Lets begin with the purpose of carrying a self-defense product. Statistics reveal that property crimes have fallen while violent crimes continue to rise. Violent crimes include murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. This is personal! It is most unfortunate that in this day and age we have to continually look over our shoulder. However, we do. The key to self-protection is Prevention. One way Prevention can be obtained is through the carry and use of a non-lethal self-defense product. By this, I mean carrying Mace, pepper spray, a personal alarm or a stun device, which can not only save your life but can play a huge role in the Prevention of a crime. Before the crime is committed… Prevent it! If an assailant sees that you carry some type of self-defense product, they might think twice before proceeding to commit the crime.
There are many types of self-defense products on the market today. There are a variety of pepper sprays that come in various strengths and sizes. There are also a good variety of personal alarms and stun devices, such as stun guns.
Mace and/or pepper spray comes in strengths from a 2% to 18% OC solution. OC is the main ingredient in defensive sprays. It is a derivative of the cayenne pepper, the hottest pepper in the world. However, the strength of the defensive spray does not necessarily mean that the higher percentage of OC in a spray…. the hotter. On the contrary, the OC percentage is a measurement relative to the other ingredients in the canister, such as tear gas or UV dye. The OC concentration does not measure the concentration of the other active ingredients in the spray. The effectiveness of a defensive spray is the quantity or concentration of Capsaicin. The higher the concentration of Capsaicin the hotter the OC spray. Defensive sprays also come in different sizes and types. The most popular type is the quick key release keychain pepper spray. One of the newest is the lipstick pepper spray. It looks like a lipstick container, however it is not. There are defensive sprays you can carry in your purse, on your keychain or on your belt. There are sprays with a leatherette holster, or sprays with a hard case or injection-molded holster. There is even a container that resembles a small baton. The sizes can be various as well. You can get ½ oz., 2 oz., 4 oz., and even larger canisters of spray (spray, foam, stream or gel). Check with your locality or jurisdiction for restrictions and legality of defensive sprays.
There are a variety of personal alarms as well. There is the Mace Brand Screecher Alarm, which is an aerosol alarm that emits an ear-piercing blast that is recognized as an emergency call for help and can be heard up to ½ mile away. The best deterrent is the combination of a 125db alarm and a flashing light, known as the Keychain Alarm. There is the 2N1 Alarm, which is a dual-purpose alarm that acts as a personal alarm and a burglar alarm. You’ve got the Personal Alarm With Flashlight that emits 130db of sound and the Electronic Pocket Whistle, which emits a loud 120db whistle.
Stunning devices are also very popular. However, some states have restrictions regarding the possession and/or purchase of these products. Before purchasing a stun gun you need to check with your locality or jurisdiction to see what or if any restrictions apply. Stunning devices can mean stun guns or tasers. Stun guns come in a variety of sizes and voltages. They come as small as the palm of your hand or as large as 8.75 inches tall. Voltages range from 100,000 volts to 1,000,000 volts. Almost all stun guns have safety switches and wrist straps. Tasers are a little more difficult to explain as far as the operation and legality of the unit. Most tasers have restrictions similar to stun guns. That is because it is considered a stunning device just like a stun gun. Again, check your locality for restrictions and legality.
There you have it. Now what type of pepper spray, personal alarm or stun gun would you choose? It can be difficult with all of the different types, strengths, sizes, sounds and voltages. Choose the self-defense product you think you will be most comfortable using, carrying and/or wearing. Again, do not forget to check with your locality or jurisdiction regarding the restriction and/or legality of defensive sprays and stunning devices.
