| A stun gun is any group of battery-powered | | | | step up transformers that increase the voltage |
| items that are able to deliver an electrical charge | | | | by a factor of at least 200,000 and lower the |
| externally to either a person or an animal. The | | | | amperage rate effectively. The next component |
| concept has been in use for quite some time | | | | that receives this electrical charge is the oscillator. |
| now, when wranglers then used heated cattle | | | | This oscillator controls the current fluctuation to a |
| prods to force cows a certain direction. With the | | | | specific electrical pulse pattern. The oscillated |
| advent of portable electricity, batteries provided | | | | charge is then stored in capacitors. When the |
| the electrical charge to make the animals follow | | | | device is triggered, the capacitors discharged the |
| directions. The first , a TASER design, developed | | | | stored electrical energy to the electrodes. These |
| in 1952 was proposed for commando operations. | | | | electrodes when in contact with skin or clothing |
| By the early 60s, the U.S Government | | | | would create a circuit, which would let the |
| commissions included electric stun batons in the | | | | electrical discharge from the stun gun flow |
| riot control. By the 1970's the technology became | | | | through the intended recipient. The electrical |
| an important part of aircraft safety in the wake | | | | current flowing through the person or animal's |
| of terrorist attacks and hijacks. Later in the year, | | | | body would disrupt the electrical impulses from |
| these were marketed to the public as defense | | | | the brain resulting in immobilization. |
| weapons against muggers. | | | | There are many styles of these self defense |
| Called non-lethal weaponry, these devises work | | | | weapons available in the market and online. The |
| through the use of electricity to incapacitate or | | | | simplest type is no bigger than a mobile telephone |
| subdue an individual. This is achieved by the | | | | that uses two pairs of electrodes to deliver the |
| production of an electrical charge within the stun | | | | charge. How the device works is by squeezing |
| gun itself. What is produced is high-voltage, low | | | | the trigger. The outer electrodes of the stun gun, |
| amperage electrical charge when placed in contact | | | | the ones that look like prongs, ionize the air |
| with another person would produce a sensation | | | | between them and when contact is made with an |
| anywhere from a mild electrical shock to | | | | intended recipient, the circuit is formed. There is |
| temporary disability. This has been proven as an | | | | also a secondary inner electrode that directly |
| effective means to place under control a person | | | | applies the electrical charge onto the body of the |
| who is considered a threat or be able to restrain | | | | person or animal sought immobilized. The design |
| the individual eventually. | | | | requires close and immediate contact but can |
| The body is a bioelectrical piece of engineering. | | | | create multiple electrical charges on the subject to |
| Bioelectrical means that electric impulses | | | | be incapacitated. This mode is popular with private |
| generated by the brain and passing through the | | | | users as it can easily be tucked away and there |
| nervous system is the means how movement, | | | | is little or no required paperwork for its ownership. |
| response and thoughts are produced. The electric | | | | Another method of delivery is through a shooting |
| impulses produce the necessary biological | | | | mechanism. The electrodes have extendible wires |
| chemicals to make muscle groups respond in a | | | | attached to them and using either compressed |
| particular manner. You can liken it to your | | | | gas or a mixture of liquid chemicals, when the |
| computer with you as the brain typing on the | | | | triggered is squeezed, the electrodes are ejected |
| keyboard the necessary electrical impulses to | | | | with force over a distance to the intended |
| generate the icons on the screen or have the | | | | subject. Once the barbs attach, the electrical |
| computer perform its tasks. Now, by placing an | | | | impulses are carried through the wire attachments |
| external electrical current into the computer | | | | thus incapacitating the individual concerned. |
| system, you will see that the original electrical | | | | Police authorities are the main users of these |
| impulses of computer become overloaded causing | | | | types of stun guns in order to provide distance in |
| the system to short circuit and shut down. How a | | | | which caution and prevention to further injury can |
| stun gun works is by coming into contact with a | | | | be mapped out. The drawback is the need to |
| person; the nerve impulses are shorted out | | | | reload the jettisoning cartridges and re-loop the |
| making it impossible for the body to decipher any | | | | wires of the electrode to be able to fire the |
| electric message causing the body to short out | | | | weapon again. |
| and shut down. The shutting down process of the | | | | With all of the improvements and technological |
| body is what helps in controlling the movements a | | | | advances, these compact and effective self |
| person can do after being targeted. | | | | defense tools have certainly come a long way |
| These non-lethal self defense weapons are | | | | from the long bulky cattle prods used in the |
| effective in what they do and that is to | | | | stockyards in days gone by. Although legal in |
| incapacitate the target. The gun or hand held | | | | most states, be sure to check with your local law |
| device draws its power from a nine-volt battery | | | | enforcement agency before adding them to your |
| hidden within an insulated shell. Connected to the | | | | self defense tool box. |
| battery are wires that lead the charge to mini | | | | |