The voltage of a Stun Gun is usually between 80,000 and 1 million volts. The higher the voltage, the more effective the device is in taking down the bad guy.

However, it is the amperage of the Stun Gun that does the damage. Most Stun Guns use 2-5 milliamps of power to drop the attacker. One thousand milliamps (1 amp) is lethal to a human being, so the much lower amperage in a Stun Gun is designed not to be lethal, but only to give the attacker the "shock of his life" and immediately disable him.

When you push the pronged end of the Stun Gun against an attacker and squeeze the trigger, an electrical charge passes into his body. This causes instant disablement from the Stun Gun and this, not pain, is the main effect from the shock.

When you touch an attacker with a Stun Gun, the shock causes the body to instantly use up all the blood sugar that the muscles rely on for energy, thereby making it almost impossible to move. And it doesn't matter where you touch the attacker because there are muscles all over our body. So this means that only one touch will make the attacker's muscles refuse to work and gives you time to escape and call 911.

The length of time that a Stun Gun stays in contact with the attacker will determine what effect will occur. A one-second contact will startle the attacker and cause muscle contractions. A two to three second contact causes him to drop to the ground, dazed. Three or more seconds of contact will cause loss of balance and muscle control and complete mental confusion and disorientation. These effects are non-lethal and can last up to 15 minutes with no long-term effects.

A Stun Gun can be used over and over since it runs on a battery. Even a gang of thugs gets the idea not to mess with you after you put the second attacker down!

One major question everyone seems to have is "Can I get shocked if I'm touching the attacker?" The answer is "No" because the electrical charge that comes from the Stun Gun is used up in the muscles of the attacker. This means that there isn't enough power left for the charge to come back out of his body and into yours.

Stun Guns come in various sizes and shapes. Some come small enough to be hidden by your hand, some are curved, some straight and some even look like cell phones or flashlights. Most models have a safety switch to prevent accidental activation.

But regardless of what they look like, a 1-3 second contact on an attacker will make him wish he had never chosen you for a potential victim.

Stun devices are legal in most cities and states, but you should check out your local laws. Call your police department to see if it's OK to have a Stun Gun.

Give yourself an edge over an attacker and don't be the next victim!