Optical or electro-optical systems detect either the physical phenomenon of the muzzle flash of a bullet being fired or the heat caused by the friction of the bullet as it moves through the air. Such systems require a line of sight to the area where the weapon is being fired or the projectile while it is in motion. Although a general line of sight to the shot event is required, detections are sometimes available as the infrared flash event bounces off surrounding structures. Just like acoustic-based systems, electro-optical systems can generally be degraded by specialized suppression devices that minimize their sound or optical signatures.

As of 2016, detection systems were deployed to a number of cities, including Baltimore, Maryland Bellwood, Illinois; Birmingham, Alabama; Boston; Canton, Ohio[citation needed]; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Chicago; Hartford;[8] Kansas City; Los Angeles; Milwaukee; Minneapolis; New Bedford, Massachusetts; Oakland; Omaha; San Francisco; Springfield, Massachusetts;[9] Washington, D.C.; Wilmington, North Carolina;[10] New York City;[11] Integration with cameras that point in the direction of gunfire when detected is also implemented.[9] As of 2014, utility sites in the USA use 110 systems.[12] San Antonio, Texas discontinued its $500,000 ShotSpotter service, after finding it had only resulted in four arrests[13] and seven weapons confiscated in the 15 months it has been in operation.[14]

Answer: While stun guns are effective, having a backup tool like pepper spray or a personal alarm is wise in case of device failure. Check out our guide on building a personal safety toolkit.

By now most of us understand that we live in a world of potential violence, a place of unpredictable human behavior, unexplainable aggression, and blindsided attacks. When it comes to personal protection and self-defense, the avenue we choose should be a personal preference and will be different for each of us. On this page, we discuss the best options for a stun gun for women, listing what we believe to be your best options and detailing what you need to know.

Another method of classifying gunfire uses "temporal pattern recognition," as referred by its developer, that employs artificial neural networks that are trained and then listen for a sound signature in acoustic events. Like other acoustic sensing systems, they are fundamentally based on the physics of acoustics, but they analyze the physical acoustic data using a neural network. Information in the network is coded in terms of variation in the sequence of all-or-none (spike) events, or temporal patterns, transmitted between artificial "neurons". Identifying the nonlinear input/output properties of neurons involved in forming memories for new patterns and developing mathematical models of those nonlinear properties enable the identification of specific types of sounds. These neural networks can then be trained as "recognizers" of a target sound, like a gunshot, even in the presence of high noise[citation needed].

Most stand-alone systems have been designed for military use where the goal is immediately alerting human targets so they may take evasive and/or neutralization action. Such systems generally consist of a small array of microphones separated by a precise small distance. Each microphone hears the sounds of gunfire at minute differences in time, allowing the system to calculate the range and bearing of the origin of the gunfire relative to the system. Military systems generally rely on both the muzzle blast and projectile shockwave "snap" sounds to validate their classification of gunfire and to calculate the range to the origin.

Answer: Fear is natural, but preparation helps. Regular practice and mental visualization can boost your confidence. Read our blog post on overcoming fear in self-defense situations for actionable tips.

Electro-optical detection systems currently tested (2011) can process the incoming shot signatures at very fast speeds, providing an excellent method not only to discriminate between weapon firings and other non-gunshot events but also to identify categories, characteristics, and sometimes specific weapon types automatically.

The Element of Surprise Works in Your Favor: Most attackers expect their victims to be passive. Utilizing a stun gun, pepper spray, or another self-defense tool can catch them off guard and give you precious time to escape.

When it comes to self-defense, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Your safety strategy should be tailored to your specific lifestyle, comfort level, and the environments you frequent. Whether you prefer the up-close power of a stun gun, the range of a Taser, or the ease of pepper spray, each tool has its unique benefits. We’ve covered everything from how stun guns work, to comparing different self-defense tools, and even the legal considerations you need to be aware of.

Gunshot location systems generally require one or more sensing modalities to detect either the fact that a weapon has been fired or to detect the projectile fired by the weapon. To date, sound, vibration and visual or infrared light have successfully been used as sensing technologies. Both applications can be implemented to detect gunfire under static and dynamic conditions. Most police-related systems can be permanently mounted, mapped and correlated as the sensors remain in place for long periods. Military and SWAT actions, on the other hand, operate in more dynamic environments requiring a fast setup time or a capability to operate while the sensors are on move.

Gunshot location systems are used by public safety agencies as well as military/defense agencies. They have been used primarily in dispatch centers for rapid reaction to gunfire incidents. In military/defense, they are variously known as counter-sniper systems, weapons detection and location systems, or other similar terms. Uses include alerting potential human targets to take evasive action, to direct force response to neutralize threats, including automated weapon cuing.

Answer: A stun gun requires close physical contact, while a Taser shoots projectiles up to 15 feet away. Both devices are non-lethal but serve different purposes. Learn more about their differences in our in-depth comparison guide.

Answer: The best stun gun depends on your lifestyle and self-defense requirements. Consider factors like size, voltage, safety features, and ease of use. Check out our stun gun comparison chart for recommendations tailored to women.

Urban areas typically exhibit diurnal noise patterns where background noise is higher during the daytime and lower at night, where the noise floor directly correlates to urban activity (e.g., automobile traffic, airplane traffic, construction, and so on). During the day, when the noise floor is higher, a typical handgun muzzle blast may propagate as much as a mile. During the night, when the noise floor is lower, a typical handgun muzzle blast may propagate as much as 2 miles. Therefore, a co-located array of microphones or a distributed array of acoustic sensors that hear a muzzle blast at different times can contribute to calculating the location of the origin of the discharge provided that each microphone/sensor can specify to within a millisecond when it detected the impulse. Using this information, it is possible to discriminate between gunfire and normal community noises by placing acoustic sensors at wide distances so that only extremely loud sounds (i.e., gunfire) can reach several sensors.

Answer: Yes, many self-defense courses include stun gun training to help you build confidence and skill. Explore our directory of self-defense classes and resources to find one near you.

A ShotSpotter system installed in Washington, DC, has been successfully relied upon to locate gunfire in the area of coverage. The Washington, DC Police Department reported in 2008 that it had helped locate 62 victims of violent crime and aided in 9 arrests. In addition to assaults, the system detected a large amount of "random" gunfire, all totaling 50 gunshots a week in 2007. Based on the system's success, the police department decided to expand the program to cover nearly a quarter of the city.[7]

5 Personal Safety Tips Everyone Should Know Your safety is a priority—take control with these five essential tips for staying safe in everyday situations.

Many techniques can be used to discriminate gunfire (also referred to as "classifying gunfire") from similar noises such as cars backfiring, fireworks, or the sound of a helicopter passing overhead. Analysis of the spectral content of the sound, its envelope, and other heuristics are also commonly used methods to classify whether loud, sudden sounds are gunfire. Identifying the source of the sounds can be subjective, and companies such as ShotSpotter revise their records based upon information they receive from police agencies, so that a sound originally classified by the automated system as the beat of helicopter rotors has been reported first as three, then four, and finally as the sound of five separate gunshots.[3][4] As a result, this technology has been rejected in court cases as non-scientific for the purpose of legal evidence.[5] It is meant to be an investigative tool rather than a source of primary legal evidence.[5]

Answer: In most states, you can use a stun gun if you reasonably believe your safety is at risk. However, understanding local laws and proper usage techniques is crucial. Explore our article on when and how to use stun guns responsibly.

Non-Lethal Doesn’t Mean Ineffective: Despite common misconceptions, non-lethal weapons like stun guns and pepper spray can effectively incapacitate attackers long enough for you to get to safety. These tools are designed to protect you without the risk of causing permanent harm.

In late 1992, John C. Lahr, a PhD seismologist at the nearby United States Geological Survey, approached the Menlo Park police department to ask if they would be interested in applying seismological techniques to locate gunshots. Others had also approached the Menlo Park police department suggesting ways to help the police by means of gunshot location systems. The police chief arranged a meeting with local inventors and entrepreneurs who had expressed an interest in the problem. At that time there were no solutions to tracking gunshots, only a desire to do so. One key attendee was Robert Showen, a Stanford Research Institute employee and expert in acoustics.[1]

Distance Matters: Tools like pepper spray or a Taser allow you to maintain distance from an assailant, while stun guns require close contact. It’s important to know which tool fits your comfort level and the situations you’re likely to face.

Infrared-based detection systems can detect not only ordnance blast signatures but also large caliber weapons such as mortars, artillery, Rocket-Propelled munitions, machine guns as well as small arms. These systems can also detect bomb impact explosions, thereby locating the impacts of indirect fire weapons like artillery and mortars. The detector can be used as an automated shot correction sensor for close arms support.

Pepper spray is an irritant to the eyes, nose, and throat. It can briefly blind your assailant, but even the most potent pepper spray poses little danger of death. While Tasers are widely regarded as non-lethal, they do pose a slight risk of cardiac arrest.

Determination of the origin of gunfire by sound was conceived before World War I where it was first used operationally. Early sound-based systems were used primarily for large weapons. Weapons detection and location systems and counter-sniper systems have been deployed by the US Department of Defense as well as by the militaries of other countries.[16]

Answer: Stun guns typically have rechargeable batteries. To ensure effectiveness, recharge them every 2-3 months or after each use. For more tips on maintenance and troubleshooting, visit our stun gun care guide.

Now the question remains: What’s the best less-lethal weapon for you? Take into account your personal needs, daily activities, and level of comfort with each tool to make the right decision for your protection.

Acoustic threat-detection systems include the Unattended Transient Acoustic MASINT Sensor (UTAMS), Serenity Payload and FireFly, which were developed by the Army Research Laboratory.[17]

Infrared detection systems have a similar advantage at night because the sensor does not have to contend with any solar contributions to the background signal. At night, the signature of the gunshot will not be partially hidden within the background of solar infrared contributions. Most flash suppressors are designed to minimize the visible signature of the gunfire. Flash suppressors break up the expanding gases into focused cones, thereby minimizing the blossoming effect of the exploding gasses. These focused cones contain more of the signature in a smaller volume. The added signal strength helps to increase detection range.

The technology was tested in Redwood Village, a neighborhood of Redwood City, CA, in April 1996. Through 2007, the manufacturer touted the device as having benefits, but local officials were split as to its effectiveness. It is effective in reducing random gunfire. Surveys conducted for the DOJ showed it was most effective as a "perception" of action.

TASER

Optical flashes can be detected using optical and/or infrared sensing techniques; however there must be a line of sight from the sensor to the weapon, otherwise the flash will not be seen. Indirect flashes that bounce off nearby structures such as walls, trees, and rocks assist in exposing concealed or limited line-of-sight detections between the weapon and the sensor. Because only optical flashes are detected, such systems are typically capable of determining only the bearing of a discharge relative to sensor unless multiple systems triangulate the shot range. Multiple gunshots, fired from multiple locations at nearly the same time, are easily discriminated as separate gunshots because the sensors generally utilize a focal plane array consisting of many sensitive pixels. Each pixel in the entire focal plane (e.g. 640×480 pixels) is constantly evaluated.

Because such systems have arrays of highly sensitive microphones that are continuously active, there have been concerns over privacy with this broad ability to record conversations without the knowledge of those being recorded (this is "collateral eavesdropping", because capturing conversations is only an inadvertent capability of the system's design, and law enforcement agencies have stated that the recording happens only after shots have been detected.)[2]

BestTASER2024

Answer: Yes, stun guns are designed to be non-lethal and cause no long-term harm when used correctly. However, proper handling and practice are essential. Read our guide on safe stun gun use and training.

Stun gun

Acoustic systems "listen" for either the bullet bow shockwave (the sound either of the projectile or bullet as it passes through the air), the sound of the muzzle blast of the weapon when it fires the projectile, or a combination of both.

Internal Rechargeable Battery No expensive batteries to buy Please make sure the unit is fully charged before attempting to use it.

Using this system, Lahr was able to demonstrate to the police and others that this technique was highly effective, as the system was able to locate gunshots occurring within the array to within a few tens of meters. Although additional techniques from the seismic world were known that could better automate the system and increase its reliability, those improvements were outside the scope of this feasibility study.[citation needed]

Optical and electro-optical systems have seen success in military environments where immediacy of response is critical and because they generally do not need careful location registration as is generally the case for more permanently installed "civil" crime fighting systems. Just as acoustic systems require more than one microphone to locate gunshots, most electro-optical systems require more than one sensor when covering 360 degrees. Acoustic and optical sensors can be co-located and their data can be fused thereby enabling the gunshot location processing to have a more exact discharge time that can be used to calculate the distance of the discharge to the sensors with the greatest possible precision. Optical systems are (essentially) not limited to the number of individual shots being fired or the number of different shooters shooting simultaneously, allowing optical-based sensing to easily declare and locate shooters conducting ambushes that employ multiple shooters, shooting from multiple locations during the same time period.

Stop Fish Bombing USA, a project under the fiscal sponsorship of Earth Island Institute, has adapted ShotSpotter technology with hydrophones to combat fish bombing on coral reefs in Sabah, Malaysia.

Comprehensive Guide to Self-Defense ToolsA detailed resource exploring various self-defense tools, their effectiveness, and how to choose the right ones for your lifestyle.

A gunfire locator or gunshot detection system is a system that detects and conveys the location of gunfire or other weapon fire using acoustic, vibration, optical, or potentially other types of sensors, as well as a combination of such sensors. These systems are used by law enforcement, security, military, government offices, schools and businesses to identify the source and, in some cases, the direction of gunfire and/or the type of weapon fired. Most systems possess three main components:

Both optical and acoustic sensors have been used from vehicles while on the move in urban and rural environments. These sensors have been tested on airborne and waterborne platforms as well.

Using common data-networking methods, alerts of the discharges can be conveyed to dispatch centers, commanders, and field-based personnel, allowing them to make an immediate assessment of severity and initiate appropriate and decisive force response. Some systems have the capability of capturing and conveying audio clips of the discharges with the alert information that provides additional invaluable information regarding the situation and its severity. Similarly for the protection of critical infrastructure, where the information is clearly and unambiguously conveyed in real-time to regional crisis command and control centers, enabling security personnel to cut through often inaccurate and delayed reports so they may react immediately to thwart attacks and minimize subsequent activity.

Different system architectures have different capabilities and are used for specific applications. In general there are 2 architectures: stand-alone systems with local microphone arrays, and distributed sensor arrays ("wide-area acoustic surveillance"). The former are generally used for immediate detection and alerting to a nearby shooter in the vicinity of the system; such uses are typically used to help protect soldiers, military vehicles and craft, and also to protect small open-space areas (e.g., parking lot, park). The latter are used for protecting large areas such as cities, municipalities, critical infrastructure, transportation hubs, and military operating bases.

Optical discriminating had previously consisted of methods, among them spatial, spectral, and creative temporal filters, to eliminate solar glint as a false alarm. Earlier sensors could not operate at speeds fast enough to allow for the incorporation of matched temporal filters that now eliminate solar glint as a false alarm contributor.

Because both the optical flash and muzzle blast are muffled by flash suppressors and muzzle blast suppressors (also known as "silencers"), the efficacy of gunshot detection systems may be reduced for suppressed weapons. The FBI estimates that 1% or fewer of crimes that involve gunfire are committed with suppressed guns.[citation needed]

Training Improves Confidence: Having a self-defense tool is a great first step, but being trained in how to use it makes all the difference. Practice pulling out your stun gun or pepper spray, so you know how to react quickly under stress.

In addition to using gunshot location systems to convey incident alerts, they also can relay their alert data to video surveillance systems in real-time, enabling them to automatically slew cameras to the scene of an incident. Real-time incident location data makes the video surveillance smart; once cameras have slewed to the scene, the information can be viewed to assess the situation and further plan necessary response; the combined audio and video information can be tagged and stored for subsequent use as forensic evidence.

What is the besttaser

In August 2017, the United States Secret Service began testing the use of gunshot detection technology to protect the White House and the United States Naval Observatory.[13][15]

Due to their ability to sense at great distances, to sense in a non line-of-sight manner, and the relatively low bandwidth required for transmitting sensor telemetry data, systems deployed for law enforcement, public safety and homeland security in the United States have primarily been based on acoustic techniques.

Soter gunshot locator project is a community effort that uses open source hardware, cloud technology, machine learning, and 3D printing to build inexpensive gunshot detectors capable of locating and classifying gunfire in urban, public, and school spaces within seconds.

Most painfulTaser

Stay Calm and Decisive in an Emergency: In the heat of the moment, your ability to stay calm and act quickly is critical. Confidence and preparation are just as important as the tools you carry. Regularly reminding yourself of how to respond in risky situations can help keep you composed.

Always Have a Backup Plan: Even the best self-defense tools can fail in rare cases (e.g., malfunction, poor aim). Consider carrying multiple options, such as a personal alarm or tactical flashlight, in case one method doesn’t work as planned.

Regardless of the methods used to isolate gunfire from other impulsive sounds or infrared sensing, standard triangulation methods can be used to locate the source of the gunshot once it has been recognized as a gunshot.

Answer: Regulations vary depending on the mode of travel and destination. Most airlines prohibit stun guns in carry-on luggage but may allow them in checked bags. Review our stun gun travel guide for comprehensive advice.

Answer: Stun guns are best for close-range encounters, such as during a mugging or assault. They’re especially effective in dark or confined spaces. Learn more about situational awareness and self-defense tools.

In Michigan, a concealed pistol license is necessary, even if the program to get a CPL does not address Taser or stun gun training or legislation. And to get a CPL, you must use a handgun; you must discharge a firearm.

In general categories, there are environmental packaged systems for primarily outdoor use (both military and civilian/urban) which are high cost and then also lower cost consumer/industrial packaged systems for primarily indoor use. Systems used in urban settings integrate a geographic information system so the display includes a map and address location of each incident. Some indoor gunfire detection systems utilize detailed floor plans with detector location overlay to show shooter locations on an app or web based interface.

Lahr decided to go ahead with his plans to demonstrate the feasibility of locating the gunshots, relying on his background in the earthquake location techniques and monitoring in Alaska. A network consisting of one wired and four radio-telemetered microphones was established, with his home in eastern Menlo Park becoming the command center. Lahr modified the software typically used for locating earthquakes and recorded the data at a higher sample rate than is used for regional seismology. After gunshots were heard, Lahr would determine their location while his wife monitored the police radio for independent confirmation of their source.

Determination of the origin of gunfire by sound was conceived before World War I where it was first used operationally (see: Artillery sound ranging).

In the early 1990s, the areas of East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park, California, were besieged with crime. During 1992 there were 42 homicides in East Palo Alto, which resulted in East Palo Alto becoming the murder capital of the United States. The Menlo Park police department was often called upon to investigate when residents reported gunshots; however there was no way to determine their source from scattered 911 calls.

In Indiana, it is prohibited to carry an electronic weapon (Taser or stun gun with a specified amount of charge) without a license unless: you are on your own property, or you have permission to carry the gun on someone else's land.

In Illinois, purchasing or possessing a stun gun or Taser without a valid state-issued Firearm Owners' Identification Card is prohibited (known as an FOID).

The projectile generally must travel within 50 to 100 meters of a sensor in order for the sensor to hear the shockwave. The combination of a muzzle blast and a shockwave provides additional information that can be used along with the physics of acoustics and sound propagation to determine the range of a discharge to the sensor, especially if the round or type of projectile is known. Assault rifles are more commonly used in battle scenarios where it is important for potential targets to be immediately alerted to the position of enemy fire. A system that can hear minute differences in the arrival time of the muzzle blast and also hear a projectile's shockwave "snap" can calculate the origin of the discharge. Multiple gunshots, fired from multiple locations at nearly the same time, such as those found in an ambush, can provide ambiguous signals resulting in location ambiguities.

Strongesttaser

Gunfire acoustics must be distinguished reliably from noises that can sound similar, such as firework explosions and cars backfiring.

Answer: Always aim for large muscle groups like the thighs or torso for maximum effectiveness. Practice activating your stun gun quickly to build confidence. Visit our stun gun emergency response tips for more insights.

Most powerful stun gun on Amazon

Acoustic-only based systems typically generate their alerts a few seconds slower than optical sensing systems because they rely on the propagation of sound waves. Therefore, the sound reaching a sensor 1 mile from its origin will take almost 5 seconds. A few seconds to accommodate pickup from distant sensors and to discern the number of rounds fired, often an indicator of incident severity, are both tolerable and a drastic improvement for typical police dispatching scenarios when compared against the several minutes that elapse from when an actual discharge occurs to the cumulative time of several minutes that pass when a person decides to place a 9-1-1 call and that information is captured, processed, and dispatched to patrol officers.

Stun guns are a direct contact device that generates a high pulse frequency to limit mobility. They emit roughly 1,200 volts. The shock can only be administered at close range, but it may be used numerous times. You may also communicate to an assailant that you are armed with a “shock test”, where you press the stun button on the stun gun and display the electricity arc over the two metal probes on the front of the stun gun. This is an extremely effective strategy to dissuade an assailant.

In most of the United States, it is legal for you to carry and utilize a stun gun in self-defense situations. However, they are illegal to possess in Hawaii, Rhode Island, and the U.S Virgin Islands.

In 1990, a unique algorithm was used as a starting point : Metravib defence, working with Délégation Générale pour l’Armement (DGA) – the French defence procurement agency – studied the acoustic signature of submarines. The DGA & Section Technique de l’Armée de Terre (STAT), the French Army’s engineering section subsequently commissioned Metravib D. to find a solution for shot detection, a way to assist soldiers and peacekeepers who come under fire from snipers without knowing precisely where the shots were coming from.

Best stun gun for self-defense

There are three primary attributes that characterize gunfire and hence enable the detection and location of gunfire and similar weapon discharges:

In public safety and law enforcement, gunshot location systems are often used in high-crime areas for rapid alerts and awareness into the communications and dispatch center where the alerts are used to direct first responders to the scene of the gunfire, thus increasing arrest rates, improving officer safety, securing witnesses and evidence, and enhancing investigations, as well as in the long run deterring gun crimes, shootings and especially "celebratory gunfire" (the practice of shooting weapons in the air for fun). Gunshot location systems based upon wide-area acoustic surveillance coupled with persistent incident data storage transcends dispatch-only uses because reporting of urban gunfire (via calls to 9-1-1) can be as low as 25%,[6] which means that law enforcement agencies and their crime analysts have incomplete data regarding true activity levels and patterns. With a wide-area acoustic-surveillance-based approach combined with a persistent repository of gunfire activity (i.e., a database), agencies have closer to 100% activity data that can be analyzed for patterns and trends to drive directed patrols and intelligence-led policing.[citation needed] Additional benefits include aiding investigators to find more forensic evidence to solve crimes and provide to prosecutors to strengthen court cases resulting in a higher conviction rate. With the accuracy of a gunshot location system and the ability to geo-reference to a specific street address, versus a dearth of information that typically is the case when citizens report gunfire incidents to 9-1-1, agencies can also infer shooters by comparing with known criminal locations, including those on parole and probation; investigators can also at times infer intended victims and hence predict and prevent reprisals.

Distributed sensor arrays have a distinct advantage over stand-alone systems in that they can successfully classify gunfire with and without hearing a projectile "snap" sound, even amid heavy background noise and echoes. Such systems are the accepted norm[citation needed] for urban public safety as they allow law enforcement agencies to hear gunfire discharges across a broad urban landscape of many square miles. In addition to urban cityscapes, the distributed-array approach is intended for area protection applications, such as critical infrastructure, transportation hubs, and campuses.

Gunshot location systems have been used domestically in urban areas since the mid-1990s by a growing list of cities and municipalities that are embracing gunshot location systems as a mission-essential tool in their arsenal for fighting violent crime. Federal and homeland security agencies too have embraced gunshot location systems and their benefits; notably the FBI successfully used a ShotSpotter gunshot location system during the 2003–2004 Ohio highway sniper attacks, in conjunction with the Franklin County Sheriff.

A stun gun, in a nutshell, transmits a shock wave to the nervous system and overworks the muscles. This creates excruciating pain. The effect of the shock depends on the attacker's size and the duration of the shock. The longer the device is held on the attacker, the greater the pain.

The combination of both approaches (acoustic and infrared) assists in overcoming each system's own limitations while improving the overall capability to eliminate false declarations of gunshots and/or ambiguous declaration locations. Even when these combined systems are employed, shots fired from far enough away will not be detected because the amount of gunshot signal (both acoustic and Infrared) eventually fades into the background signals. For acoustic systems that require the supersonic shock wave for location determination, the bullet must still be traveling at supersonic speed when it passes the sensor, and it must pass the sensor within the lateral span of the shock wave. For infrared sensing of the flash upon a weapon's discharge, the bullet path is not determined. Combining these two approaches improves the capability under various conditions anticipated in a combat scenario.

Answer: The effects of a stun gun, such as muscle spasms and disorientation, typically last several minutes, providing you time to escape. Read more about stun gun effects and recovery time.

Is there a difference between a stun gun and a TASER? Yes. Stun guns are close-range devices that require you to be near the person attacking you while using a painful shock to discourage further contact. In contrast, TASERs have a projectile that attaches to targets further away.

Answer: Yes, most stun guns can deliver a shock through clothing, including thick fabrics like jeans or jackets. Learn about the science behind stun gun effectiveness.

Answer: Stun gun legality varies by state. While most states allow possession and use for self-defense, some require permits or have restrictions on public carry. Explore our detailed guide on stun gun laws by state to understand your rights.

It is a crime in Wisconsin to carry a stun gun or Taser anyplace other than your own house, property, or place of business unless you have a concealed carry license, or the electric weapon is encased in a carrying case. This prohibition does not apply to law enforcement officers, active-duty military people, or prison officials.

Answer: A stun gun is a handheld, close-contact device that emits a high-voltage electrical shock to incapacitate an attacker by overloading their nervous system and causing temporary loss of muscle control. Learn more about how stun guns work and their effects on attackers in this guide.