Stun guns are used by law enforcement, security agencies, and citizens desiring protection against attack. They have been proven to be excellent defensive devices as they have incredible stopping power and yet remain non-lethal. Stun guns are legal in all but a few states and no license or permit is required to carry it. They are small enough to fit in a purse or glove compartment.

Stun guns are portable electrical devices designed to give a non-lethal electrical charge to an assailant. The prongs at the end of a stun gun must be applied directly to the perpetrator. While the voltage is high, the amperage is low thereby avoiding personal injury. The electrical charge will pass through clothing. The charge will not go through you if the assailant touches you. Like pepper spray, the device is designed to temporarily disable an attacker and provide enough time for you to call police or simply flee.

The stun gun is designed to key into the nervous system. It dumps its energy into the muscles at a high pulse frequency that makes the muscles work very rapidly, but not efficiently. This rapid work cycle depletes blood sugar by converting it to lactic acid, all in just seconds. The resulting energy loss makes it difficult to move and function. At the same time, the tiny neurological impulses that travel throughout the body to direct muscle movement are interrupted. This causes disorientation and loss of balance and muscle control and leaves the attacker in a passive and confused condition for several minutes. Although the shock is quite painful, there is no significant effect on the heart and other organs.

Stun guns are designed to be 100% effective even through typical clothing. The trunk of a person is the best place to administer the effect. Arms and legs are OK but not as disabling. With one of the stronger stun guns, a half second contact will stun an attacker. A one or two second blast will cause disorientation. In an actual attack, you'll want to use the stun gun until your assailant drops to the ground or runs away. This will depend upon the assailant and the stun gun's strength. Once immobilized, it only takes five to ten minutes for full recovery. Don't linger. You have just minutes to run from your assailant and/or call the police.

In addition to its physical effect, the stun gun can serve as an effective psychological intimidator. When the device is first engaged it sends a charge of electricity crackling between the two test probes just below the shock probes. The sight of this blue arc sparking and the sound of the live electrical current flow may cause the assailant to flee the scene.

How much voltage is enough?

You can buy stun guns with voltages ranging from 85,000 volts to 1,000,000 volts. In general higher powered units will disable an attacker more quickly than a lowered powered one. That said, the method of delivery and the actual amperage of the device will affect the applied force. Stun guns typically use a 9 volt alkaline battery. Larger higher powered guns use several 9 volt batteries. Mini-stun guns use a 3 volt lithium battery for high power in a very small unit.

The different types of stun guns

The only limit to stun gun configurations are the manufacturers' imaginations. The last three listed are stealth models when you want to be covert.

• Straight head standard models

• Curved head standard models

• Mini-stun guns

• Cell phone stun gun

• Flashlight stun guns (flashlight and stun gun!)

• Stun baton

STATES WHERE STUN GUNS SALES ARE RESTRICTED:

HAWAII

MASSACHUSETTS

MICHIGAN

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

RHODE ISLAND

WISCONSIN

CITIES WHERE STUN GUNS ARE RESTRICTED:

ANNAPOLIS, MD,

BALTIMORE, MD,

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD,

HOWARD COUNTY, MD,

CHICAGO, IL,

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

PHILADELPHIA

Stuns guns are illegal in Washington D.C.

Check your own state or locality for possible restrictions.

COUNTRIES THAT RESTRICT STUN GUNS:

AUSTRALIA,

BELGIUM,

CANADA,

DENMARK,

HONG KONG,

INDIA (POLICE USE ONLY),

ITALY,

JAPAN,

NEW ZEALAND,

NORWAY,

SWEDEN,

SWITZERLAND,

UNITED KINGDOM