Stun Gun or Handgun: Which is Better?

Due to the fact that crime is constantly on the rise, many people are looking for different ways to protect themselves. If you have recently been by a store that sells weapons for self-defense, then you know that there are many options for you to choose from. Before 1980s, this was not a hard decision, because pretty much the only option that you had was to buy handgun.

Since that time, there have been a multitude of other non-lethal weapons that have come on the market. One of the more popular types of these weapons is a stun gun. But which of these two is better? This article will give you details on how you can make a side-by-side comparison between a handgun and a stun gun.

If you have young children run around your home, you may be a little apprehensive about having a handgun around the house. Although most handgun owners keep their weapons locked up, we all know that children have an uncanny ability to get into things that they're not supposed to. Therefore, you will more than likely be required to keep your weapon locked behind some type of complicated control system. This means that you could possibly lose precious seconds in the event that someone were to break into your home. While a stun gun could certainly cause harm to a child, the chances of it causing a fatal wound a much smaller than with a handgun.

If you are still leaning towards a handgun, be mindful of the fact that any time that you pull out a handgun, you have to be absolutely ready to pull the trigger. Most self-defense experts will teach you that you're not supposed to aim for the legs or the arms, because every time that you fire a shot, it needs to be fired with the intention of killing the target. Any time you purchase a handgun, you need to be mindful of the fact that one day it could be used to kill someone.

Most people are a little apprehensive about stun guns because they understand that they are not 100% effective, and in most cases they are only useful in incapacitating an attacker, and they are not completely guaranteed to stop someone in their tracks. Some of the most powerful stun guns on the market today can carry up to 750,000 volts of electricity, however even that amount is not guaranteed to keep you safe, and if your attacker happens to weigh a great deal more than you, he still may be able to get his hands on you.

When he comes to a handgun, most people are not sure that they would be able to pull the trigger, because they are aware of the fact that they could possibly end someone's life. If you were in a life and death situation, and the life of your family members, or friends was on the line, you would probably be able to do it. What if a thief happened to break into your home looking for antiques or jewelry, and they were not armed? In this case a nonlethal weapon would probably be more beneficial, because you would have the option of being able to temporarily wound the intruder, instead of killing them.

These are just a few of the different facts that you will want to consider when making the decision between choosing a handgun or a stun gun. There may be a whole lot more that come to mind, but the key point here is that you understand that these questions must be addressed before you can make a final decision.