Stun Guns - The Facts

Valor and Virtue
Jul 1, 2024
3 min read

What is a Stun Gun?

Stun guns are handheld, electroshock devices that use electrical currents to temporarily incapacitate a person, allowing them to be approached and handled in an unresisting and thus less-lethal manner. TASER - in all caps - is a brand from Axon that helped popularize using electric shock weapons for self-defense, leading the name to be commonly used as a generic term for a specific projectile-based stun gun.

TASERs

TASERs are ranged devices which fire two small barbed darts connected to the device by thin wires. The darts on consumer models can travel up to 15 feet and penetrate clothing. When they hit their target, they deliver a 50,000-volt electric shock that disrupts the target's nervous system, causing muscle contractions and temporary immobilization. The electrical pulses only last five seconds, and most people can return to normal muscle function immediately after. While a TASER device is just as painful as a normal stun gun, it's more effective at incapacitating muscle functions so an attacker can't move.

TASERs are far more expensive than standard stun guns, depending on the model, and typically only have 1 or 2 charges before the cartridge needs to be replaced.

How to Use

Charge your stun gun right away upon purchase so that the battery will be ready to go when you need it, and make sure you are very familiar with the functions of your particular model. Most stun guns have several safety measures in place to help prevent you from activating it when you do not intend to do so. Practice using it often in a safe and controlled manner to help build the muscle memory and comfort of grabbing the stun gun quickly from an easily accessible spot, whether that’s from your purse or out of a belt holster.

There are three areas of maximum effectiveness that you’ll want to make direct contact with: the upper hip, the shoulder, or below the rib cage. A 5-second direct contact can cause the attacker to experience confusion or disorientation, allowing you an opportunity to escape to safety. A stun gun shock will only incapacitate an attacker for a few seconds – once you’ve stopped the attacker or can escape towards safety, do so immediately. Call for help if needed.

When Most Effective

Stun guns are close-proximity devices that require you to be next to the person attacking you. They should only be used if you are in immediate danger and are able to strike an effective area on your attacker. Once the charge is deployed, escape to a safe area and/or call for help.

Pros

Non-lethal
Usually easily carried in a pocket/purse
Most stun guns use a rechargeable battery, so you can use them as long as the battery still has some juice

Cons

Only gives you a few seconds to get away
Not legal for use by civilians in all states

Important things to consider:

Without proper practice and understanding of stun guns, the holder may become a greater threat than defender, accidentally aiming towards themselves or a crowd. Treat stun guns with extreme caution and never be flippant or neglectful with the proper precautions and procedures.

There is always a risk of accidental self-injury, whether you accidentally hold the stun gun incorrectly or your attacker grabs it from you. In the case of accidentally stunning yourself, you are basically handing yourself over to your attacker.

If your attacker has a pre-existing condition such as a heart condition, they may have a reaction to the charge and die as a result. Of course, there is no way to know if your attacker has these conditions before deploying the charge, but it is wise to note that some non-lethal tools may occasionally have lethal outcomes in rare cases.

The Law

Stun guns are illegal in Rhode Island and Hawaii; illegal in some areas of Pennsylvania and Maryland but legal in others; and require a license to own in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. There are some restrictions in Alaska, North Dakota, Iowa, and Mississippi, but stun guns are for the most part legal throughout the rest of the United States.

As with all self-defense tools - do not use without a full, well-rounded understanding of how it works and when to use it; and practice in a safe, controlled environment often. Otherwise, you are a greater danger to yourself and others. Always be aware and compliant with your state/region’s laws and regulations regarding any self defense tools.

Is a Stun Gun the right tool for you?