Pros and Cons of The 3 Most Popular Non-Lethal Self-Defense Weapons
Life today should be safe. And, in regard to the personal safety of the individual walking down the street, whether through city or town, or a trail in the back-woods of the countryside, it is. However, following the old adage of “better safe than sorry” is prudent. Society is learning to apply the precautionary principle to new innovations and policies. So, too, can the individual, to their personal safety, by acquiring and learning how to use self-defense weapons.
There are myriad self-defense weapons from which to choose. The means by which they disable an attacker, the force of their impact, their ease of use and their price varies. The man or woman that makes the decision to purchase a self-defense weapon should be aware of the pros and cons of the most popular choices available to them.
Stun Guns
The term “stun gun” refers to an elecroshock weapon, a small incapacitant device that renders an attacker ineffectual thorough pain and the temporary disruption of superficial muscle function, by delivering a powerful electrical shock. Stun guns may resemble small, hand-held “guns”, or take the form of batons, belts or electrically charged projectiles.
Pros of Stun Guns
• Means of incapacitation. Although stun guns inflict pain, their primary, intended means of incapacitating an attacker is through the “stun” affect – the temporary paralysis of muscle function and resulting confusion caused by the surge of high voltage.
• Cost. Stun guns are inexpensive, often under fifty dollars, making them affordable for most individuals.
• Size and discretion. Stun guns have a small, discreet profile, allowing them to remain hidden in a purse, backpack, pocket or the palm of the hand. Their size means that they are light in weight and can be rapidly deployed. In addition, new fabrication techniques mean that stun guns can be housed in casing that resembles innocuous devices, such as cellular phones, pens and flashlights.
Cons of Stun Guns
• Limited range. This is the primary drawback of stun guns. With the exception of projectile-type devices and the branded Taser product (which fires probes – that embed themselves in an attacker’s skin – attached to flexible wires), stun guns operate only at close range; they must be deployed when the assailant is close enough to touch.
• The chance of being overpowered. If the assailant has a more powerful weapon with a longer reach, long arms or is large in stature, the possibility exists that the victim could be overpowered if relying solely on a stun gun.
• Battery life. Stun guns, through their electronic circuitry, can take the relatively low voltage of one or two batteries and multiply it many times. This means, however, that users must ensure the battery has ample power in it, and carry extra batteries on their person.
Pepper Spray
Pepper spray is a chemical agent that severely irritates the eyes, causing pain, tears and – potentially – temporary blindness. It is derived from the Capsicum family of plants – members of the Nightshade family, which includes hot peppers. Their primary compound, when concentrated and pressurized, makes pepper spray an effective, non-lethal self-defense weapon.
Pros of Pepper Spray
• Portability and discretion. Pepper spray comes in many shapes and sizes; the commonality shared is that they are all small. Pepper spray be carried easily in any sort of bag, pocket – or remain hand-held if travelling in a high-risk area.
• Versatility. Pepper spray comes “disguised” – as lipstick, pens, and even walking-weights, allowing it to be withdrawn at a moment’s notice or held in the hand continuously without drawing undue attention to the user. Some models come with holsters, allowing it to be deployed rapidly, much like a firearm.
• Range of use. Unlike stun guns, pepper spray may be used from distances of 8 feet – or further, up to 20 feet – from the attacker, keeping the victim out of harm’s way and giving them time to escape. Pepper spray canisters are usually multi-use; each unit provides at least several sprays.
• Affordability. Pepper spray is an inexpensive means of arming oneself with a non-lethal weapon. Even police-grade sprays are often found for under thirty dollars.
Cons of Pepper Spray
• Affected by the wind. Although pepper spray can be deployed at a safe distance from an attacker, its nature – that of a pressurized spray – leaves it vulnerable to the wind. If it is a windy day, and especially if the wind is blowing toward the victim or to the left or right of the attacker, the pepper spray’s effective range and accuracy, and the safety of the user, may be reduced.
• Locking mechanisms. Pepper spray may include a locking mechanism – much like the “safety” on a firearm – to prevent accidental discharge. This is an important feature, but one which requires that the user practice disabling it quickly. Panicking during an attack without having adequately practiced how to unlock the safety mechanism and discharge the spray can leave a person more vulnerable.
• Risk of explosion. Some highly pressurized aerosol pepper sprays carry the slight risk of explosion when exposed to high levels of heat or direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time.
The Kubotan
Unlike the last two self-defense weapons discussed, the Kubotan is a close-quarter device which requires direct, forceful contact with an assailant. As such, it is not prone to some of the limitations of stun guns or pepper spray, but requires more training to use competently. The Kubotan is a small stick, typically 5.5” in length, made of a hard material such as molded plastic, with more aggressive variants made of metal, some including blades, knobs or spikes. It can gripped to reinforce the fist while punching, or may be used to inflict direct hits on tender parts of an attacker’s body such as the joints or face, or to apply force to pressure points.
Pros of The Kubotan
• Small in size; easily disguised. Since the Kubotan is essentially nothing more than a rod of hard material, it can function as a keychain, be crafted out of a large, “tactical” pen, or be “created” out of any cylindrical object available: a hairbrush, a writing instrument or a stick of wood. Its small size also means that it is of a light weight and easily carried and stored.
• Reusable. This sort of self-defense weapon requires no external inputs such as batteries or fluids which need replacing. There are no moving parts of electronic components. Thus, it is a renewable, sustainable choice for physically defending oneself which will likely never need replacing.
• Options. Though the basic Kubotan is a hard plastic rod with textured gripping sections, other options – as mentioned – exist, such as harder materials and additional textures and sharp sections, creating a more aggressive form of the weapon.
Cons of the Kubotan
• Close range only. Because the Kubotan is a small tool, the user is limited by its size and the reach of their arm. This, as with a stun gun, means that the attacker has to be quite close for the Kubotan to be effective.
• Training. Any self-defense weapon should be understood and practiced with. The Kubotan’s effectiveness, more than any of the other options discussed above, lies with the ability of the individual wielding it. Any person considering carrying one should expect to devote time to learning the martial arts-like techniques needed to make it work for them; not against them.
More Options
The three self-defense weapons listed – the Stun Gun, Pepper Spray and the Kubotan – are not the only choices available; they are merely the most popular and effective. Other choices include brass knuckles, steel-reinforced gloves, alarms, flashlights with “tactical” bezels (heads with glass-shattering or skin-piercing, scalloped surfaces) and high levels of brightness, and heavy objects.
Self-defense weapons are a viable choice for individuals living in high-risk areas, those who have been, or feel they could be, victims of assault or other crimes, and those who wish to preemptively mitigate a potential threat to their person. Such weapons should, however, be used as a last resort; other strategies to stay safe – keeping to well-lit, low-crime communities and streets, affecting a confident bearing, crossing the road if approaching suspicious characters and not making oneself a target – should be everyday practices. Federal, state and provincial laws should always be consulted prior to purchasing and carrying a self-defense weapon to ensure legality.
by Joseph Morris, guest writer for Today’s Survival Show. His website is, http://www.buy-pepper-spray-today.com/
