Recommend a stun gun/Taser?

[HardDrive]

I want to buy my sister a stun gun or a Taser. I would prefer a stun gun, but it doesn't seem like they are very effective. I've read reviews in which people said they passed the thing around, and zapped themselves at a party for fun. Not incapacitating at all.

Are there any stun guns worth beans? If no, does anyone have experience with Tasers? What model would you recommend? Any tips on how to deploy it effectively?

[lane912]

when I was in my early 20's a buddy lived in a house we all gathered at to party.
on the coffee table was a stun gun-
you knew that if you passed out you it was fair game-

was more tollerable when the batteries wore down a bit-

[weseeeee]

The Stun gun must be held on the attacker and it only shocks a person it does not knock them out. The TASER is a dart firing insturment that requires both darts to hit the attacker for it to work. It will give a 5 sec burst that is not fun, (I've taken a hit from one). You may want to consider Pepper Spray. SABRE RED is a great product that can be held on a key chain or on a wrist strap when jogging, (my wife, daughter and most of their friends carry this brand). The spray is good for multiple attackers and will effect the attackers vision, deep lung breath, and the active ingrediant is capsaicin which is hydrophobic meaning it will dry out the eyes causing serious pain for about 15 minutes or longer. None of these are full proof, but they may create an opportunity to flee. Al

[Hydrocket]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I want to buy my sister a stun gun or a Taser. I would prefer a stun gun, but it doesn't seem like they are very effective. I've read reviews in which people said they passed the thing around, and zapped themselves at a party for fun. Not incapacitating at all.

Are there any stun guns worth beans? If no, does anyone have experience with Tasers? What model would you recommend? Any tips on how to deploy it effectively?

Is pepper spray legal? That stuff works too.

[rusnak]

Don't use food condiments or toys when you want to stop a threat.

[Hydrocket]

^^Meh...I've seen people running away after being tased....or shot with real guns.

Nothing works perfectly.


However, I REALLY enjoyed that video this week at Liveleak where this boisterous mamma was running her yap, hitting a secutiry guard until he finally tased her...and she went down like a sack of bricks. Was beautiful to behold...

[HardDrive]

How well do the darts on a Taser penetrate? Will they make it through a sweat shirt?

[porsche4life]

I think the real question is... Why?

[Hydrocket]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

How well do the darts on a Taser penetrate? Will they make it through a sweat shirt?

Loose or thick clothing can cause failures. One probe missing the mark (both need to be on the body), and nothing happens. Hit someone who is fat, and it can fail. Break a wire lead (in a struggle) and it will fail.


Defnitely not foolproof. And all of these conditions of failure are right out of the Taser X26's owners manual.

[rusnak]

last year, I was driving back to the office in the 911 after the Superbowl. I was stopped at a red light, and a guy on a bike rides up to the driver's door and tries to open it. I hit the gas, popped the clutch, and yanked the door handle out of his hand.

That was the third such incident in the past 6 months. I thought about the 9mm, but decided that a non-lethal firearm would be the better way to go, and cause so much less messy cleanup/ disruption in the real world. I seriously doubt anyone would be "running away" with the amount of voltage these things put out. The darts are supposed to go through up to a half inch (don't quote me on that) of clothing, or say a heavy coat. And the sheer noise is enough to startle most people long enough for you to make a quick getaway.

If you miss, then you keep the power on and go for a "drive stun"....Better solution is don't miss.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I think the real question is... Why?

Because my sister and her husband live in an area of LA that is in 'transition'. They have had repeated security issues, and they will do basically nothing to secure their home. They refuse to have firearms. The front door of their house is basically a flimsy glass french door, and its 8 ft from the sidewalk. 1 low gate between the sidewalk and their front door. Its incredible. They leave the house with the gate open all the time.

I want her to have something in case some looney breaks in. Makes me both worried and pissed off that they refuse to take security seriously. Strident utopian liberals.

[Hydrocket]

^^A Taser nearly requires the same proficiency as a guy. You have to HIT the attacker. And presumbaly the attacker might be moving. And even then....it's not guaranteed to work. Go to Youtube and type in "taser fail"

[Jim Bremner]

I would ay pepper spray that has a die in it

But drugged up perp? needs a cns seperation to prevent further attack.

[porsche4life]

Sorry, but a taser isn't the answer... Convincing them to beef up security is..... In the situation you describe... She might as well have a stick... In fact she might be better off with that...

[slodave]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I would prefer a stun gun, but it doesn't seem like they are very effective. I've read reviews in which people said they passed the thing around, and zapped themselves at a party for fun. Not incapacitating at all.

They are plenty effective! I got hit by one twice at a college party. First time I didn't realize I was going to be hit, as the guy came up behind me. Yeah, that one wasn't so bad, but I also like electricity. He then asked i I would volunteer to be shocked over my heart, to which I declined, but I said he could hit me on the right side of the chest. I told him I would tell him when to stop....... Here hold ma beer!

I did not drop to the ground, but I could not move, nor could I talk to tell him to stop. He kept going and going. I will never be tazed or stunned again!

[rusnak]

I don't disagree with Hydro on the point that a Taser is not a cure-all, but saying that there are operator fails in Tasers is like saying that there are operator fails in using a gun, or a bat, or brass knuckles....you can look at operator failures and call them design flaws, but that won't make it so.

It should be said that your best weapon is your own brain. Being prepared, having a plan, and refusing to be a victim when and if you are attacked will increase your likelihood of getting out of it unharmed, which is your only goal here.

The best approach is to take classes, and be prepared. Personally, I don't rely on a single weapon. I have multiple go-to approaches because frankly, there are a lot of dangerous people out there, especially where I live. Does that guarantee me anything? Of course not, but I like my odds better for having thought through and proactively trying to prepare for the day that I have to defend myself or my family.

[Rick V]

ZAP Light Stun Gun Flashlight, ZAPL
My wife has this one, trust me when I tell you, it WILL stop someone. My son is like Dave, he likes electricity and dared his mom to hit him with it. Yeah he doesn't want to play with his mom any more.

[KFC911]

I'd prefer to have a can of hornet/wasp spray (that shoots 20' or so). Legal, non-lethal, and effective. For a "stun" gun...I prefer a 45 acp

[fintstone]

Buy her a nail gun.

Amazing what passes for fun times at a party these days.

[weseeeee]

The Spray I have my family use has a ultra violet marking agent that lasts 48 hours. The natural orange color of the pepper helps you see that you are targetting the correct area. I like the TASER but it is like a gun and you have to have it ready to use. A small can of spray can be concealed in your hand as you walk to or from your vehicle. My directions to my daughter are if you can't run, fight it out right there. That will atract attention to the situation which is something an attacker doesn't want. Awareness (and a good offense) will be your best defense. Observe your surroundings and trust your instincts. If you get a feeling something's not right, trust it. Stay Safe. Al