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What are the drawbacks of using a stun gun?

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A stun gun is by no means either a completely risk-free or effective device. It is a risk to yourself because you may accidentally shock yourself (though there is a safety switch). It is a risk to others because the shock of an electric charge can cause a heart attack and actually kill them. This danger is particularly apparent when the person has a heart condition, has used drugs, or when you use an alternative stun gun known as a taser. Finally, a stun gun can be a risk to your environment because it can ignite flammable materials.

Perhaps even more dangerous, however, is the false sense of security that a stun gun can give its owner. The University of Oklahoma police, for example, have denounced stun guns. They state that the FBI has concluded that no stun guns immobilized test subjects, and some stun guns don’t even produce pain. The police compared the effect of some stun guns to a small burn or a hard pinch. Some experts have also said that it takes much longer than five seconds to apply and that in the meantime, one’s situation actually deteriorates as the attacker becomes even more angry.

There’s a reason why several states, including Massachusetts, Michigan, and New York, have restricted the use of stun guns: stun guns may introduce as many risks as they eliminate. Stun guns do work in many cases, and they can help save lives; after all, many police forces obviously believe in stun guns. However, stun guns have also contributed to taking a (very) few lives, and they may not be the wonderful defense mechanisms that their manufacturers claim.

Next Page: What are the alternatives to a stun gun?

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