When weighing use of force options, the handheld taser (otherwise known as a stun gun or a conducted energy device) is a tool you want to have on your utility belt. This compact personal safety device delivers non-lethal protection through high-voltage electricity, temporarily incapacitating your target. The electrical voltage effectively “stuns” the perpetrator, causing them to fall due to involuntary muscle spasms. It is estimated that more than 15,000 law enforcement and military agencies use tasers in the line of duty, with that number climbing every day.
As your personal police officer, the Home Security Superstore is here to help you discover which self-defense weapons are best for your goals, needs, and budgets. Let’s take a look at a few reasons why the taser edges out other personal safety devices out there.
- It Buys You Time in a Dangerous Situation – One of the most useful benefits of owning personal safety devices is their ability to help you control and manipulate perilous scenarios without excessive force. The ability to incapacitate a violent, combative, or dangerous person temporarily can put the situation in your control, potentially allowing you to escape, call for assistance, or, if necessary, deploy a method of lethal force.
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It Reduces Risk of Injury – It should come as no surprise that the use of self-defense weapons such as tasers can help reduce the risk of injury compared with lethal-force weapons. Despite their impressive ability to apprehend, the vast majority of people (7 percent, according to one study) shocked by CEDs sustain minor or no injuries. Of course, wielding a taser can also help reduce injury of the apprehender by suppressing a perpetrator’s ability to deploy a weapon or throw a punch.
It’s also important to note that, unlike other forms of both lethal and non-lethal self-defense, a taser’s pain effects wear off as soon as the device is disabled, and only minor aftercare is needed.
- It Allows You to Deploy from a Safe Distance – You’d be surprised to see how far some taser devices can shoot. For example, some professional models by TASERÒ and other brands can be deployed from as far away as 35 feet (or as near as 0 feet), allowing you to stay out of harm’s way while calming the situation and keeping yourself safe. At the same time, unlike pepper spray—another excellent option of non-lethal force for some situations— tasers produce no blowback, so it’s safer for the person wielding them at any distance.
- It’s Easier to Learn, Cheaper, and Safer than a Handgun – With fewer regulations and a much more user-friendly design than handguns, tasers can be a better option for those who are newer to self-defense. Although they require proper training, and certainly rely on good aim and precision, CEDs don’t require extensive certifications or instruction to learn. Additionally, mini tasers can be purchased for under $15, making them more accessible to the masses. Their non-lethal factor also makes them a better choice for those who are not professionally trained in personal or community defense tactics.
- It Immobilizes Even Challenging Suspects – Tasers can immobilize a broader range of suspects than other forms of non-lethal force. For example, they have the ability to stun people who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, who have the ability to fight or ignore pain and who may not respond to other forms of self-defense, such as pepper spray. They are especially effective in instances of controlling motivated, aggressive suspects or those who are under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
A Powerful Weapon of Self-Defense
In short, the use of a taser can reduce the risk of injury and incident to you, your family, the general public, and the perpetrator. Because of the fact that they come in a huge variety of options—from compact keychain devices to the high-end professional models on the belts of law enforcement officers around the world—tasers are a good option for all sorts of scenarios and a range of budgets. If you aren’t sure which one is best for your specific scenario, the Home Security Superstore is always available to assist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tasers can cost around $400 to as much as $1,500 or more for professional models used by law enforcement. Regular non-shooting stun guns can cost as little as $9 or reach up to $80 depending on the size and power.
Tasers are considered by many to feel incredibly painful, to the point where some have even said it is like every inch of your body is in unfathomable pain. This sharp pain lasts anywhere from 15-30 seconds depending on the taser and causes a lingering disorienting effect afterwards that can leave people dazed long after the electricity has stopped.