These are simple kinds of mistakes, but the reality is that there are some terms that are used to describe one device that is not accurate at all. This is the case with the stun gun and taser. People frequently discuss these items as one and the same, when the reality is that the products work quite differently than one another.
The Stun Gun vs. the Taser
While they both can be effective, they do not work the same. A taser is quite different from a stun gun. Understanding the differences are important, because it will play a role in the kind of protection that you want for yourself.
How a Taser works is quite simple. When activated, it shoots probes into the body of a potential attacker. These probes are attached to wires. The probes are spear shaped at the ends, so they are able to penetrate into the person skin.
An electrical current is then emitted which causes an electric shock. This directly affects the nervous system of the person. With their nervous system shock, the person becomes incapacitated. You can continually apply the Taser to the individual to keep them compliant should they start to regain their faculties and attempt to attack you.
The stun gun works quite differently. At the end of a stun gun is two prongs. These emit an electric shock when the stun gun is activated. By placing it directly against the skin of the individual, it shoots a voltage through the prongs which stuns the person.
The Purpose of Both
Before getting into the differences between the two, we began with an explanation of why a person would have such a device, whether it is to start gun or the taser. These are personal protection devices. Their intent is to incapacitate someone who may be attempting to injure or harm you in other ways.
Both can be highly effective at this task. While incapacitating the person in different ways, they still provide a certain degree of protection. In fact, one thing that is like about them is that they can be effective on wild animals as well. This means that if you come across an animal such as a coyote, wolf, or even a ferocious dog, you can use these devices to protect yourself.
Which Is Better?
This is a question of personal taste, and also relates to what level of protection you need. There are clearly some advantages to the taser. The most important of these for some is the fact that a Taser can be used at a distance of up to 15 feet away from you. This means that the attacker does not have to be in close for you to be able to incapacitate them.
That is not true with the stun gun. The only way that you are able to effectively stop the attacker with the stun gun is to apply the prongs to their skin. That means they have to be within a few feet of you, which poses some risks.
Both allow you to continue to supply charge if you need. Both work for somewhere between 15 to 30 minutes, which should be plenty of time for law enforcement officials to arrive. If not, you can zap them one more time to ensure that they remain compliant.
While the taser allows you to use the weapon at a distance from your attacker, there are some disadvantages to it. If you get in close proximity with your attacker, within a few feet, there are some limitations to the Taser’s effectiveness. You can still discharge the weapon into the person, but if they are touching you at that time the electrical charge can be transferred to you.
That is not true of the stun gun. The advantage of this is that the charge will only be released into the person where the prongs are being directly applied. This means that the person could actually have a good grip on you and you would not be affected by the effects of the stun gun.
The Taser also requires you to have good aim. If you mess with your shot, your weapon is useless. However, as long as you can apply the prongs of the stun gun to your attacker, you will have great chance of getting away.
The Laws Behind These Devices
It is also important to understand that there may be laws regarding your ability to own and use these devices. For example, there are a few states that outlaws stun guns. You are not allowed to own or use them in any capacity unless you are in law enforcement. However, about 45 states allow a person to carry a stun gun with them.
The Taser is an entirely different story. There are many states that do not allow a person to have a Taser at all. These are seen as weapons and, if you are allowed to own one, you may have to register it with law enforcement officials.
No matter which one of these you decide to purchase, check to make sure that you are legally able to acquire one. You should be able to find out this kind of information at your local police station or by contacting the District Attorney’s Office.
Size Matters
There is one more point we wanted to make before closing out this article. There are some obvious advantages to having a Taser. This is especially true if you are someone who was concerned about allowing an attacker to get close to you. Your stun gun may not be that effective if a person is able to stab you first, and that is why many prefer the Taser as their weapon.
However, there is one other advantage to the stun gun. These devices are usually quite small, something that could easily fit into the palm of your hand. That means that you can carry it with you in your pocket or in your purse, making it easy to reach an emergency. The Taser is a lot larger weapon, which may not fit in your pocket, making it more difficult to conceal.
Both of these devices can be highly effective in protecting you in an emergency. No matter which one you choose, make sure that you know how to properly use the device before you are faced with an emergency situation. The last thing you want to do is to be testing this for the first time when you are facing someone who was attempting to harm you.
