Stun Guns

How and when to use a stun gun

Stun guns and stun batons are powerful weapons when it comes to personal self defense. Through two electrodes protruding from their face, they emit an electric shock into the body, typically between 100 and 500 volts. Though they pack a powerful punch, you wouldn’t always know it to look at them. While some designs don’t try to conceal what they are, cell phone stun gun and flashlight stun gun designs are available on the market that look so much like the devices they’re imitating that it can be hard to tell them apart.

To effectively use a stun gun, you need to be roughly within an arm’s length of your attacker. They work when applied anywhere on the body – note, they must be applied directly, as they don’t actually “fire” the electrical current like tasers – but work best on nerve centers, particularly those in the torso area such as the upper hip, upper shoulders or below the rib cage. A blow to an arm or a leg will cause intense discomfort, but may not be enough to subdue your attacker.

Depending on the voltage, a stun gun can take between 1 and 5 seconds to incapacitate a human. Though a simple touch with the gun may cause your assailant to fall to the ground, they may be able to get back up quickly as the charge was not fully transferred.

A mini stun gun is an easy-to-carry personal safety device, but it’s a good practice to get training before you find yourself in the position to need it, through a self defense training program or from someone who is already trained in using the device. You should also research the stun gun laws in your state before you go to make a purchase, as there are certain states where they are illegal and most states have age and permit requirements for ownership.

Why Is a Stun Gun Essential for Self Defense?

  • Incapacitate your attacker for long enough to escape
  • Small and portable, yet still powerful
  • All hits are effective, if not completely debilitating

Things to Consider When Buying a Stun Gun

  • Should you also seek training on how to operate one from an expert?
  • What level of voltage will be enough?
  • Have you researched the laws on stun gun use for your state?

Top Brands of Stun Guns

  • Stun Master stun guns
  • Black Cobra stun guns
  • Talon stun guns