Pepper spray and stun guns are two of the best non-lethal options available for you to protect yourself. But which one is the right product for you? It's not a matter of taste or lifestyle. You choice is dependent on the situation or nature of the attack. Pepper Spray and Stun Guns both have it's advantages and disadvantages. Each is best for different situation.
Pepper Spray
Pepper Spray is also know as OC spray (from "Oleoresin Capsicum"), OC gas, capsicum spray, or oleoresin capsicum, is great in situations where the attackers are about a few feet away. A typical pepper spray can spray as far as up to 10 feet. For it to be effective, it needs to be sprayed directly into the face and in particular the eyes. Even if the attacker closes his eyes, the burning ingredient will make it painful for the attacker to breath. Furthermore, it will keep the attacker from opening his eyes where if he opens his eyes the chemicals will eventually get on his eyes. This will allow you to get away.
Another advantage of pepper spray is that they small enough for you to hide in your purse or pocket. Most pepper spray models come in small canisters. However, there are a few exotic models that make them easier to conceal. Some of these are the pepper ring and pepper pager models. These exotic models make them a lot better to surprise attackers and will become handy when you are attack by surprise. If you can see an attack coming, the normal canister model would be good enough.
One of the risk of using pepper spray is that it could work against you in certain situation. One such situation is if it is too windy. They spray could be blown back at your face and make you more vulnerable to the attacker. So, you will have to use your judgement on whether too use it in such situation. As such, we recommend purchasing a user manual for the pepper spray. All models of pepper spray do not come with a how to use manual to protect yourself effectively. You can purchase the manual here. However, if you do not want to purchase the manual, you can browse our self defense articles directory to read up learn more about how to defend yourself. These articles will give you some great tips, however, the a pepper spray manual will be more concise and geared for using your pepper spray as a self defense tool.
Stun Guns
Stun Guns on the other hand is great for close up attacks. Furthermore, unlike pepper spray, you do not have to aim for the face for it to be effective. You can simply zap the attacker anywhere on the body for it to work. One zap, the attacker will be stunned for a moment up to about a minute. The zap will send between 80,000 to 300,000 volts of electric, depending on the Stun Gun model used, in the attacker's body. Usually, this amount of voltage will not kill the attacker. It merely just incapacitate him for a while so you can get away. In rare case do any people died from a stun gun.
One of the biggest disadvantages is that stun guns are bigger and harder to conceal than a can of pepper spray. Although there are some models of stun guns that are compact, most stun guns are usually bigger than pepper spray. Another disadvantage of stun guns is that you have to be up close to use it. You will need to press the stun guns right up against the attacker and press a button to activate the gun. Although sometime, you can pull out your stun gun and warn or even intimidate the attacker from a distance, it is most effective when it could be use up close and in surprise. Waiving your stun gun at a distance at the attacker will show him that you are not going to go down easy and may prevent him from pursuing you as a victim. However, it does not always work. Again, it will depend on the situation. It is not effective if you seem weak or could be easily over powered or if the attacker has a weapon with him. So, you will have to use your judgement wisely.
Summary
The reality is that both pepper sprays and stun guns will help you to effectively defend yourself. However, pepper spray will work better in certain situation one while stun guns will work better in other situation. It's alway better to have a choice between the two when your life is in danger. Both products are usually inexpensive and could make a difference in getting you out of a life or death situation. People who err on the safe side normally have pepper spray in their car, their key chain, and in their purse. Stun Guns are usually keep in a purse for or in their pockets if their pockets are big enough. Thanks for reading this article. We hope that you find this article helpful. All the best to you and your family.
If you are serious about self-defense and are not able nor do you have the time to learn any of the martial arts, personal defense technology is the route to go. You want to take a non-lethal approach. In doing so, you will have a choice between only a few items that can stop an attacker in his/her tracks.
It is important you understand that you have a right to protect yourself and those you love. This is a basic right for all humankind. Moreover, you should be able to act on a moments notice. We urge you, do not become another victim...fight back!
Option One: Stun Guns
Stun Guns will stop most people. They should be at least 400,000 volts or more. Some people can take quite a jolt, and keep on coming. The effectiveness of the device depends on what part of the body the Stun Gun contacts.
A strong Stun Gun [they go up to 750,000 volts] can drop a large man in seconds. The muscles twitch uncontrollably, but the voltage is not lethal. To be most effective you would contact the upper part of the body, on the torso. You will have time to either get away, or further subdue the attacker. For the Stun Gun to work you have to be at least an arms length from your attacker. If there is more than one attacker, you will have to be in close contact with each of them, in order to stop the attack.
Option Two: A TASER
A TASER disables an attacker in a similar fashion with one major difference. With A TASER, you do not have to be as close to the attacker as you would with a Stun Gun. This is because a TASER shoots out two electronic darts attached to wires that would bring down just about any man. The TASER only holds one shot, after that it functions only as a stun gun.
Option Three: Pepper Spray
Pepper Sprays [such as MACE] are extremely effective in ending an attack. Pepper Sprays come in a several different strengths, but believe me; you would not like to be sprayed by any of them. Pepper Sprays devices also come in different sizes and different styles.
What is the difference and advantage of using Pepper Sprays?
You can use Pepper Sprays at a distance, and you can be effective with several attackers at one time; you can spray a whole gang at one time with some of these in large spray canisters. One must understand the operation of using Pepper Spray and the limitations. For example, a drawback with Pepper Sprays is that, if using outdoors, you have to be careful not to spray into the wind. It will come back in your face, and you will be very sorry. There is no problem with spray-back if you use the spray indoors.
You can also buy combo Stun Guns. These are Stun Guns with built in Pepper Spray. Now you can first Pepper Spray, and if needed...you can stun the attacker. A bad combination if you are a criminal.
All these methods work well in the situations as described above. Nevertheless, there is one thing you must remember. It is ALWAYS better to keep a distance from an attacker. This is most successfully done with Pepper Spray.
Both Darrin Ngo & Bill Wallmuller are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Darrin Ngo has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Security, Satellite and Phones. Darrin Ngo graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry. He also has an associate degree in computer science. For more information about this article, please visit. Darrin Ngo's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
Bill Wallmuller has sinced written about articles on various topics from Social Issues, Parenting and Home Security. Bill Wallmuller is the founder of Merokee Enterprises. Two of the author's concerns are personal safety and crime prevention. You can learn more by visiting the Website:. Bill Wallmuller's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.