Stun Guns
Important: Until further notice, all Stun Guns & Pepper Spray will be
sold only in the USA.
What is a Stun Gun?
A stun gun is an electrical non-lethal self-defense device that uses
high voltage to stop an attacker. Touching a person with the prongs on
the stun gun quickly immobilizes the attacker. However, because the
amperage is very low, no serious or permanent injury is inflicted.
How does a stun gun stop an attacker?
Stun guns are designed to key into the nervous system. They dump their
energy into the muscles at a different frequency than the pulse waves
emanating from the brain. The pulse waves coming from the brain and
those from the stun gun collide at the nerve synapse' which is a type of
complex processing switch adjacent to each muscle group. The resulting
energy collision makes it difficult for an attacker to move and
function. This causes disorientation and loss of balance and leaves the
attacker in a passive and confused condition for several minutes. Still,
stun guns have no significant effect on the heart and other organs.
How long does it take to immobilize someone
with a stun gun?
As a general rule, a one-half second contact from a stun gun will repel
and startle the attacker, giving some pain and muscle contraction. One
to two seconds will cause muscle spasms and a dazed mental state. Over
three seconds will cause loss of balance and muscle control, mental
confusion and disorientation.
However, don't think about how many seconds you should hold the stun gun
to your attacker. Think about it this way. Throw out what the books say
and the online information you have read about stun guns. You should
hold your stun gun to the assailant until they drop and you can get away
and call the police, whether that may be one second or six seconds.
What is the difference between an 80,000
volt model and a 900,000 volt model?
Look at it this way, both stun guns will render your assailant helpless
using non-lethal voltage from the stun gun, but you might have to hold
the 80,000 volt model a second or two longer than the 900,000 volt
model. Consider this. A stun gun is effective on many parts of the body.
But give yourself the best chance to get the best of your attacker. Hold
the stun gun on a body part that has a lot of surface area, such as the
chest, abdomen, groin, kidneys, back, etc. An area such as the arm or
leg may work fine, but these body parts do not allow you the same amount
of surface area that you will need to contact for a few seconds.
What does being stunned with a stun gun feel
like?
If you have ever hit your funny bone, multiply that by ten thousand and
extend it throughout your entire body. The inablility to function and
feeling of helplessness combined with the sensation of millions of tiny
needles going through your body provides certain inherent physical,
mental and emotional trauma.
What type of battery works best in a stun gun?
Stun Guns are powered by 9-volt alkaline batteries. The battery that we
recommend using only Energizer 9-volt Alkaline batteries. These
batteries seem to work far better than other brands in the stun guns
that we carry.
Will the voltage pass from the assailant
to the person holding the stun gun?
The electrical shock that emits from the stunning device will not pass
from the person being stunned to the person doing the stunning. The
effect is localized only in the affected area and does not pass through
the body. Even if you or the attacker are wet or standing in water, you
will not be shocked.
Stun guns use DC or Direct Current which is also used in a typical car
battery. AC or Alternating current, however is the type of current found
in your home electricity
Will test firing a stun gun damage the unit?
Test-firing your stun device is recommended to ensure battery life as
well as practice using the stun gun. However, it is recommended not to
test fire the unit more than a second or two. Firing the stun gun in the
air for too long can damage the unit as it is not grounded. This does
not apply when you are applying the unit to an assailant, however,
because the stun gun is then grounded out on the person being stunned.
How long will the battery in my stun gun
last?
A new Energizer alkaline 9-volt battery will last for quite some time in
your Stun Gun or Stun Baton. Unless the unit is discharged frequently,
it is no different than a flashlight. However, it is recommended to test
fire the unit occasionally to ensure that the batteries are still 100%
functional.
What are the legal restrictions on owning stun guns?
Stun Guns are legal in most U.S. states for
individuals of legal age (18 and up) with the following known restrictions.
If you have a question, it is wise to contact your local police department
as these laws change frequently. We do not ship stun guns to the
following areas:
The following states consider stun guns illegal:
Hawaii, Massachusetts,
Michigan, New Jersey,
New York, Rhode Island,
Wisconsin
The following cities/counties consider stun guns illegal:
Annapolis, MD; Baltimore, MD;
Crawford County, IA; District Of
Columbia; Philadelphia, PA
The following state requires a Firearms Owner Identification Card (FOIC), a
background check, and waiting period: Illinois
Any orders with shipping to the areas above
(including Illinois) will be canceled and
refunded. No exceptions. We invite legal submissions to help us keep
abreast of these laws. If you feel we are in error, please submit
documentation so that we can adjust our policies.
Legal Disclaimer
Important: Until further notice, all Stun Guns & Pepper Spray will be
sold only in the USA.
We cannot ship stun guns or pepper spray to any cities
or states
where they are considered illegal. Due to the complexities of international
law and the licensing & reporting requirements of U.S. export law, we will
not ship any stun guns or pepper spray outside of the U.S.A.
State and local laws change frequently, so please
be aware of the legality in your area as we can not be responsible for the
accuracy of the above information, though we make every attempt to remain
current. If you place an order with us from any of these restricted
locations, your order will be cancelled and refunded. No exceptions. If you
feel we are in error, please submit legal documentation so that we may
research the matter and update our records accordingly.
Absolutely no sales to minors under 18 years of age or any person who falls
in one of the following categories: convicted of a crime punishable by
imprisonment for any terms; fugitive from Justice (requires interstate
flight to avoid prosecution or testimony in a criminal case); drug users or
addicts (may be shown by recent conviction for use, recent possession of
drugs, or recent arrest for use of drugs, or positive drug tests); aliens
illegally or unlawfully within the US or those lawfully admitted in
non-immigrant status (i.e. aliens without permanent residence status);
mental defectives or persons committed to a mental institution; formally
renounced US citizenship; dishonorably discharged from the military; subject
to a court order prohibiting harassing, stalking, or threatening of an
intimate partner or child of an intimate partner or placing such persons in
reasonable fear of bodily injury; and convicted of a misdemeanor crime of
domestic violence.
It is the responsibility of the buyer and not the seller to ascertain and
obey all applicable federal, state and local laws in regard to the
possession and use of all products on this site. By placing an order the
buyer represents that he/she is of legal age, he/she does not fall in one of
the above categories and that the products will be used in a legal manner.
Seller cannot assume any liability for the use of these products and
recommend the buyer become familiar with the laws in their city, state,
or county that regulates the use and possession of these products.
Consult your local and state authority before ordering if you are in doubt.
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Pepper Spray
Important: Until further notice, all Stun Guns & Pepper Spray will be
sold only in the USA.
What is Pepper Spray?
Pepper Spray is an aerosol spray used for self-defense. Pepper Spray is
a defense spray that consists of a concentrated agent injected into a
canister and dispersed, or sprayed, by aerosol.
The concentrated agent is Oleoresin Capsicum. Oleoresin Capsicum is
extracted from chili peppers and is the chemical that gives peppers
their hot quality. That is why it is called pepper spray. Also,
Oleoresin Capsicum is known as "OC" for short. That is why pepper spray
is commonly referred to as OC pepper spray.
What is Mace?
Just as many people mistakenly refer to tissue paper as "Kleenex" or
refer to a photocopy as a "Xerox," many people refer to defense sprays
as "Mace." Mace is a brand name that carries a registered trademark
owned by Mace Security International (MSI). MSI originally marketed a
particular tear gas self defense spray. Today, Mace brand defense sprays
either contain OC pepper, tear gas, or both.
What is the difference between Pepper
Spray and Tear Gas?
Two important differences between pepper spray and tear gas are:
-
Tear gas is an irritant, and therefore its effectiveness relies
mainly on pain compliance. Pepper spray is an inflammatory agent. The
response to contact with pepper spray is involuntary which makes pepper
spray a very effective weapon against drug or alcohol impaired
assailants or animals that may not respond to pain.
As Doug Lamb writes in "Tactical Use of Defense Sprays" - When a person
is sprayed with OC pepper spray, two things happen instantly. First, the
person's eyes clamp shut - hard. Not only that, but if that person does
manage to force his eyes open, the person still cannot see because the
OC dilates the capillaries and causes temporary blindness. Second, an
immediate fit of uncontrollable coughing doubles the person over because
the OC causes instant inflammation of the breathing tissues, restricting
all but life support breathing. An assailant who is sprayed with OC
stops what he is doing and stops what he is thinking - period. This is
true even for those who are drunk, on drugs, or psychotic.
-
Tear gas has a high level of toxicity. OC pepper spray is totally
non-toxic.
Are all Pepper Sprays the same?
No, all pepper sprays are not the same. Pepper sprays are rated in two
ways: Percentage of Oleoresin Capsicum in the agent itself, and the
"hotness" of the spray, which is measured in Scoville Heat Units
(SHU's). The percentage of OC has nothing to do with the SHU rating, and
vice versa.
One of the biggest misconceptions about pepper spray is that the higher
the OC percentage, the hotter and more effective the spray. In most
cases, this could not be further from the truth. The best, fastest
incapacitating pepper sprays in the world are from 2% to 10% OC. The
lighter the fluid, the faster is penetrates the membranes.
So, the percentage of OC is important, but even more important is the
SHU rating, as the percentage has nothing to do with the actual SHU
rating or "hotness" of the spray.
A pepper spray with 2,000,000 SHU's is twice as hot as a pepper spray
with 1,000,000 SHU's.
What are the physical effects of Pepper
Spray?
Pepper Spray has four physiological effects that may be experienced:
-
Effects on Eyes - tearing, involuntary closing or
complete closing due to dilation of the eye capillaries. Eyes will
appear red/bloodshot for 30 to 60 minutes. People wearing eyeglasses
or contact lenses will be equally affected.
-
Effects on Respiratory System - immediate
inflammation, including swelling of the throat lining which can
restrict the airway size. Respiratory functions return to normal
within 10 to 45 minutes. The airway will be open enough to allow for
sufficient oxygen flow for survival. Due to the reduced airway flow,
the person will probably not receive enough oxygen to continue
fighting or other sustained physical exertion. Temporary paralysis
of the larynx. Uncontrollable coughing, retching, and gasping for
air with a gagging sensation in the throat.
-
Effect on skin - inflammation of the exposed skin
with a burning sensation.
-
Effects on muscle coordination - pepper spray
exposure may cause a person to lose balance due to the effect of
pepper spray on vision and pain receptors.
How can I be assured my Pepper Spray will work
when I need it?
You should get in the habit of testing your defense spray every 90 days.
To do this first go outside and determine which direction the wind is
blowing. Remember to always stand upwind from the direction you are
spraying. Depress the firing mechanism for ½ second. This test should be
performed upon purchase and every 90 days after that. Be aware that
every time you test your spray you reduce the contents of the canister.
If you are using a key chain model and you test regularly you will need
to replace the unit every 9 to 12 months if you follow the recommended
testing procedure above.
How long will my Pepper Spray last?
Most pepper sprays have an expiration date stamped on the canister,
usually 2 to 4 years from the time of manufacture.
Although the spray life is indefinite it does start to lose potency over
time. Any use of the spray beyond the expiration date is highly
unadvisable. We strongly advise you to replace your pepper spray long
before the expiration date! That way you are always assured of the
potency of the spray.
Take your old one to a safe place and target practice with it. Become
familiar with how far it will spray, how to unlock it, etc. When
practicing with your defensive spray, be aware of air movements and wind
patterns and be very careful not to contaminate yourself.
How is Pepper Spray made?
Pepper spray is derived from hot peppers. The oils are extracted from
the hot peppers using a high-pressure process. This process leaves you
with the active ingredient in pepper spray known as Oleoresin Capsicum,
or "OC." OC is a reddish-orange, oily liquid, insoluble in water. The
pure pepper extract is then diluted with an inert ingredient that
reduces the "hotness" of the extract to get it down to a useable level
for pepper spray.
What does Scoville Heat Units (SHU) refer to?
Scoville Heat Units (SHU's) is the measurement of the "hotness" of
pepper.
All types of chili peppers, including green peppers, jalapenos, and
habaneros, all contain an unusually powerful compound found in no other
plant, an alkaloid called capsaicin.
Capsaicin is the horticultural term for the genus that chili peppers are
classified. A single drop of tasteless and odorless capsaicin in 100,000
drops of water is very noticeable. In fact, capsaicin can be detected by
humans at one part per million.
In 1912, pharmacologist Wilbur Scoville developed a standard for
measuring the power of capsaicin: the Scoville Organaleptic Test.
Scoville measured exact weights of chili peppers and dissolved the
capsaicin in alcohol. This solution was then diluted with sugar water
until it was no longer detectable to the human palate. A panel of five
taste testers would taste the solution and three of them had to agree
before a value was assigned. If, for example, it took 1,000 parts of
water to one part of capsaicin, it was said to have 1,000 Scoville Heat
Units.
This method was useful for calculating the temperature of peppers used
in many pharmaceutical products such has heat rubs. Today,
high-performance liquid chromatography is used to measure the capsaicin
content in peppers. It measures capsaicin levels in parts per million
which is then converted to Scoville Heat Units (SHU's). The pepper scale
ranges from zero Scoville Heat Units for a bell pepper to 5,000 or so
SHU's for a jalapeno, to a whopping 200,000 to 300,000 SHU's for a
habanero. Pure capsaicin is 15,000,000 SHU's.
What are the legal restrictions on Pepper Sprays?
Pepper Spray is legal in all 50 states, however a
number of cities and states have restrictions on sizes, strengths, where
they can be purchased, etc. If you have a question, it is wise to contact
your local police department as these laws change frequently.
New York -
prohibits the purchase of pepper spray by Internet or mail order.
We do NOT ship pepper spray to New York.
Massachusetts
- requires a Firearms Identification Card (FIC) and also that
the purchase come only from a licensed firearms dealer in that state.
We do NOT ship pepper spray to Massachusetts.
Wisconsin - prohibits OC content greater
than 10%, combination mixtures (such as UV dye), and sizes greater than
60g (2.1 oz). We do NOT ship pepper spray to Wisconsin as most of
our mixtures are too potent.
Michigan - prohibits OC
content greater than 2%, combination mixtures (such as UV dye), and
sizes greater than 35g (1.2 oz). We do NOT ship pepper spray to
Michigan as most of our mixtures are too potent.
California - prohibits sizes greater
than 2.5oz (70g). We will ship pepper spray to California, but
will NOT ship any size larger than 2.5oz (70g).
Any orders not following the guidelines above
will be canceled and refunded. No exceptions. We invite legal submissions to help us keep
abreast of these laws. If you feel we are in error, please submit
documentation so that we can adjust our policies.
Legal Disclaimer Important: Until further notice, all Stun Guns & Pepper Spray will be
sold only in the USA.
We cannot ship stun guns or pepper spray to any cities or states
where they are considered illegal. Due to the complexities of international
law and the licensing & reporting requirements of U.S. export law, we will
not ship any stun guns or pepper spray outside of the U.S.A.
State and local laws change frequently, so please
be aware of the legality in your area as we can not be responsible for the
accuracy of the above information, though we make every attempt to remain
current. If you place an order with us from any restricted
locations, your order will be cancelled and refunded. No exceptions. If you
feel we are in error, please submit legal documentation so that we may
research the matter and update our records accordingly.
Absolutely no sales to minors under 18 years of age or any person who falls
in one of the following categories: convicted of a crime punishable by
imprisonment for any terms; fugitive from Justice (requires interstate
flight to avoid prosecution or testimony in a criminal case); drug users or
addicts (may be shown by recent conviction for use, recent possession of
drugs, or recent arrest for use of drugs, or positive drug tests); aliens
illegally or unlawfully within the US or those lawfully admitted in
non-immigrant status (i.e. aliens without permanent residence status);
mental defectives or persons committed to a mental institution; formally
renounced US citizenship; dishonorably discharged from the military; subject
to a court order prohibiting harassing, stalking, or threatening of an
intimate partner or child of an intimate partner or placing such persons in
reasonable fear of bodily injury; and convicted of a misdemeanor crime of
domestic violence.
It is the responsibility of the buyer and not the seller to ascertain and
obey all applicable federal, state and local laws in regard to the
possession and use of all products on this site. By placing an order the
buyer represents that he/she is of legal age, he/she does not fall in one of
the above categories and that the products will be used in a legal manner.
Seller cannot assume any liability for the use of these products and
recommend the buyer become familiar with the laws in their city, state,
or county that regulates the use and possession of these products.
Consult your local and state authority before ordering if you are in doubt.
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