| If you don't have a law enforcement background, | | | | TASER Devices - TASER devices fire a wire with a |
| there's a chance that you've never even seen a stun | | | | barb that will attach to the attacker, delivering a |
| gun, TASER device, pepper spray canister, or any of | | | | pulse of energy. This energy disrupts the assailant's |
| the other self defense products. These products are | | | | nervous system, and, similarly to a stun gun, makes |
| becoming more and more popular for self defense, | | | | him unable to continue attacking you. Most TASER |
| but still far too few people think to arm themselves | | | | models have a range of about fifteen feet. They are |
| to fight back when being attacked. How do you | | | | easy to aim and fire, and will penetrate several inches |
| choose between all of these popular devices for self | | | | of clothing. In addition, most TASER devices can be |
| defense? All of these devices are designed to be | | | | used like a stun gun if your attacker is too close for |
| easy to use and effective, but if you don't know the | | | | you to aim and fire the device. The drawback is that |
| differences between them, you might have a hard | | | | the TASER barbs can only be fired once with each |
| time choosing. Here are the more popular types of | | | | replaceable cartridge. Also, TASER devices tend to |
| self defense weapons. | | | | be among the more expensive of your self defense |
| Pepper Spray - This is one of the simplest ways to | | | | options, though they are also among the most |
| protect yourself. If you can use a spray can, you can | | | | effective. |
| use pepper spray. The spray contains a chemical | | | | Keychain self defense - Many forms of personal |
| derivative of hot peppers known as Oleoresin | | | | defense come in a handy keychain form. You can |
| Capsicum (OC). When sprayed at your attacker, OC | | | | purchase small canisters of pepper spray on a |
| acts as an inflammatory agent, causing burning, | | | | keychain, in addition to a kubuton (self defense |
| watery eyes, difficulty breathing, and other | | | | stick), which allows you to fight back using your own |
| symptoms to take down your attacker quickly. The | | | | strength. A personal alarm is a keychain device which |
| chemicals in pepper spray are hotter than even the | | | | emits an extremely loud noise to alert bystanders to |
| hottest jalapeno peppers - in fact, about eight | | | | your situation. A kubuton is a good choice if you like |
| hundred times hotter. You can hit an attacker with a | | | | the idea of fighting back physically, although it does |
| good stream of pepper spray from up to fifteen or | | | | require some skill and strength to use effectively. A |
| twenty feet away, and they will be incapacitated for | | | | personal alarm has many applications and will draw a |
| at least 20 or 30 minutes, although there are no | | | | lot of attention, which will make many attackers turn |
| long-term health effects after being sprayed. | | | | and run. Keychain-sized pepper spray canisters are |
| Stun Guns - Stun guns are devices that use an | | | | among the most popular types of self defense |
| electrical current to disable your attacker. When you | | | | product. |
| hit the 'on' button, the device emits a loud crackling | | | | Knives and firearms - Although these can be very |
| noise that will make your attacker think twice | | | | effective, they require a lot of skill to use correctly in |
| without you even having to use the stun gun against | | | | a self defense situation. Plus, there are many laws |
| them. Though they are very effective at making | | | | governing the carrying and use these devices. Many |
| your attacker unable to control his muscles to fight | | | | people don't like the idea of carrying a knife or gun, |
| you, the stun gun must come into physical contact | | | | or indeed anything that may cause lethal harm. If you |
| with his body in order to affect him. Even thick | | | | are considering your options for personal protection, |
| clothing will lessen the effect of a stun gun. Still, | | | | a nonlethal device designed to protect you in a self |
| these are very powerful devices that will stop an | | | | defense situation is probably a more effective option. |
| assailant in his tracks. | | | | |