| It is very common for people to purchase stun guns | | | | When practicing, be sure that no part of your body, |
| for self defense, but have no idea what to do when | | | | including your fingers, is anywhere near the stun gun's |
| they need to use it. Stun devices are very effective | | | | contact probes after you turn off the safety switch. |
| when used properly, but you must know how to use | | | | Practice pulling the stun gun out of your pocket or |
| them if you plan to defend yourself with one. | | | | purse and moving the safety switch on and off |
| Knowing how to use it will also give you the | | | | quickly. Doing so will enable you to use it quickly and |
| confidence to use it when you need to. | | | | effectively during a self defense situation. |
| When you purchase your stun device, read the | | | | To see what the charge looks like, turn the stun |
| brochure or directions and learn about the features | | | | device on. Your stun device will emit a crackling noise, |
| included on the model you have chosen. Most are | | | | and blue sparks will fly between the two prongs. |
| straight or curved, with a grip and trigger like a gun. | | | | Never practice with a live stun gun on anyone. Police |
| This style should be held as you would hold a | | | | often undergo this unforgettable experience during |
| handgun. Others, however, look more like a cell | | | | training; and say that "anyone who has experienced |
| phone or a pager. You don't want to be caught | | | | the jolt of a stun gun will remember it forever." This |
| fumbling with your personal stun device, trying to | | | | device causes excruciating pain, and should never be |
| figure out how to turn it on. Besides turning it on, | | | | used except in an actual self defense situation. |
| you'll also need to turn off the safety switch, which | | | | If you have a TASER device, you should practice |
| prevents you from shocking yourself with the stun | | | | shooting the probes at a target about five to ten |
| gun. | | | | feet away from you, such as a bush. The probes of |
| Next, learn how it works. The stun gun disables your | | | | a TASER device should be at least six inches apart |
| attacker by sending an electrical pulse through the | | | | from each other, but both should land on your |
| body, disabling muscle control. In order to be | | | | attacker's body. |
| effective, the device must be touching your attacker | | | | You can also practice potential self defense scenarios |
| while you press the button. There are two prongs at | | | | with a partner, as long as the safety latch is on. Using |
| the end through which the current flows. Both must | | | | the device on an attacker must be second nature. |
| be pressed to your attacker's body. It takes two to | | | | Have your partner "attack" you from behind and try |
| five seconds, depending on the voltage, to disable | | | | to wrestle the stun gun away from your grip. With |
| the attacker. For best results, the stun device should | | | | the safety switch on, practice connecting the stun |
| come into contact with the torso, rather than the | | | | gun with your partner's body before they are able to |
| extremities. | | | | get it away from you. |