| Millions of years of civilization and it seems like crimes | | | | propelled through the air with the help of compressed |
| will never end. There was a time when society was | | | | nitrogen charges. Each of the air cartridges consist of |
| proud of the technological advancement but today the | | | | a pair of electrodes as well as a propellant that has to |
| criminals have better guns and are better equipped | | | | be replaced after each shot. Each of the Taser |
| than the crime fighters. Where does that leave the | | | | cartridges is available for propelling at different ranges. |
| common man or woman? | | | | The maximum range for a Taser cartridge is 10.6 |
| Let us look at some facts, which will throw light upon | | | | meters or 35 feet and this is available only for law |
| the crime rate and how much our society is | | | | enforcement agencies. If you are planning to buy a |
| susceptible to crime and violent attacks. The crime | | | | Taser then your cartridge will be limited to 4.5 meters |
| index rate in the US is measured Per 100,000 people | | | | or 15 feet. |
| and it saw a huge jump from 1,887.2 in 1960 to a | | | | The good thing about Taser electrodes is that they |
| whopping 5,897.8 in 1991. According to crime reports, | | | | can penetrate clothing and have a barbed surface so |
| the crime rate in 1991 in the US had jumped by 313% | | | | that they can't be removed once they get attached to |
| since the 1960's. | | | | the skin. The good news is that Tasers can be carried |
| Although, the figures have come down but the | | | | legally without a permit in almost 43 US States |
| improvement is not good enough. In such a scenario, | | | | although they are still prohibited for use in self defense |
| what can you do as an individual? The answer to this | | | | by citizens in the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, |
| lies in self-defense. There are several forms of | | | | Hawaii, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and |
| self-defense including martial arts and use of pepper | | | | Wisconsin. |
| spray but the most common and legal forms in US | | | | Pepper Spray |
| include: | | | | Pepper spray is another very effective method of self |
| - Stun Guns | | | | defense that women all over the world use against |
| - Tasers | | | | attackers or stalkers. Pepper spray is also called the |
| - Pepper Sprays | | | | OC spray as it has been derived from Oleoresin |
| - Expandable Batons | | | | Capsicum. Some of the other common names of the |
| - Animal Repellents | | | | pepper spray include capsicum spray and OC gas. |
| Let us take a look at how each of these weapons for | | | | Pepper spray is considered to be a good weapon of |
| self defense can be useful. | | | | self defense because of its lachrymatory qualities. The |
| Stun Guns | | | | chemical in the spray irritates the eyes of the attacker |
| Over a period of time, stun guns have completely | | | | and forces them to shut. It also causes pain, tears and |
| evolved and are considered as one of the safest and | | | | temporary blindness and it is important to understand |
| effective weapons of self defense. It is not only easy | | | | that too much of pepper spray can be lethal as well. |
| to use but it also more discreet and you can conceal it | | | | You can find pepper spray in most of the |
| in your handbag as well. A stun gun of today is easily | | | | supermarkets and other stores who stock self |
| capable of generating around 200,000 volts and even | | | | defense equipments. It is available in canisters and can |
| more, which can easily leave a person incapacitated | | | | easily be concealed. It looks almost like a smaller |
| for 30 minutes. The advantage is that you can find | | | | version of a deodorant canister. Off late, due to its |
| different types of stun guns in the market like the stun | | | | increased usage, companies have started offering |
| gun flashlight, cell phone stun gun, stun baton, raptor | | | | pepper spray in innovative products like a ring or a |
| stun gun, stun pen, small fry mini stun gun, expandable | | | | cigarette lighter. The smaller it is, the better it can be |
| baton, stun stick, and several other variations including | | | | concealed! |
| a rechargeable stun gun. But the only disadvantage of | | | | Expandable Batons |
| a stun gun is that you have to be close enough to the | | | | Batons have always been used by law enforcement |
| attacker to be able to use it. | | | | agencies but off late you can use them as well for |
| The stun gun throws an electronic charge at the body | | | | thwarting any attack by an intruder or stranger. You |
| of the attacker. Once it is firmly planted on the body, | | | | can find different types of expandable batons in the |
| the high voltage low amps charge can easily disable a | | | | market including the expandable telescopic baton, |
| 6 foot man without causing any serious damage to | | | | which is considered to be an intimidating and powerful |
| the attacker. The attacker will feel excruciating pain as | | | | weapon of self-defense. There are two reasons for |
| their muscles start to spasm and at the same time the | | | | carrying an expandable baton: |
| level of their blood sugar will be depleted. Basically, it is | | | | |
| one of the safest and effective weapons to use | | | | 1. It would be a warning to anyone who wants to |
| against an attacker in a close range. | | | | attack you as the baton can clearly be seen |
| Tasers | | | | 2. If someone still chooses to attack you then with the |
| A Taser is quite similar to the stun gun in more ways | | | | help of the baton you will be able to take them down |
| than one. This is a weapon that sends an electroshock | | | | quickly and efficiently. Some of the different sizes |
| into the body of the attacker to de-capacitate them. | | | | available include 16" expandable telescopic baton, 21" |
| The Taser works on a technology known as | | | | expandable telescopic baton, and 17" expandable |
| Electro-Muscular Disruption (EMD), which causes | | | | telescopic spring baton |
| neuromuscular incapacitation or NMI and can be | | | | Animal Repellents |
| considered responsible for the strong muscle | | | | Animal repellents comprise of different types of |
| contractions that the attacker feels. The muscle | | | | chemicals and can be used for self defense against |
| contractions take place due to the involuntary | | | | bears, dogs, cats, and other animals. All animals' |
| stimulation of motor nerves as well as the sensory | | | | repellents can be classified in 2 specific categories: |
| nerves. In fact, due to this particular reason, the Taser | | | | |
| has become a favorite of law enforcement agencies | | | | 1. Taste repellent: This type if animal repellent is known |
| in the US and other countries as well. It is even | | | | as gustatory repellents repel and they taste really bad. |
| preferred over some of the traditional stun guns. The | | | | 2. Odor repellent: These animal repellents are also |
| two main models used by law enforcement agencies | | | | known as olfactory repellents and leave an odor that |
| include the M26 and X26. Both these Tasers are | | | | is disturbing to the animals. |
| available with different accessories including a mounted | | | | The crux of the matter is that you should always take |
| digital video camera, which is capable of recording in | | | | necessary measures to protect yourself when you |
| low light conditions and laser sight. | | | | are driving, in a crowded place, in a dark alley or in a |
| The Taser works by firing two small darts, which | | | | park. Any of the above weapons of self defense can |
| consists of electrodes. The electrodes are connected | | | | be your life saving decision! |
| to the main unit by a thin conductive wire and are | | | | |