Self Defense And Non Lethal Force - Which Devices Are Available?

Imagine that you are alone at night and are not sure of where you are or who you may encounter

. It would be smart thinking to have something to protect yourself against and unwelcome assailant.

Article 12 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights says that:

"No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks."

But note that the declaration says that we should all have the protection of the law, it does not say we have the right to protect ourselves. Or does it?

The right of a person to defend themselves is acknowledged by most legal jurisdictions, but interpreted in many different ways. It is a problem. If someone attacks you on a dark night as you walk through a parking lot on the way to you car and you repel the attack, but in the process do some harm to the assailant, while he has had no opportunity to do harm to you, who is guilty of assault?

Some legal theory says that by initiating an attack the assailant loses his right to legal protection, but these cases can be complicated. What if the attacker wasn't attacking, but merely in the parking lot and about to ask for directions? Why is nothing ever simple? This issue is especially sensitive when lethal force is applied. If a terrified woman shoots a man in a parking lot and kills him before he has a chance to hurt her, legally she has to establish that she was defending herself.

This is one reason why most companies who retail self-defense equipment concentrate on the provision of non-lethal weapons such as stun guns, pepper sprays Tasers and personal alarms.

Tasers fire projectiles attached to wires into the assailant and can be used at a distance. They send an electric charge pulsing into the attackers body for a period of thirty seconds during which you should drop the Taser and get to safety. Research has shown Tasers to be more effective at dropping an assailant than a 9mm handgun.

Stun guns require contact with the assailant but high voltage stun guns can be used even through thick clothes. They will disrupt the electrical signals in the assailants body, again giving you time to get away.

Pepper sprays work on the mucus membranes in the nose and the veins in the eye. The swelling makes it difficult for an attacker to breathe or to see and it can last for up to 30 minutes, giving you plenty of time to get away. Some sprays are even combined with a form of dye which is visible under ultra violet light, making is easy to track down the attacker.

Personal alarms are noisy. Sometimes very noisy. Their purpose is to attract attention and hopefully make the attacker run away, but the sound of some is so loud that at close range it is difficult to tolerate making the attacker back off so once again you have a chance to escape.

Whatever your choice of personal defense tool, be sure to check what is legal in your state, county and city and then read the instructions carefully. Practice with the device and most of all, don't forget to carry it. It can't protect you if it's sitting in a drawer.

by: Kirsty Hale

POST COMMENT

Three Ways To Make Your Self-defense Weapon Ineffective A Way to Learn About Yourself A Handy Guide For Beginners In Choosing A Webhosting Company What Camping Essentials Do I Need For My Trip? Same Day Loans-need Money Today Itself, Just Go On Muscle Building As a Means With Regard to Complete Living Improvement Camping Is Always More Fun With The Right Supplies Fundraising by Professionals or Should I do it Myself? The Self-publisher Book Cover Design Guide Tried And Tested Techniques To Teach Yourself To Sing Much Better Instantly The Importance Of Learning Self-defense Blogging for beginners Lucid Dream Guide - A Brief Understanding For Beginners