Moving from the affordability of stun guns, we shift focus to Tasers. These devices offer something invaluable: safety from a distance but each device does have an effect range. . With the ability to fire up to 15 feet away, a Taser puts space between you and a threat.

Tasers are stunning devices that allow  you to stop trouble from a safe space away - they give you safety plus power without getting too close to the attacker.

Research on the safety of Tasers has primarily been conducted on animals, rather than humans. When research has been conducted on humans, they have been deemed medically healthy. While Tasers may be used without injury on some individuals, there are vulnerable populations on whom Tasers should be used with caution. A 2004 review of Taser technology by British Columbia’s police complaint commissioner indicated that risk factors for death by Taser include drug-induced toxic states (cocaine, alcohol, etc.) and “acute psychiatric decompensation.”14

Ever found yourself walking home alone at night, keys in one hand and pepper spray in the other, wishing you had something like a backup plan for protection?

A May 2008 review published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal contradicts previous assertions that “stun guns” manufactured by Taser International and others are unlikely to impact with deadly force. The authors reference three independent investigations that have found that stun guns may, in some circumstances, stimulate the heart and potentially result in adverse consequences.16 They recommend that additional research with human subjects is required.

Amnesty International indicates that international standards and codes of conduct for law enforcement officials prescribe that the deployment of non-lethal weapons require standard evaluation and control of use protocols.13

The basic differences are the cost, portability, operation, and range. .A stun gun needs you to be up close and personal because it works by direct contact. On the flip side, a taser can reach out and touch someone from a distance, up to 15 feet away. It shoots out wires that deliver the shock. Aside from the range, another important consideration is the cost.

Getting into how tasers work... imagine throwing a spider web that zaps at your target. It shoots wires from a distance that stick to someone and deliver electric shocks directly to their muscles, making them take an involuntary break. Stun guns are more hands-on – literally. You have to press them against the person for them to do their thing.

So, there you have it. The cost comparison is a bit like deciding between a budget-friendly meal or a fine dining experience. Except, you know, with electric shock devices instead of food.

Consider other self-defense weapons too like pepper spray which also can operate from a distance and even mark your attacker with invisible UV dye that clings to the attacker’s skin and clothes for up to 48 hours for easy identification by police officers.

Taser gun

…that there is a distinct lack of research nationally and internationally that thoroughly examines the connection between CEW use, excited delirium and the likelihood of death. Medical research is still in the early stages of reviewing this condition. What little is known of this condition suggest the need for a more conservative course of action with respect to the deployment of CEWs against vulnerable populations (people experiencing mental health crises, those suffering from drug toxicity and those exhibiting symptoms of excited delirium). The research suggests that these populations have a higher likelihood of death, not necessarily as a result of the use of force or restraint employed, but because of the mental or medical condition of the person at the time of police intervention.15

TASER self defense

Tasers can hit a target from far away. They have prongs that shoot out, reaching an attacker up to 15 feet (about 4.5 meters) away. This means you don't have to be close to stop someone who is coming at you.

Pocket taser

Both tools bring different strengths to the table depending on how close danger gets. Whether keeping trouble at arm's length or dealing with it right in your face, there's something available for those moments when backing down isn't an option.

Unlike stun guns' pain-based approach, TASERs take over control, causing muscles to tighten up without waiting for directions from the brain. It's like hijacking someone's remote control car—you press buttons and now you're in charge.

There are unique features in both stun guns and tasers that make them stand out. Stun guns are easier more affordable and easier to carry around such as Blingsting’s skinny lipstick - think of them as the go-to gadget for quick self-defense.

You also have to consider that for TASERs, it's not just about buying the gadget itself. You also need the ammo cartridges too. The cartridge is for one time use, so you need to load a new cartridge but there are models that can hold to to three cartridges.

Consider other means of self-defense tools for added security and protection as well such as a pepper spray which operates from a distance of 12 feet.

Llet's just say they both have their own "charm." A taser can knock you off your feet with its long-distance love tap because it messes with your nerve signals big time. Stun guns don't send you flying since they're all about local pain.

Stun guns need you to be up close and personal because they work by touching the person you want to shock. Imagine trying to use a stun baton in a tight spot - it's all about getting right there with the device pressed against someone.

And since they're smaller and less pricey, it's no sweat to keep one around for peace of mind. Whether it’s at home or when you’re out and about, having this tool means you’re always ready to protect yourself without spending tons of money.

All police officers in Ontario must have basic training in use of force. The Ontario Use of Force Model (2004) directs that officers shall continuously assess each encounter and select the most reasonable option for action, relative to the circumstance.8 The use of force continuum provides guidelines to incremental increases in use of force. The five stages of the continuum are: officer presence, verbal communication, physical control, intermediate weapons (using non-lethal chemical, electronic or impact weapons on an individual) and lethal force (using any force likely to cause permanent injury or death).

Getting your hands on a stun gun is pretty easy too. They're legal in almost all states with the exception of Rhode Island.

Stun guns work by touching someone with the end of the device. This sends a high voltage, low amperage electric shock into them. The shock messes up the way messages move between muscles and the brain.

Taser Amazon

The symptoms associated with excited delirium, while not a true mental health condition included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), appear to be similar to some of the behavioural symptoms exhibited by individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.

With a stun gun, you have to touch the person you want to stop. Yes, literally touch them. On the flip side, tasers can reach out and "touch" someone from a distance.

Tasers shoot out to 15 to 25 feet.  Stun guns, on the other hand, need you right up against the other person. You have to touch them with it for it to work.

It is estimated that there have been 270 deaths worldwide, including 17 Canadian deaths, proximal to Taser use since 1999.5 It is not possible to accurately count deaths, as there is no independent central registry in existence to monitor incidents and adverse events, and there remains controversy, as there is no conclusive proof that Tasers directly cause death. Many police services, coroners and researchers are suggesting Taser-associated deaths may be related to a condition referred to as “excited delirium,” but no conclusive evidence has yet been established. The Canadian Police Research Centre describes excited delirium as a potentially fatal state of extreme mental and physiological excitement that is characterized by extreme agitation, hyperthermia, hostility, exceptional strength, and endurance without apparent fatigue.6 This condition was first described as early as 1982, when investigators were examining unexplained deaths due to physical restraint by police.7 It has been hypothesized that excited delirium generates an extreme state of physiological arousal that places individuals at greater risk of death.

Conducted energy weapons (CEWs), commonly referred to as Tasers, were introduced to Canadian law enforcement agencies starting in 2001. Tasers are hand-held weapons that send a jolt of electricity intended to stun and temporarily incapacitate an individual’s motor nervous system. The charge is delivered through a pair of wires, weighted with barbed hooks, that can be fired from up to 10.6 metres away and will penetrate clothing up to five centimetres thick.1

Stun gun vs Taser

The Taser is one of several use-of-force weapons that police officers may use to subdue or restrain an individual, to reduce the risk of injury or death to both the individual and the responding officer. The Taser is often represented as an alternative to the use of lethal force by police.

Stun guns are great for self-defense because they don't cost too much. You can find on average at $20 and upwards. That's way lower cost  than Tasers, which can run from $399 consumer grade to a whopping $1,599.99 for the professional grade used by law enforcers. Plus, you don't need special ammo cartridges like with a Taser, making stun guns easier on your wallet over time.

Yes, you read that right. Stun guns can be easy on the pocket, starting at about $20. As for TASERs, they cost a bit more,  It can cost anywhere between $379.99 for the consumer-grade model, to $1000 or even more for the professional grade version used by police.

There are no comprehensive national or provincial records regarding how many police officers are carrying Tasers. Most police services are not publicly reporting incidents involving Taser use and outcomes.

In January 2007, the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service announced that it would arm police patrolling Vancouver’s TransLink public transit system with Tasers.10 After reviewing ten cases of Taser deployment on the transit system, accessed under freedom of information legislation, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association identified four cases where there appeared to be no significant threat to individual or public safety. One case involved the use of a Taser when the suspect attempted to flee for fare evasion.11 This practice is concerning and may set a precedent in other provinces.

Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario is concerned about the use and safety of Tasers, as well as the propensity of law enforcement officials to deploy Tasers on people experiencing a mental health crisis or demonstrating signs of emotional distress.

A number of barriers have been identified that pose challenges to police dealing with people who have a mental illness.21 These include not having advance information from dispatch that the person may have a mental illness, or what they might expect upon arrival at the scene. More fundamentally, lack of adequate education about mental illness is a reality that impacts police officers’ ability to carry out their work with this vulnerable population. Police require customized training regarding how to identify situations involving mental illness, as well as how to communicate and intervene so as to minimize the use of force and maximize the likelihood that individuals with a mental illness are able to access the services they require. Evidence suggests that identifying a specific group of police officers to receive training and respond to mental health crisis is most beneficial, as these individuals will then have the mandate to utilize and update their skills on a regular basis.22

According to a recent backgrounder by the CBC, Tasers are being used by 73 law enforcement agencies across Canada. Most mid-size police forces use these stun guns between 50 to 60 times a year on average, reports the CBC, based on figures compiled by the Canadian Police Research Centre.1The RCMP has 2,840 Tasers and has trained 9,132 officers to use them. They have been deployed more than 3,000 times since December 2001, in either drive stun mode (when electrodes on the Taser transmit electrical energy on contact with a subject’s body) or in full deployment (when darts are fired at a subject).2 Following a pilot study by the Toronto Police Service, Ontario’s Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services approved the Taser for use by Ontario police services in January 2005. In 2007, Tasers were used 264 times in Toronto, in either drive stun mode or full deployment,3 up from 97 times in 2006.4 The Taser was used an additional 140 times in 2007 as a “demonstrated force presence,” a deterrent measure where a spark is generated or the laser sighting system activated without any contact to the subject.

On the other hand, stun guns ask for a bit more bravery since you need to touch the attacker with it. This closeness can feel risky, but it also allows for precise control over where you apply the shock.

Stun guns are more affordable and easier to carry around; it works on direct contact with the attacker, while Tasers, cost way more considering the cost of the gadget and the cartridge and are usually bulkier than stun guns, but they can operate from a distance from about 15 feet for the consumer grade and up to 35 feet for the professional grade.

Taser for women

So if you are curious about stun guns and Tasers,  they may seem similar because both give an electric shock to help protect yourself. But how they work and where you can use them from, learn more about the differences.

Tasersnear me

These conducted electrical weapons help de-escalate potentially harmful situations safely and effectively from afar. They also provide home defense without requiring close-quarters combat.

Some people with a mental illness who are in crisis will come in contact with police officers. Section 17 of Ontario’s Mental Health Act, R.S.O. 1990, gives police officers the authority to bring someone to a medical facility for assessment if the officer has “reasonable and probable grounds” to believe a person has acted in a “disorderly manner” if the person is believed to have a mental disorder, has threatened or attempted to harm themselves, has behaved violently or caused someone to fear bodily harm, or has shown an inability to care for themselves.20

Many people look for effective self-defense tools that won't break the bank or require years of martial arts training to use effectively. Here's where stun guns and TASERs come into play—two options that might make would-be attackers think twice.

Ontario’s Use of Force Model does not make allowance or offer guidance to police officers when encountering individuals who may be experiencing a mental health crisis and by virtue of their condition may not appear cooperative, due to hallucinations, delusions or other symptoms. However, other options are available, and mental health crisis intervention is the preferred approach for police to de-escalate such encounters.

TASERs, on the other hand, have a bit more tech behind them. They shoot out two prongs connected to wires that reach up to 15 feet away. When these prongs stick into someone or their clothes, they send electric shocks down those wires right into the attacker's nervous system.

Conducted Energy Weapons (commonly known as Tasers) are one of several use-of-force weapons that police may use to subdue or restrain an individual. CMHA Ontario is concerned about the use and safety of Tasers, as well as the propensity of law enforcement officials to deploy them on people experiencing a mental health crisis. This paper identifies our position on use of Tasers and recommends first response alternatives police can use to engage with people experiencing a mental health crisis. (June, 2008)

Now let's talk money because who doesn't watch their wallet? Typically, tasers will make your bank account weep more than buying a stun gun would. So there’s that fun fact for anyone keeping score on safety versus spending.

This finding is especially significant given increased cardiovascular vulnerability among people with serious mental illness. People with a mental illness appear to be at greater risk of developing irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia)17 and coronary heart disease.18 In addition, people taking antipsychotic medication have been found to have a 2.4 times greater risk of sudden cardiac arrest and death.19

There are a variety of ways in which the police and the mental health system can work together to manage first-response situations, in which the police are called to deal with an incident involving a person who appears to be mentally ill:

In reviewing the available literature, the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP examining RCMP use of Tasers determined:

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has prepared guidelines for police programs and services for people with mental illness and the mental health system, that include, but are not limited to, developing effective and compassionate crisis response.24

Ultimately, the decision to protect yourself with these self defense tools will come down to all these features considered. Cost, accessibility, and range.

Think of it like a loud noise scrambling your thoughts so you can't focus. That's what happens to someone's body when hit by a stun gun—they can't move well because their muscle communication lines are all jumbled.

Picking between a stun gun or a TASER comes down to what feels right for your pocketbook and personal sense of security. Both aim to protect without lasting harm - which is pretty cool when thinking about keeping danger at bay without causing forever damage.

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This article will break down those differences like how they work, how far they can zap an aggressor, and which hurts more (spoiler: they both hurt enough). Walk with me through this electric maze; it’s shocking how interesting this stuff is!

Tasers are different; they send out probes that can hit a target from far away. You don't have to be next door neighbors with the guy causing trouble. Just aim, shoot, and those taser prongs do their job without needing you to reach out and touch somebody.

Some police services in Ontario have received training and participate in mental health crisis intervention teams. These teams consist of police officers and mental health workers acting together to respond to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. This partnering offers the expertise of both professions.

So, you're scratching your head thinking about stun guns and tasers? They may seem like the same thing, but they have a few key differences. One difference between them is how close you need to be to use them effectively.

Complaints have been issued against the RCMP and other police services claiming deployment of Tasers to subdue or gain compliance. The Commissioner for Public Complaints Against the RCMP has identified that Tasers are being used to subdue resistant subjects who do not pose a threat, and has referred to this expanded and less restrictive use as “usage creep.”9

Whichever you choose, both tools have rules for being fair and clear about how they're used. It's key to know what you're dealing with and follow laws.

Each police service in Ontario is currently governed by different protocols and policies concerning the number of times a Taser may be deployed. However, the Canadian Police Research Centre noted in their 2005 study that “…police officers need to be aware of the adverse effects of multiple, consecutive cycles of CEDs [Tasers] on a subject…”12

Think of it as having to get close enough to tag someone in a game of high-stakes tag – only this time, your "tag" packs a powerful zap meant to protect you.

Tasersfor sale

Misuse can land you in hot water so remember to check on local laws.  And remember: effectiveness varies from person-to-person due to other factors like clothing thickness, battery life, or cartridge refills. Always good practice having backup plans (like pepper spray) and knowing how to use these tools responsibly.

Alright, let's talk money. You know, that thing we all wish we had more of? Especially when we're considering our safety tools like stun guns and TASERs. It's like, do I buy groceries this week, or do I invest in a device that'll keep me safe? Tough choices, right?

Tasers send out two darts attached by wires back to the device that then sends electrical pulses through those wires into the target. This method allows for effective use over distances, making it easier and safer for someone—especially women seeking self-protection—to stop an attacker without coming into direct contact with them.