What is a Stun Gun?
A stun gun is an electrical non-lethal self-defense device that uses high voltage to stop an attacker. Touching a person with the prongs on the stun gun quickly immobilizes the attacker. However, because the amperage is very low, no serious or permanent injury is inflicted.

Isn't high voltage lethal?
High voltage, in itself, is not dangerous. One can receive a 25,000-volt shock of static electricity from a doorknob on a dry day without harm. The physiological effect of electrical shock is determined by: the current, its duration, and the power source that produces the shock. The typical household current of 110 volts is dangerous because it can pump many amperes of current throughout the body indefinitely. By contrast, a Stun Gun's power supply consists of an alkaline or lithium battery that is capable of supplying less than three watts of electrical power for a few minutes. When a stun gun touches both probes against the assailant’s body for ½ second, it will startle the assailant, giving him some pain, muscular contraction and shock. For 1-2 seconds, it will cause muscle spasms and a dazed mental state. For 3-5 seconds, it will cause loss of balance and muscle control, total mental confusion and disorientation, leaving him dazed. Under no conditions can you suffer a charge back to your own body, even if the assailant touches you while you are using a stun gun on him.

What are the after effects?
A person hit with a stun gun will feel dazed for several minutes. The pulsating electrical output causes involuntary muscle contractions and a resulting sense of vertigo. It can momentarily stun or render an attacker unconscious. It does not cause permanent damage or long-term after effects to muscles, nerves or other body functions.

How can the Stun Gun be so effective yet non-injurious?
The stun gun does not depend upon impact or body penetration to achieve its effect. Its pulsating electrical output interferes with communication between the brain and the muscular system, resulting in loss of control. However, the stun gun is non-destructive to nerves, muscles and other body elements. It simply affects them in their natural mode.

How long does it take to immobilize someone with a Stun Gun?
As a general rule, a one-half second contact from a stun gun will repel and startle the attacker, giving some pain and muscle contraction. One to two seconds will cause muscle spasms and a dazed mental state. Over three seconds will cause loss of balance and muscle control, mental confusion and disorientation. However, don't think about how many seconds you should hold the stun gun to your attacker. What you should should do is hold your stun gun to the assailant until they drop and you can get away and call the police, whether that may be one second or six seconds.

What would be the difference between a 80,000-volt Stun Gun and a 775,000-volt Stun Gun?
Both stun guns will render your assailant helpless using non-lethal voltage from the stun gun, but you might have to hold the 80,000 volt stun gun a second or two longer than the 775,000 volt stun gun. Consider this: A stun gun is effective on many parts of the body. But give yourself the best chance to get the best of your attacker. Hold the stun gun on a body part that has a lot of surface area, such as the chest, abdomen, groin, kidneys, back, etc. An area such as the arm or leg may work fine, but these body parts do not allow you the same amount of surface area that you will need to contact for a few seconds.

What does a Stun Gun feel like?
If you have ever hit your funny bone, multiply that by ten thousand and extend it throughout your entire body. The inability to function and feeling of helplessness combined with the sensation of millions of tiny needles going through your body provides certain inherent physical, mental and emotional trauma.

Will the voltage pass from the assailant to the person holding the stun gun?
The electrical shock that emits from the stunning device will not pass from the person being stunned to the person doing the stunning. The effect is localized only in the affected area and does not pass through the body. Even if you or the attacker are wet or standing in water, you will not be shocked. Stun guns use DC (Direct Current) which is also used in a typical car battery. AC (Alternating Current), however, is the type of current found in your home electricity.

Are stun guns legal to carry in Washington State?
Yes, Stun guns are legal in Washington.

STATES WHERE STUN GUNS ARE RESTRICTED:
ILLINOIS
HAWAII
MASSACHUSETTS
MICHIGAN
NEW JERSEY
NEW YORK
RHODE ISLAND
WISCONSIN

CITIES WHERE STUN GUNS ARE RESTRICTED:
ANNAPOLIS, MD
BALTIMORE, MD
BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD
CHICAGO, IL
DENSION / CRAWFORD COUNTY, IA
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PHILADELPHIA

COUNTRIES THAT STUN GUNS ARE RESTRICTED:
AUSTRALIA
BELGIUM
CANADA
DENMARK
HONG KONG
INDIA (POLICE USE ONLY)
ITALY
JAPAN
NEW ZEALAND
NORWAY
SWEDEN
SWITERLAND
UNITED KINGDOM

This information was compiled from Frequently Asked Questions of leading Stun Gun Manufacturers.