stun guns
the victim not only disables the assailant but is able to get attention and help quickly. It's highly
unlikely that an assailant would pursue a person who sounds like a police car and is holding a
spray or stun gun!
The advantages of a personal alarm include:
• Personal alarms are worthwhile devices, particularly when used in conjunction with more
controlling security devices such as defense sprays and stun guns. They are good for seniors
and disabled; a personal alarm attached to a wheelchair is an idea good for any disabled person.
• Some electronic personal alarms can also be used as an effective travel alarm for protecting
hotel and motel doors and the doors on motor homes and RVs. They come with a wafer-type
switch that fits between the door and the frame. When the door is opened, the alarm is activated.
