Based on manufacturers’ and dealers’ claims, one would think that these devices are remarkably powerful defensive tools, which unfailingly stop assaults. Reality, however, sometimes falls short of the marketing hype.

Studies show that in actuality the application of a stun gun, while temporarily immobilizing an assailant, doesn’t take immediate effect.  This allows the attacker an unbelievable time to pull and shoot a gun or cause damage to the victim.

The stun gun will hurt, but as far as completely immobilizing an attacker, it falls short.  To be effective, the stun gun, a contact weapon, must be held in contact with the assailant for a number of seconds, or he must voluntarily break off the attack.

Various stun gun manufacturers are coming out with new units with ever increasing claimed voltage. They still suffer from the traditional downsides, the principal of which is the necessity of having to hold the unit in contact with your assailant for as much as 5 or 6 seconds, during which time he will not exactly be cooperative. Other factors include battery strength, voltage, and the fact that you must be close to your attacker.

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Tasers (also battery-powered) propel two metal barbs over a distance of several yards. These barbs, connected to the hand-held unit by wires, are intended to attach themselves to the attacker. These wires are then electrified to incapacitate the assailant at a distance.

These devices stop attackers by pain, rapid fatigue of their muscles, and/or overriding the body’s neuromuscular system and disrupting voluntary muscle control.

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