Just because the funding model has changed doesn't mean that law enforcement agencies don't have a need for command centers and armored vehicles. And if they're willing to research their options, it doesn't mean the departments and their communities have to go without.

As SWAT team leader for the Junction City (Kan.) Police Department, Officer Thad Jones recognized that his agency and the surrounding area had need for an armored vehicle that could provide Level IV protection. He ruled out applying for a federal grant directly through the government because of the intense competition from so many agencies.

“Taser” is actually the brand name for the weapons now made by Axon. This electro-shock weapon fires tiny probes or darts that are connected to thin wires, causing neuromuscular incapacitation. This pistol-looking device is intended to be used for personal protection because they can reach targets up to 15 feet away, and the probes can emit multiple cycles of electricity of around 50,000 volts.

"We take the cost of the vehicle and have some very competitive interest rates and break it down over a number of years, depending on what the agency is looking for," explains Bob Crowe, government leasing executive at Mears Motor Leasing. "We offer different types of pricing, be it monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual, and let them decide what fits best with their budget."

Are you worried about being physically overpowered? Wondering whether it’s legal to carry a taser or stun gun in Canada for self-defense?

But leasing is a trend that seems to be gaining traction with both agencies and manufacturers because it allows them to follow through on a sale, even if it takes some time to complete the transaction.

If your agency is having difficulty convincing the city council or someone else controlling the purse strings that you have a justified need for a high-priced vehicle, there are several ways to tip the scales in your favor.

The target is struck by the darts, which deliver electricity through the wires, disrupting the neuromuscular system and rendering the target temporarily paralyzed or if overused, potentially rendering them unconscious. The taser causes muscles to contract up to 19 times per second.

Cattle prods are legal stun guns, as long as they are used only for the purpose of a deterrent against animals and are over a length of 480mm. Cattle prods must be used for cattle, to deter dog attacks and so on.

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This is different from an individual leasing a car. Law enforcement agencies lease to own. They don't have to worry about how many miles they put on a leased specialty vehicle or whether it suffers damage. It’s more like a loan spread out over a period of years.

"Now, if we have a situation where someone is armed with up to .50 caliber munitions, we can go into that situation inside the tactical truck and do whatever we need to do, to evacuate injured personnel or civilians, or whatever the situation dictates," Jones says. "Fortunately, thus far we haven’t had a need for that type of protection."

The Armored Group is a specialty vehicle manufacturer that helps law enforcement agencies secure grant funding with the help of an employee dedicated to the task full-time. Contract Manager Edgar McGauley aids agencies in applying for the right grants. These include FEMA grants such as Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grants, State Homeland Security grants if they don't meet the qualifications for UASI, Operation Stonegarden grants for border agencies to beef up their security, and Port Security grants for agencies that deal with protecting ports. The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program (JAG) in the Department of Justice is another option.

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They give the attacker a very painful, high-voltage shock - the pain is temporary but it does not paralyze the entire body like a taser does. At approximately three milliamps, the charge is not strong enough to damage the target’s body unless you hold down the weapon for an excessively long period of time.

If you’re trapped in a car, you can break glass with a Tactical Pen (otherwise known as a windshield breaker). But it's illegal to carry this if you intend to use it as a weapon in Canada, so remember - you will only be carrying this on your person because it's a normal pen.

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Stun guns can only be used by police officers who use them as a non-lethal alternative to firearms. The RCMP are permitted to use stun guns in situations where they feel under threat (according to the Canadian Criminal Code Section 85) and where all other options have been exhausted. This includes verbal communication and empty-hand control techniques, which is a fancy way of saying all techniques that don’t involve any kind of weapon.

Most importantly, if you can prove to your agency and your community that you can obtain a vehicle to meet your needs without breaking the bank, you're well on the way to adding it to your department’s arsenal of tools.

Amortizing costs over a longer period of time means you don't have to take the entire cost of a vehicle out of one year’s budget, which will most likely make the bean counters at your agency and your jurisdiction very happy. It also means if you can spread it out enough, you might not even need a grant. If you can decrease the cost even more by sharing it, all the better.

In Canada, tasers are illegal for civilians to carry as self-defense weapons and are classified as "prohibited weapons." Tasers can only be used by law enforcement for self-defense and crowd control because there are many concerns about the potential harm they can cause when they’re used improperly.

Hide your cash, cards, keys and those little treasures you don't want the world to find. And here's the best part: If needed, when filled with ice, it can serve as a makeshift defense tool. This bottle offers a smart, subtle way to keep your valuables secure while staying hydrated.

Safety whistles in Canada is completely lawful. You can conveniently wear it around your neck or stash it in a handbag or pocket for easy access in case of emergencies.

Another way to get people on your side is to plan to procure a vehicle with additional features your community will benefit from. "We see law enforcement departments looking at their own tactical needs, and then trying to spread that specification a bit so a vehicle has a broader visible base of applicability," says Pollack of Lindstrom Research. Examples include vehicles that can withstand flood waters or roads damaged in earthquakes to aid in rescues following natural disasters. This approach has helped agencies in Florida and California secure funding for much needed vehicles that now serve multiple purposes.

Self-defense keychains are compact, easy-to-carry devices designed for personal protection, either by striking an assailant or creating noise to draw attention.

“Just from my general observation, it seems agencies are leaning more toward using asset forfeiture or equitable sharing funds to purchase these types of vehicles,” says McGauley of The Armored Group. "I personally believe that’s a great idea. That way you have criminals paying for the equipment rather than somebody else."

A taser and a stun gun are similar in terms of the pain they cause to the attacker, but the taser has a greater ability to disrupt muscle movements and prevent an assailant from advancing towards you by paralyzing them. The effects of a taser last less than one hour. Stun gun effects are temporary and end once you stop pressing down the stun gun onto the attacker.

"You see lots of talk about major grants. But other agencies are looking at Department of Justice and state-level grants," says Jerry Pollack of Lindstrom Research. "Widen where you look."

So he instead applied to the Northeast Regional Emergency Management council of Kansas for a grant to purchase one. Junction City P.D. received approval for the vehicle and funds to cover 95% of the cost. His agency provided the remaining funds and covers any maintenance costs. But because the majority of the funding came from a regional grant, the vehicle must be made available to any agency within the region when needed. In fact, it was for a barricade situation at a neighboring agency that the vehicle was first called into action.

In Canada, it's illegal to tell a policeman that you're carrying pepper spray for self-defense. But, you can carry dog spray to use against dogs, wildlife and (ahem) animals. Read our full guide on whether bear spray for self defense in Canada here.

The Homeland Security grants that seemed to grow on trees after 9/11 are not as plentiful as they once were. But that's not to say law enforcement agencies can't obtain grant funding. They just might need to approach it differently.

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In this case it was not enough to explain that an armored vehicle is used to save the lives of officers and civilians. But other agencies have had success making this argument, so it's a conversation worth having.

A taser shock can cause “cardiac arrest” and death, according to a 2012 study. Tasers can impair brain function such as causing reduced verbal learning and memory, but these effects last under an hour. The effects lasted, on average, less than one hour. A stun gun is not lethal but causes a significant amount of pain. There is no permanent damage from a stun gun.

Canada categorizes weapons into “prohibited” and “unprohibited weapons.” And both stun guns and tasers are considered prohibited weapons.

You can read my comprehensive guide on the 10 best self defense tools you can carry, but I've given you a quick rundown below as well.

This was a problem for the University of California, Berkeley Police Department. After going through the entire grant process, they had to turn down the federal grant money for an armored vehicle because campus administrators and city leaders agreed with community members that it might be used to intimidate protestors. Johnson believes in some cases armored vehicles that don’t look overtly military can help ease people's worried minds. And like it or not, getting a grant isn’t worth much if you can't use it.

Stun guns can penetrate clothing due to the high voltage electric shock placed directly on the attacker's body, but very heavy clothing (like thick jackets) will reduce the shock’s effectiveness.

However, if you intend to (and just happen to) be carrying bear spray and you just happen to use it if you get attacked by another person,

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Your every day flashlight can be used as self-defense tool by shining it in an attacker's eyes to blind and disorient them. Flashlights are of course legal to carry in Canada, unlike many other self-defense tools. This means that you can have one on hand at all times in your bag without worrying about breaking the law.

Sometimes the term “stun gun” and “taser” gets used interchangeably because they’re both conducted-energy weapons, but let’s break down the many differences.

Stun guns are for close range combat and have metal prongs at the top of the device. They are block-shaped like an electric shaver, but you can find them concealed in the form of a torch, phone or flashlight.

"If you plan to share one of these vehicles with the department next to you and lease it for seven years, the cost suddenly becomes supportable and in reach," says Jerry Pollack of Lindstrom Research Company.

'I think it is an excellent idea for multi-jurisdictional teams to pool their funding together like we did," says Jones, who organized all aspects of the vehicle's purchase and upfitting. "If it wasn't for the Geary County (Kan.) Sheriff's Department we wouldn't have as much equipment in the truck as we do now. They helped fund the cost for the radios."

After 9/11, Homeland Security grants became the default way for agencies to purchase expensive equipment they couldn't pay for themselves. Cash-strapped agencies need outside funding sources now more than ever, as they find themselves spending what money they have on overtime pay and the bare necessities instead of purchasing equipment. But the federal government isn't flush with cash, either, and such grants can be hard to come by. The good news is there are many different ways to secure funding for a specialty vehicle needed in your jurisdiction if you're willing to entertain new ideas.

The U.S. government allots so much money per state for Homeland Security to be distributed as each state deems necessary. In Kansas, the money is divvied up among different regions, and each regional council determines how the funds will be administered.

If your agency doesn’t have access to these funds or they won't cover enough of the cost, seeking donations is another option. Several clients of The Armored Group have approached people who belong to golf clubs, or other places where affluent citizens gather, to plead their case. They explain that if there is a major incident in the jurisdiction, an armored vehicle will improve the chances of resolving it more quickly and with less loss of life. Johnson says agencies he’s spoken with have had some success raising money this way.

While proven versatility won't likely make you eligible for additional grants, it might put you higher on the list to get grant approval, says Pollack. And it could definitely sway community members to support your cause.

"We provide leasing for all vehicles and most equipment being used by law enforcement agencies around the country," says Crowe. "We've even leased out the unmanned drone helicopters used for surveillance."

Jones' agency was able to cover the remaining $5,000 needed to purchase an armored vehicle with asset forfeiture funds obtained through drug enforcement operations.

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Officers are trained to use all energy-conducting weapons are only supposed to use them when a person is “causing, or may soon cause, themselves or someone else harm.”

Be aware that not all companies can provide leasing options on their vehicles, however. "A lot of them don't have the wherewithal to float the money out over a period of years," says Crowe. "They put all the money that they have into building the truck, and then they need to recoup that money so that they can build the next round."

Using the stun gun for ½ a second causes a moment of pain. Zapping one to two seconds causes muscle spasms and confusion. A zap that’s longer than three seconds disorients and causes great temporary pain to the attacker.

Taking out a loan on a portion of your vehicle’s cost is another way to finish footing the bill. But if you didn't receive all of the grant money you asked for, another option to consider is purchasing a vehicle with the money you did receive.

The Homeland Security grants that seemed to grow on trees after 9/11 are not as plentiful as they once were. But that's not to say law enforcement agencies can't obtain grant funding for specialty vehicles. They just might need to approach it differently.

"Those grants usually go to agencies with higher priorities and more demographics," Jones says. "Our city has 25,000 to 30,000 residents. For the area, we're on the bigger end, but for the U.S. we’re on the smaller end of the scale."

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You may be tempted to carry one in your handbag, but personal stun guns are illegal in Canada, and if you possess one, this is considered a criminal offense and possession of a weapon.

If you're going to work with other agencies, Jones does suggest designating one point person to streamline the process. "If you get too many people involved, information can get lost and confused," he cautions.

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It is illegal to use them on a person, or intended to be used on a person, as then they become a prohibited weapon in accordance with the Criminal Code of Canada.

"The grant process involves not only getting the grant, but also selling your brass on it," says Johnson of The Armored Group. "I've seen teams get approval for grants, but have it get shot down by the chief, sheriff, board, mayor, etc., because of worrying about other people's perceptions. You’ve got to have everybody on board."

If you worry your agency can't come up with all of the money to purchase a specialty vehicle, try asking other departments in your area to go in on it with you. While Junction City P.D. didn't seek help from other agencies to purchase the vehicle itself, a neighboring jurisdiction did pay for additional equipment. Considering all agencies in the region benefit from this vehicle, this approach makes sense for all involved.

Canadian law enforcement have strict guidelines and training programs in place for using tasers. The RCMP have to re-certify every year to continue carrying a “conducted energy weapon.”

"Some agencies might not even put in for a grant, because they think the dollar amount you have to ask for is too high," laments McGauley of The Armored Group. But he says that's just not true, at least for his company, which works with other manufacturers to create customized vehicles that work around an agency's budget. "If they put in a request for a wrap-around protective vehicle for $100,000 and they get it approved, we can build them one that carries 10 guys and has more features than they'd expect," he says. “Rather than offering set tier packages like a grocery store, we're like a sandwich shop. You tell us what you want and we’ll put it together."