Highlighting The Stun Gun – Operation And Restrictions

There are quite a few tools in the self defense trade that you can purchase for personal use such as pepper spray, tasers and even stun guns. If you want a true shocker, the stun gun is the tool for you. To understand the role of a stun gun in a self defense capacity, you have to know exactly what it is and how it works. The stun gun is a device which delivers a high energy charge when the metal prongs are applied to an object. When you touch someone with the metal prongs of the stun gun, you can temporarily stun them thus giving you time to escape. Because the amps are not very high on a stun gun, it will not cause any permanent injuries to anyone.

The stun gun's goal is to interrupt the processes of your nervous system by releasing energy all at once into the body. The result of this power dump is that it makes the muscles twitch fast but not in an effective nor efficient manner. The next change in the body is the fact that your body's blood sugar gets turned into lactic acid very quickly, in just a few seconds. This causes impairment of body movement – in other words, the stun factor. Another biological change as a result of the stun gun's action is the fact that the neurological messages your brain is sending to the muscles for normal operation are interrupted which causes mental confusion, balance issues and can also hamper other physical movements. No damage occurs to the vital organs such as the heart.

In general, if you are in a physical struggle with an attacker, a half second application of the stun gun to their body will surprise them, causing a bit of pain and they will likely jump away from you. If you apply the stun gun to their body for up to two seconds, the effect is mental confusion and spasms in the muscles. Any longer than three seconds, you will notice the perpetrator's confusion, balance problems, disorientation and other physical symptoms.

Keep in mind that you will likely only need to hold the stun gun against the attacker for no longer than a second or two for the average person. However, there are people who are not quite the norm. One attacker may be felled by a half of a second charge from the stun gun while another will keep coming at you after a five second (normally debilitating) charge. The bottom line is every person is different and has variable tolerance levels to pain. You have to be prepared for the possibility that the stun gun may not even be very effective for you in the event of an attack.

The effect of a stun gun only extends to the person on the receiving end of the charged metal prongs. In other words, you do not have to worry about the charge extending to you, unless of course the device is wrestled away from you. Contrary to certain stun gun myths, even if you or the perpetrator on the attack is standing in water, the stun gun's charge will not shock you and will only deliver the intended charge.

If you are seeking a supplemental self defense device, you should know the laws in your city and state. There are a handful of states that outlaw the personal use of a stun gun. There are also states which do allow it but may have a few cities that have passed special ordinances outlawing the use of them within the city limits. Know the law on stun guns and how it can apply to you in a self defense situation.