FAQ about Stun guns,TASERS

FAQ questions about Stun Guns, Pepper Spray, TASER®

Q. I want a stun gun to feel safe but I don’t want to truly hurt anyone.. Can a stun gun maim or kill?

A. Stun guns are marketed just like any product. And the hot button is power, how many volts the unit puts out. When stun guns first appeared on the market, 20,000 volts was considered very powerful, enough to stop any perpetrator. Today we see voltages of compact stun guns surpassing 1 million volts. The real “power band” today is between 1 million and 5 million advertised volts.

Let’s bring some common sense to the issue. These devices are rarely powered by more than a 9 volt battery or two. But stun guns carry a very low amperage charge. High voltage and very low amperage, usually just a few milliamps, can jolt an individual; it can cause pain and weakness in the muscles. You need enough power to go through clothing and supply the jolt, but not enough to do lasting harm. You want to disable the attacker and then run away.

Q.  I want to take a stun device along on my walk with my dog. There are aggressive dogs running loose and it causes big problems. Can a stun gun help?

A.  Stun guns are designed for humans. Although no study I know has been done on animals, I can’t say for certain that a stunning device won’t help. It’s an observed fact that dogs do not like the bright crackling spark that stun guns emit. And it needs to be said that the early progenitor of the modern stun baton was the cattle prod. And electric fences keep cows and horses in the pasture where they belong. 

When someone gives me the above scenario, I usually recommend a stun baton rather than stun gun. These devices give you additional reach. They come with a holster and feel more substantial than a small stun gun.

Q. What’s the difference between a TASER and a stun gun?

A. This is a biggie. Even media commentators confuse the two. A stun gun is a hand held device with two prongs on the end. These prongs must be held against the person to have any effect. Now in certain circumstances, this is not a problem but an advantage. If you are suddenly attacked outside or in your home and the attacker is on you, you need a close proximity device. Jab a stun gun in the rigs, on the neck, on the hip or all three.

A TASER is quite a different device. It is also a hand held portable device, but when activated it shoots thin twin electric wires with a claw-like prod on each end. This brad attaches to the person’s clothing or skin. The device emits an electric charge for a predetermined interval. Voltages are in the 50,000 volts range with more amperage than an average stun gun.

When the cartridge is spent, it cannot be reused. TASER owners know to have extra cartridges on hand.

This unit can take down just about anyone like RIGHT NOW. The charge has been manipulated to rapidly defeat the muscles strength and pliability. Most of us have seen these at work because the media is attracted to these stories. It’s good video.

So a TASER is not a stun gun and visa-versa. Just to confuse the issue, TASERs can function as a stun gun when the cartridge is removed or spent. 

We'll get into Pepper Spray next time.