Updated: August 02, 2020
A stun gun can be an extremely effective tool in helping you to remain safe. This weapon is not only practical, but does an effective job at stopping would-be attacker dad and his or her tracks. Best of all, unlike a gun, you don’t have to go through all kinds of certification and registration to be able to use such a weapon. Straight out-of-the-box, you are ready to go.

While you may not be required to get a permit to use or own a stun gun, that does not mean that you should not take the time to learn how to properly use one. This is still a weapon and, if used improperly, can actually do more harm than good. Plus, if you do not know how to use this weapon then its ability to protect you in an emergency situation is moot.

Can You Use a Stun Gun?

While not difficult to figure out how to use, it is still important to have some basic tips on what to do and not to do before you use it. The first of these is to know whether you are allowed to use it all.

What you may learn is that state may ban the use of this weapon. While the stun gun is acceptable to own and use in most states, there are a few out there that do not allow youth. Or to use it. You may have to jump through specific hoops, such as in Connecticut where carrying a stun gun means you must secure a permit to do so first. This is also true in states like Mississippi, Indiana, and Michigan.

In Chicago, you can’t have a stun gun at all. While it is legal in the rest of the state to own one, if you have a permit, you cannot do this in the Windy City. If you are in North Dakota or Wisconsin you must have a concealed weapon permit if you were going to carry a stun gun on you while out and about.

In some states, it is completely illegal for you to own. This includes Hawaii, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. It is also illegal to own a stun gun in Washington, D.C.

What this tells you is that before you decide to run out and buy one of these weapons, you want to make sure that you have followed all of the state guidelines. Check to make sure that you are authorized to have such a weapon, and if it is necessary for you to obtain a permit before doing so.

How Does It Work?

When you first purchase your stun gun, where you want to begin is by doing a thorough examination of the weapon itself. Familiarize yourself with the device. This includes charging it and activating it a few times just to see how easy it is to operate. Don’t test on anything or anyone. Just click on it a couple of times in the air just to see how easy it is to use.

In addition, determine how you will carry the device. Is this something that will easily slide into your purse? Will you carry in your hand as you walk to your car or while you walk home from school or the office? Figure out if this is something you can easily access, because you will need to use it in an emergency situation where fractions of a second matter.

How to Use a Stun Gun the Right Way?

Once you have familiarized yourself with the stun none, it is now time to figure out how to use it. There are a few important factors to consider before you decide to walk out the door. First off, this is not a weapon you can use on somebody who is 10 or 20 feet away from you. This is a close quarter safety device, meaning the person has to be within your personal space for you to be able to use it.

Some are uncomfortable with this fact. A person who has a knife were who could hit you with a Blank; object may incapacitate you before you ever have the opportunity to deploy your stun none. That is a legitimate concern, but if you are someone who pays attention to your surroundings then you should be okay.

You should also be aware that the only part of the device that poses any hazard to you or anyone else are the prongs at the end of the device. This is where the electrical impulse is released. As long as you do not place that against yourself or anyone else you don’t intend to harm, then that should be okay.

Used to stun gun, you want to place it in a more stable position against your attacker. This should be in some location like the shoulders, back, or chest. When you click the button, hold it down. This will continually discharge the electrical impulse.

Understand that this is not like a Taser. You are not shooting electrical impulses into the person. Instead, you are admitting an electronic signal directly into the skin of the person which acts very much like a flash grenade. It upsets the nervous system of the person, disorienting them, incapacitating them, and leaving them feeling a sharp pain.

This effect can last as long as 30 minutes. That should give you plenty of time to escape once you have discharged the stun gun into your attacker.

In most cases, a three second impulse should be effective. What that means is that you don’t just click the button on the stun gun. You hold it down for at least three seconds until the person is down.

As an important note, if you find that they are still able to come at you, then continue to apply the stun gun. Don’t just stop at three seconds. If you need to go five, seven, or even 10 seconds of a continuous burst and tell they are completely down, then you do that. Do what it takes to save yourself.

In addition, make sure that you apply the stun gun to more stable areas of the person’s body. We recommended to you places like the shoulders, chest, or back. The reason behind this is that they are more stationary. A person could easily move their arms, legs, or head, pulling the stun gun off of them. Then it becomes ineffective. By holding it in places where it is more difficult for them to remove the stun gun, you have a better chance of incapacitating them.

Be Ready in Advance

A couple of important safety notes before you head out the door with your stun gun. First off, ensure that the batteries are fully charged and working. If it is a rechargeable device, you should make sure that it is fully charged before you head out the door every day. Know how long the charge will last. The last thing you need is to be an emergency situation and your stun gun doesn’t work.

In addition, get comfortable with the way that the stun gun works and feels. You should know how much pressure it takes to activate the stun gun. Figure out what techniques you will used to apply it to a stable area on the attacker’s body. Know how you will carry it when you were out.

Practice. If you are going to keep it in your purse, practice pulling it out of there 50 or 100 times to see how easy it is. Remember that this will be an emergency situation, and the last thing you need is to be fumbling around in your purse or pocket trying to grab the weapon.

Take these kinds of important steps and you will have a device that will help you to avoid being hurt or killed by a would-be attacker. Be smart and know your surroundings. Know how to use your stun gun and you will teach anyone attempting to attack you a lesson they will never forget.

Michel Pedneault

Michel Pedneault

Michel Pedneault has been blogging for more than three decades. He is a former lead writer at various self defense publishers. Michael has written 100s of reviews for various defense & tactical gear. He is fond of travelling, adventures and discovering new things. You can reach him at twitter @pedneault

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