Educate Me On Stun Guns \ Tasers..Recommendations?

[slow&rusty]

My Sis would like me to buy one for her and she wants one that shoots the charge rather than having to touch the potential attacker as she wants to avoid being close to the individual. I do know the first thing about these things..what do you guys recommend? There is a lot to choose from based on a quick internet search.

Thanks!! - Yasin

[Rick Lee]

Why does she want one? Does she realize a TASER is a one-shot deal? What if she misses? There's no second shot or reloading. What if she hits the assailant? IIRC, the charge lasts for five seconds. Since it almost certainly won't kill the assailant, she now has a living witness to testify against her, sue her for agg. assault or, worse, chase her down, knowing she's out of ammo to use against him. They're good for cops because cops have other tools to subdue someone and need the TASER just long enough to get the cuffs on. I don't know how this would be good for personal protection. I have a female friend who has one, but TASER is a local company, is her client and she got it for a song.

[slow&rusty]

Rick - Her place got burgled and ram sacked last night and my poor sis is really shook-up. She came back to her place at 10:30pm and when she walked into her house she had a chill for a split second thinking that the burglars might still be there and she could not defend herself. Luckily they were gone.
Yasin

[Gogar]

+1 have a chat with her about the realities of the situation she is afraid of, and what her best tools might be. Ask her about the idea that she shoots a taser and misses, like Rick said. Stun gun, pepper spray, whistle, air horn, gun. Taser? I dunno about that.

As I'm sure you know, the best weapon is a clear head, which is a difficult place to get to in a stressful situation. Self-defense classes go a long way to get there, though.

[HardDrive]

.38 Smith & Wesson Ladysmith. Don't need no stinking batteries.

[Rick Lee]

I didn't mean to ask why she needs to defend herself, but rather why she thinks a TASER will do that for her. I wouldn't own one unless I was in the business of arresting strangers.

[jyl]

It only works against a single attacker. It has to be aimed, and since you can't really "practice" much ($99 gets your just four practice cartridges), that "attacker" needs to present a fairly easy (stationary?) target. It may not work through heavy and thick clothes. It only works for a brief time. It only allows a single shot.

I'm with Rick.

If she won't carry a gun, I think a big can of pepper spray might be better.