| The main difference between the two is that the taser | | | | This moving current ionizes the air particles in the gap, |
| shoots a projectile and the stun gun does not. But | | | | producing a blue spark and crackling noise. This is |
| that's just a quick and very brief statement. Let me | | | | effective to use as a deterrent because the assailant |
| expand on how the two work and then explain a little | | | | can see you are armed and would be foolish to |
| more in depth as to the differences between them. | | | | continue the attack knowing he is going to be shocked. |
| Stun guns generate a high-voltage, low amperage | | | | Tasers basically work the same as a conventional |
| electrical charge. This means the charge has a lot of | | | | stun gun except that the charge electrodes in a Taser |
| pressure behind it, but not that much intensity. So a | | | | gun are attached to long conductive wires that are in |
| stun gun could have 800,000 volts of pressure in the | | | | turn attached to the Taser's electrical circuit. When the |
| electrical charge but only about 3 milliamps of intensity, | | | | trigger is pressed, a compressed gas cartridge inside |
| which will not damage the body of the attacker unless | | | | the gun is broken open. Pressure is built behind the |
| applied for long periods of time. | | | | electrodes from the expanding gas, launching them into |
| However, what the high voltage does is confuse the | | | | the air with the wires attached. |
| nervous system of the assailant and disrupt the | | | | The electrodes have small barbs on them that attach |
| communication system between the brain and the | | | | either to the attacker's skin or clothing, sending the |
| muscles. It's as if an outside current of information | | | | current down the wires into the attacker, stunning him |
| were bombarding the brain with static or foreign | | | | the same as an ordinary stun gun. |
| instructions, mixing in with what the brain is trying to | | | | Most Tasers have regular stun gun electrodes in case |
| communicate to the muscles. This breaks down the | | | | the launched electrodes miss their target and the |
| whole system of communication and the attacker | | | | assailant continues to advance, thinking you have used |
| becomes confused and unbalanced and partially | | | | up your only option. He'll still receive the shock that will |
| paralyzed for a short period of time. | | | | put him on the ground. |
| Our bodies have our own electrical signals. The pulse | | | | Some Tasers have a built-in shooter identification |
| frequency of the stun gun's charge may mimic these | | | | system. When the Taser is fired, dozens of |
| signals. The current will convince the assailant's | | | | confetti-sized ID tags are released. These tell what |
| muscles to do a lot of work in little time without | | | | gun was fired and where. This helps prevent Tasers |
| directing all of this activity towards any specific | | | | from being used in criminal activities and helps |
| movement. The only thing this accomplishes is | | | | investigators sort out police incidents involving their use. |
| depleting the assailant's blood sugar, which is the | | | | The advantages of the stun gun are that: |
| energy reserve of the body, turning it into lactic acid in | | | | - It is easy to carry |
| seconds, leaving him too weak to move. | | | | - It is easy to use |
| So what you are doing with a stun gun is applying | | | | - It emits a continuous charge |
| electricity to someone's nerves and muscles. And | | | | The only real disadvantage is that you have to be |
| since our bodies are loaded with nerves and muscles, | | | | within striking distance of the assailant to be able to |
| it doesn't really matter where you hit someone with | | | | use it on him. |
| the stun gun. | | | | The advantages of the Taser are that: |
| Most stun guns have 2 sets of electrodes - an inner | | | | - It is easy to carry |
| set and an outer set. The outer or charge electrodes | | | | - It is effective from 15 - 20 ft away from the assailant |
| are spaced far enough apart that they need a | | | | - It can be used as a standard stun gun |
| conductor inserted between them to cause the | | | | The disadvantage of the Taser is that you can only |
| current to flow. This is done by pressing them against | | | | use it once without having to reload a new gas |
| an attacker's body. If this current can't flow due to a | | | | cartridge and rewind and repack the conductive wires. |
| lack of a conductor, it flows to the inner set of | | | | Hopefully this will help you decide which is best for you |
| electrodes which are closer together, allowing the | | | | - the regular stun gun or the more sophisticated Taser |
| electric current to leap back and forth between them. | | | | gun. |