[Revolver]

My mom who isn't allowed a firearm on company premises wants to know about alternatives. So my question is simple does any one know if tasers or pepperspray are any good?

[TheeBadOne]

It does depend on a few things, most importantly, are you talking about a stun gun, or a true Taser? www.taser.com (http://)
If you want a Taser I'd recommend the M18-L. It's the size of a medium size Glock, so Pepper spray may be easier to tote around. Also, pepper spray will let her spray and runaway. The Taser can be devestating, but the effect is over the second the juice is off. It can stop an attack, but is more property used for incapacitating someone for a few moments thus allowing them to get physical control of the party (ie: cops/security who will now be cuffing the party).
I recommend pepper mace for 99% of the people who ask.

[C.R.Sam]

Taser best used by skilled practicioner...
With skilled backup person at hand.

Sam

[Revolver]

Thanks alot guys, I don't know anything about non lethal protection devices, so this was beyond me. She'll probably get set up with some pepperspray before too long.

Thanks again,
Revolver

[jercamp45]

Taser's do not work as well as advertised.....that is direct from LEO's that have used it in three different states. Nevada, Florida and Missouri. I have heard that Rodney King was hit by several taser 'darts' and the Officer's involved resorted to, um, over kill with batons(guess they were upset that the new toy did not work well, huh?).
Do not know 100% if that is true! Heard it from a Vegas LEO in Crack Alley at zero-dark-thirty(the sun was soon to rise) after we had a MOST interesting encounter with a gentleman who had 11(ELEVEN!!) felony convictions and spent most of his life in the Big House. That dudes' eyes were SCARY...he did not CARE..at all!
Stun guns are very upclose and personal!! I want the distance of a spray/stream...gives me alittle more time to employ other options if Plan A fails(Mr Murphy is EVERYWHERE!!).
Pepperspray seems to be more effective by far....and is a necessary bridge in the 'Force' spectrum. Chemical, Impact, Lethal.
I like the foam that sticks....and expands!! And Dyes that mark for later ID! Buy quality PD issue spray, not swapshop bargains! And rotate every year(may last alot longer as the shelf life is longterm, but I do not want to chance it myself. It is cheap, my life is not!!).
I'd suggest the 10%....I have heard from an ER Doc that heavier dose can damage the eyes of the victim and open you up to serious civil/legal challenges. The poor victimized blind attacker!!
The canisters are cheap enough to have several stashed about the house or business in strategic discreet locations.
A great counter agent is oil of apricot...found in essential oils and some massage cream, it counter acts the oil of new world peppers(oleocapsicum).....a bottle of water to flush out the victims eye's nearby(if in business or residence...looks good in court...I work security in five hotels in downtown Vegas...all the hotels have an eye flush now just in case).
I find it useful when approaching a group of 'suspicious' individuals to hide the can in my weak hand. Then I can employ it on multiple close range targets(if required), leaving my strong hand free for whichever steel(ASP or .45 auto) seems more appropriate for managing the threat presented. It seems some folks prefer the Hyena Method Of Manly Fighting.....crackdealers and mexican gangs in particular.
I hope this helped some!
Jercamp45
A COURTESY Patrol Officer
(Thanks so very much for the exercise, dude...you are under arrest!! Have a nice evening...in the Cross Bar Hotel!)

[Revolver]

Thanks alot man were going to go in the next few days. I really apperciate this because thanks to the liberal rules at my moms office she cant carry a pistol, so naturally I worry, but this will help a ton. I never knew that it could blind people, ouch. I just wanted her to be able to protect herself and not have to worry about legal ramifications. Stupid Liberal Anti-Gun bedwetters
banghead:

Thanks again
Revolver:

[jercamp45]

but normally with the heavier concentrations(15 and 20%)...but it is normally due to a time factor and the 'weakness' of the eyes it hits. It is rather rare...
If you can flush it out...fine..but after you call the cops. Ideally, the 'sprayee' would be handcuffed..but that opens another legal door for a non security private business. And the attackers do not normally stick around waiting for the PD, if they can find enough O2 to get their bodies moving. (OC inflames mucous membranes, makes it tough to breathe, fight and run).
So it is not something I would worry about alot...after all he is the attacker! If he complains, remind him it could have been alot worse.
Nothing is 100% , but pepperspray is pretty good. I acquired several canisters for a group of ladies in a church that had some weirdo's pop in on Monday morning(alot of cash in their safe), and several 'civilians' that worked in a ghetto grocery store...got can's for emergencies.
The gun issue in business is full of variables. If you have a CCW and there is no sign posted...I would take mine. I just would not say anything to anyone about my defensive choices. Safety is a personal issue.
May she never need to use it!!
Jercamp45

[keederdag]

Jercamp45. Recomend Brands for pepperfoam; and sources?:)

[AJ Dual]

Tasers are also illegal in some states, and they as others said are the ones that have projected darts and wires. Some states treat them as firearms in a legal sense as well, or are just banned alltogether in some places.

What us peons normally have access to is a "stun gun" which must be jammed into the attackers body at arms length or less. They also only immobilize the area they touch, not the entire body like a taser does.

Pepper spray is smaller, and looked on much more kindly as a self-defense tool and not a "weapon".

Most folks here reccomend Fox Labs as being the "hottest" spray and most effective. Most people reccomend getting a model that streams, rather than sprays or fogs, since getting it to waft back into your own eyes is much less likely.

If you do a search on Google.com for "Fox Labs" you'll get tons of hits on reviews and sites that sell it.

[jercamp45]

The stuff I am carrying now is Punch III M-4 through Aerko Int'l of Ft Lauderdale. I pick all my pepperspray up at the local copshop of whereever I am at. Gall's Police supply is an internet supplier that may carry it. But the cannister's have to be shipped ground as they are under pressure. I suggest hitting the local copshops(under police supply in the phone book) and see what they carry as stock. Ask what the Local PD issues, which is also a nice legality touch.
Some localities might have restrictions, though AZ probably won't. Most copshops do not care if you are a cop or not, they'll sell you what they can legal sell. California is real picky about sticks(PR-24's and ASP's).
There was another brand I used in KC and Florida(where you can buy automatic knives too!), but I'll have to look it up.....have to go to court today(after arrest comes court!), so it'll be later in the day when I get a chance to find out.
Later,
Jercamp45

[Jaeger]

I am an M26 Taser Instructor. I have been hit with one as well as used one on other people.

The new generation of Tasers relies on Electro Muscular Disruption (EMD) to completely incapacitate the target. While this is occurring it is painful, but it does not rely on the pain to be effective. The Tasers used in the King incident were not in the same league as what is available today.

The M26 (as well as the civilian legal M18) will provide total and complete incapacitation as long as the target is properly hit. EMD scrambles the signals between the brain and the skeletal muscles. Mental focus, drugs and or alcohol cannot overcome it.

I am also an OC spray instructor. I'll have to post the rest later as I am out of time now!

[Jaeger]

Taser has just introduced the X26. It is 60% smaller and lighter than the M26 and is said to be more powerful. I am assuming that once the huge law enforcement demand is met they will release a civilian version.

The Taser is the most effective thing I have ever seen at putting someone down immediately. It is that good. As was said before though, once the discharge is over the effects are over. Recovery time is very fast. It has been my experience though that once hit, a person will do whatever is necessary to not get it again!

OC can be effective. I can usually function effectively for about 2 minutes before the effects really hit me. I have seen many people that it just doesn't work on. Others go down instantly. It's kind of hit or miss. The upside is that if it does work the effects last for a while.

Don't concern yourself with the various concentrations of pepper spray. That is largely a marketing gimmick. Concentration does not effect the immediate onset of OC, it really only effects duration.. Hit someone with 5.5% AND 10% and the immediate effects will be the same. The person hit with the 5.5% will recover a bit sooner.

The new Taser is MUCH more effective and reliable than OC.

I hope this helps.