| For those interested in self-defense, but who are | | | | in a bad neighborhood, you likely aren't going to |
| unable or unwilling to use lethal weapons such as | | | | find yourself getting any help. And blinding lights |
| firearms and knives, there are still alternatives | | | | are largely useless and easily defeated by an |
| available to you. I am speaking of course of the | | | | attacker. So I'd skip these as independent |
| variety of non- and less-lethal self-defense tools | | | | devices, although their inclusion in other devices |
| on the market, such as mace, stunguns, tasers, | | | | should be considered a handy bonus. |
| and even things such as devices that make loud | | | | Third up are stun guns and tasers. These devices |
| sounds and blinding lights. I'll discuss the pros and | | | | are the most effective nonlethal self-defense |
| cons of each device. | | | | tools around, but they require a bit more skill to |
| First on the block is the most common form of | | | | use effectively. For a stungun, you have to be |
| non-lethal self-defense; sprays such as mace or | | | | able to touch your attacker with the weapon; I |
| peppers spray. Despite being so popular, spray | | | | recommend a baton-style stunner if you plan to |
| defense systems have a host of problems. One in | | | | use one of these, as it allow you to protect |
| ten people is completely immune to the effect of | | | | yourself from a distance, and give you something |
| them, for starters; a high enough number to | | | | to fend off attacks with. And with a taser, you |
| make using the spray a major gamble, as all using | | | | only have one shot, so you need to be confident |
| a spray on such people will do is make them | | | | in your aim. That said, no one resists a stunning |
| more likely to hurt you. The second problem is | | | | the way they can resist mace or blinding lights. |
| the risk of blow-back; even if you DO incapacitate | | | | The only reason to avoid stunners is that they |
| your attacker, you make catch yourself too if | | | | are considered 'less-lethal' rather than non-lethal; if |
| the wind picks up. Overall, I can't recommend | | | | you tase someone on speed or with a heart |
| mace as a self-defense tool unless you have no | | | | condition, they might not get up. |
| other options available. If you DO have to use it, | | | | I hope this has told you a little about the |
| make sure to run away to a safe place as quickly | | | | alternatives to lethal self-defense. Make sure you |
| as possible; even if it doesn't work, the surprise | | | | check your local laws before trying to obtain and |
| should give you a head start. | | | | use any of these devices; you don't want to get |
| Second up we'll talk about the variety of | | | | yourself in trouble with a device meant to save |
| noisemakers and blinding lights. The usefulness of | | | | you from it! |
| a noisemaker will vary based on where you are; | | | | |