The Basics of Stun Guns: A stun gun is an electrical device designed to temporarily disable an assailant. It provides individuals the opportunity to escape or, for law enforcement, to subdue a suspect. Countless civilians, military personnel, and police officers around the globe carry stun guns, whether as part of their equipment or for personal safety. Their effectiveness lies in how they interact with the human body, and they serve as a less-lethal alternative compared to firearms or knives.

How Does a Stun Gun Work?

It’s essential for everyone to learn self-defense since it’s a vital skill for survival. Among the various self-defense tools out there, TASERs® and stun guns stand out as some of the most effective options. However, many individuals are unaware of the distinctions between TASERs® and stun guns or their mechanisms. Here’s a comprehensive guide on what stun guns are and how they function.

Your Body’s Electrical System

One of the main factors that contribute to the effectiveness of stun guns is their interaction with the body’s electrical system. While TASERs® and stun guns have different effects on the body, it’s essential to understand how the body’s electrical system works first. Many people associate electricity with danger, thinking of lightning strikes or electric shocks from outlets, which can indeed be fatal. However, smaller doses of electricity are harmless and are vital for the body’s functioning, as all your nerves operate through electrical signals.

For example, when you feel thirsty and decide to grab a glass of water, your brain sends an electrical impulse to a nerve cell that connects to your arm muscles. This impulse instructs the cell to release a neurotransmitter, which acts as a chemical messenger to the muscle cells. The neurotransmitter then signals the muscles to either contract or relax, allowing your arm to move and bring the glass to your mouth. After you lift the glass, the sensitive nerve cells send feedback to your brain, letting you know how the glass feels in your hand. It’s truly a fascinating process!

Disrupting the Nervous System

The main concept of a stun gun is to interrupt the communication process within the body. These devices produce a low amperage, high-voltage electrical charge that interferes with your body’s electrical system. In simple terms, while the charge isn’t very strong, it carries a significant amount of pressure.

When you use a stun gun on an attacker, the high voltage enables the charge to penetrate their skin and clothing. However, at just three milliamps, the charge is not powerful enough to cause harm unless the stun gun is applied for a longer duration.

The charge disrupts the person’s nervous system and triggers several other effects. Initially, it merges with the electric signals from the assailant’s brain, blending with noise, which makes it harder for their muscles to function. This charge leads to a temporary partial paralysis.

If the current is produced by a pulse frequency, it mimics the body’s electrical signals. In this scenario, the current can cause the assailant’s muscles to exert a lot of effort in a brief period, but it doesn’t guide that effort toward any specific action. As a result, these signals leave the attacker too fatigued to move, draining their energy reserves.

Neuromuscular Incapacitation

TASERs® have gained popularity because they target both sensory and motor nerves, leading to neuromuscular incapacitation (NMI) through electrical pulses. This device stimulates the nerves involuntarily, disrupting the assailant’s ability to control their muscles effectively.

Unlike traditional stun guns, which rely solely on pain compliance and may not deter someone with a high pain threshold, TASERs® deliver both pain and incapacitation.However, the effectiveness of NMI relies on factors such as the distance between the probes, the ability to close the circuit, and maintaining that circuit.

Volts vs. Amps

Many individuals are not familiar with the difference between volts and amps, so let’s clarify that. Voltage is essentially the pressure that drives the flow of electrons, whereas amperage represents the quantity of electrons moving through a circuit.

Voltage indicates the amount of potential energy present in a system. Whether we’re discussing AC or DC voltage, the measurement remains in volts. For example, a TASER® operates at 0.05 amps, while the TASER® XREP utilizes approximately 0.013 amps.

TASERs® and TASER® XREPS are intended to inflict pain along with delivering an electrical shock. However, a TASER® won’t render someone unconscious unless it strikes them on the head.

Target Zone for TASERs®

TASERs® can inflict considerable pain and work in a few different ways. One approach involves launching two electrodes into the skin, spaced roughly an inch apart. The alternative method, known as drive stun, entails removing the cartridge and pressing the probes directly against the target’s body, akin to the operation of stun guns. The great thing about the electrodes is that they can engage a broader range of muscles, depending on how far apart they are. This means that almost any area of the body can be a viable target because of how TASERs® interact with the human system.