Actually, citizens can own tazers in Texas, they just can't carry them... Cheaper than Dirt has a good selection of them in their showroom...
Con's
You can miss.. both leads have to strike and stick in the target..
They are expensive,, $450 and up, for the single shot models.. two shot models, hang on to your pocket book...
The cartridges are also very expensive... can't afford to practice with them..
They have to be charged and maintained..
I have seen suspects pull the leads out... and while they were weak, they were pissed! And when properly motivated, hard as heck to stop, amazing how fast they can recover!
They will work through heavy clothing, however their efficiency is diminished, greatly.. But the little blue sparks look cool in the rain...
little wires to get tangles up in and trip over... kidding, but there are wires...
Lacks the ability to engage multiple assailants, no follow up shots.. no second chance..
Poor Choice against an ARMED attacker... but not a real good option.. it's the age old "Continuum of Force" thing.. they use a fist, you use a tazer or a club, they use a club or a knife, you use a gun.... Un-written rule.. Never meet aggression with equal force.. if you are in a fare fight, your tactics suck, and you are most likely going to loose...
Pro's of a Taser,
Ah.. if you live through it.. it probably won't go to a Grand Jury.. unless he hits his head on your coffee table or nightstand as he falls, and suffers an open head wound and bleeds out why "doing the tuna" on your floor.
I'll have to think about the pro side some more,, I'll have to get back to you on that....
Someone mentioned Pepper Spray... OK for piece of mind, however only about 60% effective on hopped up, excited or "Motivated" suspects... however it is a proven fact, that they work 100% of the time on Policemen and bystanders... And the stuff gets EVERYWHERE... very, very irritating to the eyes and lungs,, in a closed in area, you most likely will be impaired yourself, and most likely slinging "Snot Ropes" for a while.. not fun... Hose down a suspect with pepper spray or other OC,, your not putting him in MY car...!! BTDT.. Got the Tee Shirt...
Pistols, Shotguns (I too like the 20ga option) at least one of sufficient caliber and bullet weight does not have a problem with heavy clothing.
Legal to own, AND Carry...
Ammunition, cheaper and plentiful.. and trips to the range can be fun
Don't have to keep a pistol on a charger... bullets don't use batteries...
They just work better, and EVERYBODY understands the universal language of a Shotgun Slide being racked.. it IS the loudest thing you can do in a dark room. Or a slide on a pistol coming home, or the hammer on a revolver cocking, (but I DO NOT CONDONE Single action use of a double action pistol) .. nobody mistakes it.. Or Yelling, I have a GUN, works better than I'm gonna shock you!!
Every stand off Tazer I have seen is equipped with a Laser... your/her pistol should as well.. it also does a lot of explaining for you.. I personally LOVE laser sights, the use of a laser has ended more potentially lethal encounters, with out a word being spoken.. it will cause the smoke to rise off of tennis shoe heals pretty quickly... And if it doesn't well, that's what the bullets are for..
And
Your in TEXAS, there is not a DA in this State that would charge and try a Woman, who defended herself and her home by shooting a burglar in her own home, and have a Preachers chance in hell of getting re-elected, and they know that... Public here wouldn't stand for it... Something about Women and Honor, the Code of the West and all that stuff... It would be political suicide...
Just me rambling on at the end of a long day...
Bob