| If you watch the news, read the news or listen to | | | | 2. Your spouse |
| the news, you know that crime and violence seem | | | | If you are searching for a non-lethal self-defense |
| to be on the rise. It just isn't safe anywhere | | | | weapon for your spouse, you need to basically ask |
| anymore. So maybe it's time to look into purchasing | | | | yourself the same questions about range, strength, |
| one or more self-defense products. But there are so | | | | hidden or obvious. Size is another issue. If your |
| many. How can you choose? Well, you might have to | | | | spouse is a woman with small hands, she may want |
| do a little research. Just don't fall into the trap of not | | | | a small palm sized stun gun. Then again, she may |
| purchasing any because you don't know what to buy. | | | | want to feel powerful wearing the Mace Pepper Gun |
| First of all, decide who the defense products will be | | | | with it's shooting range of 25 feet. |
| for: | | | | 3. Your childrena. If you have children old enough to |
| 1. Yourself | | | | be responsible carrying a pepper spray product, that |
| If purchasing a self-defense product for yourself, do | | | | would be the ideal protection against an attack. Laws |
| you want something that can be used in close range, | | | | must be abided by and it is up to you to check with |
| at a distance, do you want it to be camouflaged or | | | | your local authorities as to the restrictions, if any, in |
| obvious?a. Something to be used in close range | | | | your city. Teen-agers carrying pepper spray must be |
| would be a stun gun. They come in several different | | | | very responsible and trained in how and when to use |
| designs and voltage ranges. They must make contact | | | | it.b. Another safe and legal self-defense item for a |
| with the assailant, but can penetrate through clothing | | | | child to carry is a personal alarm. In fact, I believe all |
| and just a few seconds of contact will disable the | | | | children should carry one and be taught only to use it |
| attacker, depleting his body of blood sugar and | | | | if they are in trouble. Personal alarms emit high decibel |
| keeping him from producing energy to control his | | | | ear piercing sounds to alert anyone in the area of a |
| muscles.b. A self-defense product that can be used | | | | problem. They come in the form of whistles and |
| at a bit of a distance would be a pepper spray. | | | | compact designs easily activated if needed. They will |
| Again, there are several different designs and | | | | draw attention and send the perpetrator fleeing.c. For |
| strengths, some with a shooting range of 10 ft, | | | | younger children there is a child guard device that |
| others with a shooting range of up to 25 ft. Pepper | | | | includes a transmitter worn by the child which sends |
| sprays swell the mucous membranes of the attacker | | | | a constant signal to the receiver carried by the adult. |
| when sprayed in his face, causing eyes to close and | | | | If the child wanders beyond the set distance, a |
| breathing to become very difficult. He will be in a | | | | beeper goes off warning the adult. This is a great |
| great deal of pain, discomfort and even nausea for | | | | protection for summer months visiting fairs, carnivals, |
| up to 45 minutes, giving you time to escape and call | | | | zoos, or walking through a busy mall. |
| authorities.c. If you would like your stun gun to be | | | | Now that you know a little more about some of the |
| camouflaged, you can find one disguised as a cell | | | | available self-defense options out there, don't wait |
| phone or a flashlight. Otherwise, you can wear your | | | | until it's too late. Crime is rising. Instances of assault |
| stun gun in a holster on your belt, making it difficult | | | | and rape are rising. Protect yourself and your loved |
| to tell exactly what it is.d. You can find pepper | | | | ones by providing them with non-lethal self-protection |
| sprays disguised as lipstick, a ring, a pager, a pen, or | | | | weapons. Don't be caught in the trap of not knowing |
| even hand-held jogging weights. | | | | what to buy. It could cost you dearly. |