You might also ask: how does this actually make you feel about a stun gun for home defense? Even though stun guns give some level of security and can even scare off attackers, they often fall short in situations where you need to stop an aggressor.

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Have you thought about which self-defense tool might be best for your home? When it comes to protecting yourself and your loved ones, you definitely want the most helpful and reliable option - their safety may depend on it.

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Jordan lamented that it took the prodding of lawmakers and advocates to get the state to implement the system. She maintains the state could have done it without being propped up by legislation.

When it comes to how well stun guns and tasers work in real-life home defense scenarios, you need to look at things like their range, their effects, and of course, their reliability. Stun guns, just to repeat this quick point, only cause short-term pain and they don't always stop attackers. That can make them less helpful in real confrontations.

Since the barcode system went into place 3 1/2 weeks ago, 14 sexual assault survivors have been given anonymous passwords to track their barcoded evidence kit. They’ve already logged in 90 times, Brown said.

A taser is a type of weapon that shoots out two electrified probes. These probes are made to break through the skin and deliver an electric shock since - this shock can stop a person by interfering with their muscle control. A stun gun needs you to be up close and touch the attacker for it to work, but a Taser can be fired from up to 15 feet away. So, this distance can be a big plus in a tense situation where keeping away from danger can be the difference between safety and injury.

Why not check out Byrna Canada for your self-defense needs? Check us out at Byrna.ca. We have a great self-defense catalog, and you can enjoy free shipping on all launcher orders. Your peace of mind is closer than you think, so make a smart choice today for a safer tomorrow!

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Ultimately, your choice will depend on your situation, your budget, and your local laws. That brings me to my next point:

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Law enforcement can carry and use these devices, but they have to follow strict rules. Officers must have the right training and certification. Their use of stun guns or tasers is controlled by specific guidelines to make sure they use them correctly! Just to give you an example, officers must give verbal warnings, and they can only use these devices when they think someone is about to cause them immediate harm.

“It’s very easy for these kits to get lost when there’s no accountability,” the Democratic governor said. “That needs to change, and it changes today.”

Angela Wharton said she was raped at gunpoint in Baltimore in 1996, and it took courage to undergo a forensic exam after the attack.

When it comes to maintenance and reusability, stun guns usually come with rechargeable batteries, which you can plug in to recharge them. You can plug some into the wall directly. Tasers need new cartridges after each use, and that means different costs and training habits.

The barcode system has been years in the making in Maryland, even as dozens of other states have implemented tracking systems.

In Canada, there's something important you need to know: both stun guns and Tasers are not allowed by law, and they have banned weapons under section 84(1) of the Canadian Criminal Code and its rules.

“My body was a literal crime scene, but I endured it,” she said. “I endured it with the hope that justice would prevail and my perpetrator would be held accountable for his heinous actions.” She learned years later that the evidence had been “callously discarded,” an action that re-victimized her, leaving her to feel powerless.

Both stun guns and tasers have their limits and should be part of a strong general self-defense plan since this plan should also be about being aware of your surroundings and about physical training. Even the best tool can fail when needed most if you don't get the right training.

“There were many times where I would sit in these meetings and I would think: ‘Wow, there’s really going to be accountability about whether police and prosecutors are doing their jobs.’ And as you heard, that includes me,” said Shellenberger, a Democrat.

Let's weigh the pros and cons. Stun guns are often cheap and very easy to use without needing much training, and they are small and easy to carry and store. But, their general effectiveness is still a hotly debated topic.

He continued: “But then as I would listen to folks, I realized that’s exactly what we needed to do. There needs to be accountability, and that’s what this tracking system will do.”

What does this mean for you? It means that having or carrying these weapons is against the law and can result in some serious legal problems. If you get caught with a stun gun or taser, you could face either a minor offense or a serious crime - the punishment could be jail time for up to five years.

State Sen. Shelly Hettleman was inspired to push for better testing and tracking after reading a news article about a woman who was brutally sexually assaulted, including with a beer bottle, but was so traumatized by the exam and how she was treated by Baltimore County Police that she dropped the case. When she sought to reopen the investigation later on, she learned the evidence was destroyed.

Safety tips and precautions should be top of your mind. You definitely want to make sure you're protecting yourself while also preventing any accidental harm.

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Let's talk about the legal factors. Before you choose to buy a stun gun, you need to know the specific rules in your area. In some places, owning or carrying a stun gun might be limited or might need a permit. Always be sure you follow your local laws to avoid any serious legal problems. Usually, though, if you are at home, these are legal to own. Things get harder when it comes to carrying them around town or into government buildings.

Stun guns and tasers are both popular decisions for non-lethal home defense in many countries. Both tools have a strong history of use by both law enforcement and everyday people, and they give great peace of mind during dangerous situations.

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With the new tracking system, she hopes that survivors will be taken seriously and the evidence in their cases will be handled properly.

Unfortunately, the laws in Canada are very strict regarding tasers and stun guns. That means there are some legal considerations to discuss, too.

What about the downsides? First, the legal rules - many places have specific laws about owning and carrying Tasers. These laws can change depending on where you live, so you have to check what's allowed in your area. We'll talk about that more in a minute.

Now, you should think about the money side; stun guns are usually quite a bit cheaper (starting under $25) while Tasers can cost $400 or more. Your final choice might depend on your budget and what features you need, like range or the ability to stop muscles.

Michigan was the first state to create a tracking system in 2014, according to End the Backlog, an initiative of the nonprofit Joyful Heart Foundation that advocates for clearing backlogs of untested evidence kits and implementing policies to prevent future backlogs.

Since then, Hettleman, a Baltimore County Democrat, has sponsored legislation and pushed for reforms to test and track evidence kits.

First, when it comes to stun gun for home defense, you need to know how it works and what you realistically can expect. I believe knowing these important details helps you make an informed decision.

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The lines and numbers, ubiquitous in our lives for tracking packages and making purchases, will be applied to sexual assault evidence kits, enabling better tracking through labs and courts. Survivors, for the first time, will be able to check the status of their evidence and advocate for themselves if their case appears to be stalled.

“This groundbreaking initiative represents a real hope for survivors like me, who have endured the anguish of having their trauma dismissed and their pursuit of justice thwarted by a system that failed to protect and serve,” she said.

So, is spending more money and dealing with possible legal issues worth it for the safety of being able to stop a threat from far away? Usually, only in certain situations. Police carry tasers, but it's carried in combination with pepper spray, a firearm, de-escalation training, martial arts training, and other helpful tools.

The contract was awarded to InVita Healthcare Technologies, for up to seven years for a total of $2.1 million. Federal grants will pay for it.

I recommend you enroll in a training course to help with your confidence and skills with these tools. When you know exactly how they work, you'll also get their effectiveness and the steps to handle them responsibly.

The shock from a stun gun works only briefly and usually needs steady contact since this makes it tough to sustain during a tense situation - you'll want to use it and get away fast.

There's a reason police carry them, too. It's a great option for when words fail, but when you also don't want to use lethal force - that's where less-lethal options come into play.

If you are searching for strong self-defense options, Byrna Canada is a great option. We are a favorite provider of legal and less-lethal options in Canada!

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Maryland began formally discussing the idea of a barcode tracking system in 2017, when a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Policy and Funding Committee was created. By 2019, the state started an inventory of just how many evidence kits existed, work that was stalled in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, said Carisa Hatfield, an assistant attorney general who advises the committee.

Outside of the police and prosecutors, currently only survivors are able to access the system to track the progress and location of an evidence kit. While the system launch is “a huge step forward,” the state needs to expand access to sexual assault crisis programs and child advocacy centers, as required by the 2023 law.

Tasers are a bit different; they cause neuromuscular incapacitation, and that means they stop an attacker temporarily. Their success depends on the distance between you and the attacker. It also helps if both darts hit the target - and if they don't, it's not going to work well at all. Tasers also require some training.

The handling and responsibility are a big part of safety here. You need to try to use these devices correctly to avoid getting unintentional injuries for yourself and others. Correct storage technique is also a good idea, too, and may even be by law in your state. Always keep the devices away from unauthorized access - especially if you have kids at your home.

So, unfortunately, a stun gun or taser for self-defense is not allowed in Canada. You can look into other legal ways to protect yourself, like personal alarms or pepper spray (both of which we sell). But turning to a stun gun or taser for self-defense could result in criminal charges, and this makes them a poor choice for Canadians. It's not worth the consequences.

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Del. J. Sandy Bartlett, an Anne Arundel County Democrat, said the new system is “a step in the right direction” to help survivors, who need to be better empowered and supported as they navigate the criminal justice system.

If you weigh the pros and cons, one big plus of a Taser is its range. You can stop an attacker without getting close, and that might save you in dangerous situations. But, tasers are usually more expensive than stun guns - and that cost might turn some people away. Besides, there could be legal issues if you use a Taser the wrong way or without good reason.

Picking between a stun gun and a Taser depends on your preferences, what makes you feel most comfortable, and whether you live in Canada or not.

With all these important points, it's clear that even though stun guns have their upsides, their limits in range and how well they actually work is an important point to make.

So, how does a taser control an attacker? The magic is in its ability to cause the muscles to lock up. When the probes hit the person, they cut off the link between the muscles and the brain. That alone causes a temporary loss of muscle control - and this effect makes Tasers a good choice for anyone wanting to stop a threat from a safe distance.

Maryland officials hope a simple barcode will help survivors of sexual assault navigate a confusing criminal justice system that historically has often been hostile to those who have endured traumatic and invasive attacks.

Scott Shellenberger, the longtime state’s attorney in Baltimore County, acknowledged as much. The county has been repeatedly accused in the past of mishandling sexual assault complaints. But the county also has taken steps toward improvement, including recently announcing plans to test thousands of slides of evidence frozen by Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

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And that’s where more work needs to be done, said Lisae Jordan, executive director of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

How exactly does this change your decision? A stun gun is it needs direct, physical contact. Tasers can stop an attacker from much farther away, but stun guns only work close. That's not ideal in a home defense situation, where keeping some distance is extremely important for your safety. A stun gun will not necessarily avoid an attacker from striking you or causing you harm, either.

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A stun gun is a "less-lethal" tool made specifically to temporarily stop an attacker by giving them a high-voltage shock. The device has two small electrodes that need to touch the attacker directly since this then makes an electric circuit and causes pain and muscle contractions as the electricity flows to your attacker.

Again, stun guns are only effective with close-up encounters, which makes them a little more dangerous. Even then, how well they work depends quite a bit on your physical ability and other personal factors, too.

It took until 2022 to complete that work and then it wasn’t until 2023 that the state solicited companies to provide a tracking system. “Once we had it, we moved as quickly as we could,” Hatfield said.

Pepper spray guns, though, have a much longer-lasting effect. Not only can you keep your distance, but it also makes it difficult for your attacker to see or breathe. That also makes it harder for them to attack or chase you.

Maryland’s system will require barcodes on new evidence kits, as well as several thousand kits in storage that have not been tested, officials said. The older kits are required to be entered into the barcode system by the end of 2025.

“This kit is a promise of justice,” Attorney General Anthony Brown said at the State House on Thursday, holding up a large white envelope. “However for too many victims and survivors, in too many communities — not only here in Maryland, but across the country — when kits left hospital rooms, victims were left with nothing but questions. Where’s my evidence kit? When does justice come?”

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In 2023, Hettleman and Bartlett passed a bill setting standards for how the tracking system will be used. “It wasn’t good enough to build it,” Hettleman said. “We actually have to hold stakeholders accountable for interacting with it.”

There are lots of real incidents where homeowners used stun guns to scare off an intruder. In one, the sudden pain made the intruder jump back - but it didn't completely stop him. Thankfully, the homeowner (who had to use the stun gun multiple times) created an opening to escape since this shows how a stun gun can sometimes fall short of completely stopping the attacker. Things like body weight, genetics, the brand of a stun gun, the charge, and whether or not the attacker has drugs in their system - all those variables can affect the efficacy of stun guns.

You need to know how to use these devices safely, too, and knowing the specific guidelines for stun guns and tasers makes a huge difference. Just to give you an example, did you know that tasers can actually reach up to 15 feet? This is good info!