Anybody carry a flashlight taser?

[Que]

A guy was showing me his new flashlight taser and I thought about getting one for my daughter, who will be going away to college this fall. Of course I had to see if the thing was any good, so I hit my arm. Yeah, I'll never do that again! However, I would be comfortable with giving her one to carry on campus at night. Anyone use/carry one?

Amazon.com: Guard Dog Security Diablo 160 Lumen Tactical Flashlight with Stun Gun: Sports & Outdoors

 

[lovemachine]

$37? Normally I wouldn't expect much for something that cheap, BUT for $37 it would be worth trying out.

 

[Que]

$37? Normally I wouldn't expect much for something that cheap, BUT for $37 it would be worth trying out.

What should a good taser with a metal housing cost?

 

[lovemachine]

What should a good taser with a metal housing cost?

I always thought tasers were expensive. I'm just assuming a taser under $100 is pretty cheap.

 

[lovemachine]

Just curious, but wouldn't pepper spray be the better way to go?

 

[Cameramonkey]

Just curious, but wouldn't pepper spray be the better way to go?

Depends. with a handheld stun gun, you dont have to worry about being downwind of your assailant and getting a dose of your spray. But Pepper spray you dont have to be within arms reach. I guess its a trade-off.

 

[Falconpuch]

When I used to work at JJ's we had a few drivers carry them and they will stun! Seeing that mighty blue light and sound was scary . They paid 20 to 40 for theirs. It looks very similar to the one you linked. It will do great.

 

[rhino]

The product in question is not a Taser. It's a "stun gun," which is substantially different.

Tasers work really well on most people and they are expensive. When the current is flowing, they make most of your skeletal muscles contract at the same time, which essentially cramps all of the muscles you use for movement. Very few people can resist them effectively without doing something to interrupt the current.

Stun guns are pain compliance devices. I would not expect them to effectively incapacitate a motivated attacker. I've been hit with them and the sensation ranges from "meh" to what I would describe as a bee sting/burning pinching sensation. If you're standing around testing them it can be unpleasant, but it won't stop most people.

My most recent "demonstration" was in a friend's gun shop last year. I saw a couple looking at some for sale and talking about how devastating they would be on an attacker based on what they had seen on television and in movies. It was none of my business, but I butted in and tried to tell them that stun guns don't really work the way you see in movies. They didn't believe me and were a bit derisive about it, which I suppose I deserved since I butted-in. Anyway, I took it out of the package and used it on my arm. They dismissed that because it was through clothing. So I did it on my bare neck and then they believed me. It pinched, but that's about it. In fact, it hurts worse through the sleeve of a thin shirt than it does on bare skin sometimes, but that's not a big deal.

Anyway ... they might deter someone who is not really intent on harming you, but that's about it. I would not encourage or enable anyone I loved to carry a stun gun for defensive purposes. Taser? Yeah, probably. Stun gun, no.

 

[Que]

Just curious, but wouldn't pepper spray be the better way to go?

There could be liability issues if she had to spray and someone besides the BG inhaled it.

 

[Que]

The product in question is not a Taser. It's a "stun gun," which is substantially different.

Tasers work really well on most people and they are expensive. When the current is flowing, they make most of your skeletal muscles contract at the same time, which essentially cramps all of the muscles you use for movement. Very few people can resist them effectively without doing something to interrupt the current.

Stun guns are pain compliance devices. I would not expect them to effectively incapacitate a motivated attacker. I've been hit with them and the sensation ranges from "meh" to what I would describe as a bee sting/burning pinching sensation. If you're standing around testing them it can be unpleasant, but it won't stop most people.

My most recent "demonstration" was in a friend's gun shop last year. I saw a couple looking at some for sale and talking about how devastating they would be on an attacker based on what they had seen on television and in movies. It was none of my business, but I butted in and tried to tell them that stun guns don't really work the way you see in movies. They didn't believe me and were a bit derisive about it, which I suppose I deserved since I butted-in. Anyway, I took it out of the package and used it on my arm. They dismissed that because it was through clothing. So I did it on my bare neck and then they believed me. It pinched, but that's about it. In fact, it hurts worse through the sleeve of a thin shirt than it does on bare skin sometimes, but that's not a big deal.

Anyway ... they might deter someone who is not really intent on harming you, but that's about it. I would not encourage or enable anyone I loved to carry a stun gun for defensive purposes. Taser? Yeah, probably. Stun gun, no.

Any suggestions for a non/less-conspicuous stun gun she can carry on campus?

 

[USMC-Johnson]

TASER® StrikeLight? - The TASER Stun Gun Flashlight

Might take a look at one of those. Pretty sure its going to be more than a pinch

 

[chezuki]

Any suggestions for a non/less-conspicuous stun gun she can carry on campus?

I believe he's stating that the stun-guns aren't very effective.

Tasers, on the other hand, are very effective for as long as the voltage is being applied. Tasers actually "shoot" barbed electrodes that attach to the skin of the person being "tased". Some states (indiana for example) require a LTCH to carry a Taser.

 

[chezuki]

TASER® StrikeLight? - The TASER Stun Gun Flashlight

Might take a look at one of those. Pretty sure its going to be more than a pinch

Good lord, you've added more to the confusion by introducing a Taser brand "stun-gun". That's still not a "taser" by definition, even though it is Taser branded.

 

[Sylvain]

I believe he's stating that the stun-guns aren't very effective.

Tasers, on the other hand, are very effective for as long as the voltage is being applied. Tasers actually "shoot" barbed electrodes that attach to the skin of the person being "tased". Some states (indiana for example) require a LTCH to carry a Taser.

This ^^

She could get a Taser C2? Unless it's classified as a firearm where she is, in that case it might not be legal on campus or would require a permit/licence to carry.

They run longer than the ones used by the police, but have a shorter range.
30 seconds I believe (how long the person is getting tased, not the battery life).
During that time you can drop the Taser and run away.
Taser can then replace your taser that you left behind if you provide a police report.

Taser is the way to go if you want something electric.
A stun gun is not going to stop an attacker.Just **** them off and make them more angry.

 

[USMC-Johnson]

Good lord, you've added more to the confusion by introducing a Taser brand "stun-gun". That's still not a "taser" by definition, even though it is Taser branded.

Yes, yes i did.

 

[Que]

I meant a taser... Any suggestions? I don't want her walking around with something she has to retrieve from a bag. That is what I like about the flashlight.

 

[chezuki]

I meant a taser... Any suggestions? I don't want her walking around with something she has to retrieve from a bag. That is what I like about the flashlight.

This is the daughter going to Rose-Hulman correct?

Applicable Indiana code:

Information Maintained by the Office of Code Revision Indiana Legislative Services Agency
IC 35-47-8
Chapter 8. Regulation of Electronic Stun Weapons, Tasers, and Stun Guns

IC 35-47-8-1
"Electronic stun weapon" defined
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "electronic stun weapon" means any mechanism that is:
(1) designed to emit an electronic, magnetic, or other type of charge that exceeds the equivalency of a five (5) milliamp sixty (60) hertz shock; and
(2) used for the purpose of temporarily incapacitating a person.
As added by P.L.318-1985, SEC.3.
IC 35-47-8-2
"Stun gun" defined
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "stun gun" means any mechanism that is:
(1) designed to emit an electronic, magnetic, or other type of charge that equals or does not exceed the equivalency of a five (5) milliamp sixty (60) hertz shock; and
(2) used for the purpose of temporarily incapacitating a person.
As added by P.L.318-1985, SEC.3.

IC 35-47-8-3
"Taser" defined
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "taser" means any mechanism that is:
(1) designed to emit an electronic, magnetic, or other type of charge or shock through the use of a projectile; and
(2) used for the purpose of temporarily incapacitating a person.
As added by P.L.318-1985, SEC.3.

IC 35-47-8-4
Applicability of handgun provisions
Sec. 4. IC 35-47-2 applies to an electronic stun weapon or taser.
As added by P.L.318-1985, SEC.3.

(note even "stun-gun" type weapons over a certain power require a LTCH)

 

[Sylvain]

I meant a taser... Any suggestions? I don't want her walking around with something she has to retrieve from a bag. That is what I like about the flashlight.

You can get holsters for anything, taser, stun gun, or even pepper spray.

 

[Que]

This is the daughter going to Rose-Hulman correct?

Applicable Indiana code:


(note even "stun-gun" type weapons over a certain power require a LTCH)

Yeah, Rose-Hulman. Thanks for the IC. Any suggestions on a good device?

 

[rhino]

This is the only one I would consider: Best Self Defense Products: TASER® C2? CEW

A flashlight with a stun gun may be less obtrusive, but you can't get something for nothing. It's probably not going to work for anything beyond discouraging a drunken frat boy who gets a little fresh, but doesn't really want to hurt anyone.

I'm not familiar with the Taser branded flashlight. If it's a "stun gun" like all the others, it would be better just to get a good light. On the other hand, if it functions like the "drive mode" on the police-only versions of the Taser, then it's going to be effective on most people as long as you can maintain contact. That's not an easy thing to do with a non-compliant person, which is why some trainers recommend using the probes on a Taser all the time instead of drive mode even at contact distance.