A stun baton (sometimes called electric baton) is an electroshock weapon used for self defense. They have been used by watchmen, police and military units worldwide for decades. These days stun batons are becoming much more commonplace because more and more ordinary citizens are carrying them for their own safety.

Stun gun batons are an effective means of self defense because they can immobilize an attacker by administering electric shock aimed at disrupting superficial muscle functions. The voltage from one of these devices can range from around 300,000 volts to 4.5 million volts depending on the model; with the most common being in the 500,000 to 800,000 volt ranges. Because of their power and extended reach (some up to 21.5"), stun batons make it easy to keep a perpetrator at bay. In addition to self defense applications, stun batons are very popular for protection against attacking dogs and other aggressive wild animals because their extended reach can keep your hands and arms as far away from the animals teeth as possible.

A stun baton is not manufactured to be used as a truncheon and therefore should never be used in that manner. If you hit someone with it, you'll most likely shake the electronic circuits loose and damage the device, rendering it useless to deliver a high voltage shock. Most stun batons are made from non-conductive materials such as heavy weight plastic or rubber which prevents the user from receiving a shock while using it. These materials are simply not solid enough to be used as an impact weapon and probably won't have any effect on the assailant even if you did try to clobber him with it.

There is a wide variety of these electric stun sticks to choose from on the market today that vary in length. Some even offer certain features like a built in flashlight and high decibel alarm. Your choice of which one to carry is entirely up to you and that best suits your personal needs. For example expandable (or telescopic) stun baton offers the same convenience of extended reach as the typical stun baton does, but also offers the added convenience of being able to be retracted into a closed position to make for easy carrying. Some models of expandable batons also offer additional options such as built-in flashlights for illumination in dark areas, disable safety pins as well as audible sirens to assist in scaring off attackers.

A typical stun baton incorporates two metal prongs at the end of the stick which operates by sparking electrical current between the two probes. Poking an assailant with this end of the baton while activating the device will incapacitate an assailant. A three to five second electrical discharge will leave the perpetrator dazed and temporarily paralyzed unable to move. The baton will also transfer a shock if it is touched six inches from the tip. This keeps an attacker from snatching it away from you.

The maximum effective areas for stun baton usage are upper shoulder, below the rib cage, and the upper hip. These particular areas of the body are where nerve centers are located; although a stun gun baton will work on any part of the body. For maximum effect, hold the stun stick against the assailant and fire as long as necessary to immobilize them so you can escape to safety.

When you are ready to purchase a stun baton for self protection, some reliable brands to consider are Stun Master and Uzi.

Stun Master has been a leader in the stun gun industry for the past 15 years. Stun weapons which carry the Stun Master brand have proven themselves to be the most dependable and economical self-defense devices available. More individuals own a Stun Master than any other brand of stun device. Stun Master stun guns have withstood the test of time which cannot be said for most of the stun devices on the market today.

For decades the Uzi family of firearms have been legendary for their intimidating power. Reliability and toughness are but a few of the words which describe arms that bare the Uzi trademark. Now the only official non-lethal weapons sanctioned by Uzi are available for private citizens. These include their own line of stun guns and stun batons.

Before making your purchase it’s important to know the laws and restrictions regarding this type of personal safety device. There are a number of locations inside the U.S.A. that prohibit the use of stun batons and those are: States of Connecticut, Illinois, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. As well as, the cities of Annapolis MD, Baltimore MD, Baltimore County MD, Chicago IL, Washington DC, and Philadelphia PA. In each of these places, the general rule of thumb is that any type of concealed weapon such as a stun gun, taser, knife, pistol, or baton is considered illegal without a permit.

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