subject: Favorite Self Defense Products- Buyers Guide [print this page] Self defense products have been used by law enforcement and military agencies for decades with great success. They have made the transition to the civilian community very easily because they are so effective and they are inexpensive. They are part of a nonlethal alternative to deadly force. Some people just have a hard time shooting and killing somebody. Enter nonlethal self defense tools.
There are literally hundreds of different manufacturers and thousands of different products to choose from. Knowing how they work and what they do should be the first step in making a choice about picking one for you.
They are all products that are designed to give you time to get away from a dangerous situation and seek help. Nothing more. They all do that very well as we will see shortly. Some do it better than others. But they all work.
So here is some inside information on favorite self defense products so you can make a wise decision.
1. Batons-these can be wood or metal, electrified or not electrified. The next time you see a policeman look on his utility belt and see what kind he is carrying. Almost all police officers carry a wood baton. There used to control people and are quite devastating. We carry two kinds. The electrified and non electrified models. The electrified models are 300,000 volts and 500,000 volts.
2. Personal alarms-are generally just loud noisemakers. They are the cheapest of all self defense products. Their purpose is to scare away an attacker and/or draw attention to a situation where you feel threatened. The loudest alarm we have is 130 dB which is very loud. Assailants don't like noise and they don't like attention a personal alarm brings they are very effective and very cheap.
3. Pepper sprays-are the most widely used self defense product in the world. They have been used by law enforcement officials around the world for crowd control for decades with great success. Some pepper sprays are very effective against bears, mountain lions and dogs. Pepper spray is a derivative of cayenne pepper called oleoresin capsicum(OC) . It causes tearing in the eyes to the point where your eyes shut. You can't see. It also causes choking and shortness of breath. The effects can last as long as 45 minutes. They are easy-to-use and generally very inexpensive.
4. Stun guns-are becoming very popular these days. They are smaller than ever and more powerful and prices seem to be falling. You can get a 3.5 million volt stun gun for less than $40. These are small devices that have two prongs on one end that conduct an electrical charge. That electrical charge when applied to a person for 3 to 5 seconds will cause the assailant to literally collapse. It depletes all blood sugars in the body that are needed for energy. Stun guns range from 80,000 volts up to 4.5 million volts. They are still very cost effective.
5.Tasers-are used by over 11,000 law enforcement agencies so that should tell you something. They are virtually 100% effective. They shoot out two darts up to 15 feet away. They have been tested to be more effective than a 9 mm handgun. These are the kings of self defense products.
No self defense item cause long lasting damage to an assailant. Read and follow the instructions that come with the products you choose. Practice using the products so when the time comes using it will be second nature. It could save your life.
