Stun gun: a means of self-defense or useless souvenir?

Recently, the problem of own security has become increasingly acute in our country. A large group of people of both sexes today reflects on what weapon It is appropriate to have with you for self-defense: a traumatic or gas pistol, a gas spray, “a cry honed in training”, a well-placed commander’s voice, knowledge of human psychology, a well-rehearsed kick in the groin or, for example, a stun gun. Today you can buy it without any problems. But between the models there is a significant difference. Some Chinese documentary models are not electric shockers at all, and professional ones that are adopted by law enforcement agencies cannot be acquired by the common citizen, what should be done in this situation?

What is a stun gun?

The stun gun is a device for contacting a person with a high-voltage electrical discharge, which is based on an electrical impulse generator. Animals, for example, dogs of large breeds, can be frightened even of one type of electrical discharge (a violent arc of lilac or blue color). So the stun gun is able to act on aggressive animals without contact. Rabbits, for example, are afraid of such a discharge even more, but this beast is unlikely to attack you.

In service with domestic law enforcement agencies is a special-purpose electrical shock machine ESHU-200. Its power is 20 watts, and the power of an 30 joule exposure for a short time in 3 seconds. This device can not be purchased without special permission. An analogue for citizens and employees of departmental security is the ESHU-100 stun gun (the energy of a single exposure of which is no more than 9 joules). Developers justify such a big difference by a psychological factor. In their opinion, when confronted with police officers, the offender subconsciously expects more resistance than from an ordinary civilian, which is why the military and service weapons are more powerful.

Let's go further. The average resistance to electric current of the human body is considered to be the resistance equal to 1 kOhm. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the resistance of the human body is a variable quantity, which depends on a large number of various factors (skin condition, its moisture, general body condition, electrical effect parameters, and a number of others). At each person in various periods of time individual deviations of resistance to an electric current are possible. In this case, it is this average deviation equal to 1 kOhm that is taken as the basis for calculating the energy of a single exposure.

combat stun gun ESHU-200

That is why all the electric shockers produced today in Russia, both military and service weapons, and those that are in free sale (ESHU-100) correspond to the “Temporary medical standards for the safety of human impact of electro-shock devices”, which are approved by the Ministry of Health of Russia. The basic terms and definitions are given in GOST R 50940-96, here it is also indicated that “as an ESD can be used spark gaps with similar functions, as well as stationary ESAs used for the protection of departmental and civilian objects”.

What makes the world happy?

As a self-defense weapon, stun guns are not allowed in all countries of the world. For example, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, New Zealand, Lithuania and Estonia refused from this means of self-defense. In the US, there are also a number of states in which stun guns are banned. And here you can meet and very paradoxical situations (for example, in the state of Michigan ESH are prohibited, and firearms are allowed).

Recommendations for use

Recommendations for the use of stun guns are quite simple: its use must be sudden, while using a stun gun requires a certain degree of determination. It is important not just to frighten the enemy (such behavior can cause inadequate aggression and forced attack from the enemy), “idle” discharge into the air, but ensure tight contact of the stun gun with the person attacking you. It is necessary to consider the following rule. The most susceptible areas of a person’s lesion are the face, neck, inguinal and chest areas. The use of a stun gun in these places is not recommended.

Psychologically, it is very important: in no case should your opponent be underestimated, stun guns should not be threatened if this is not absolutely necessary. There is an unspoken rule in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other law enforcement agencies: “Do not take out a weapon unnecessarily, but if you take it out, use it.”

service stun gun ESHU-100

Safety Precautions

Security measures when using a stun gun can be put in the 1 paragraph. Do not use a stun gun near sources of open flame, being in explosive environments (for example, near a gas station) and in water. All other restrictions include prohibitions on the use of the ESD against persons under the age of 16 (if the age is known or evident from external data), against disabled people, pregnant women, of course, unless all of these people are armed or attack you in a group.

In addition to stun guns (ESD), there are also stun stun guns (ESR), in Russia this is, for example, the Tonus device. These means of self-defense are much more effective both in their main reaction and in their discharge power. However, the ESR, like a number of powerful stun guns, are simply banned for free sale and are only in service with special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and a number of other Russian departments, for example, the FSO. These devices, in accordance with their purpose, cause people temporary loss of orientation, powerful tonic convulsions, inability to move, violation of the rhythm of breathing.

In conclusion, I would like to reassure all those interested in purchasing these devices. No one who used a stun gun in accordance with these safety rules was hurt. Electric shock does not threaten the owner of this means of self-defense, which means that a good stun gun is one of the most effective options for self-defense in a modern multi-layered and not at all tolerant society.

On the other hand, justice does not sleep. In the event that with the help of a stun gun, however, as well as with any other device, you inflict harm on the person attacking you, inadequate to his attack, you will have to respond to the full extent of Russian laws. At present, all foreign-made stun guns are banned in Russia. The fact that they are selling under the guise of an ESD made in China is positioned on the market as “toys” or “souvenirs”, so expecting some big effect from them is just silly, the maximum that they can cry is visual fright.