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Self Defense: A Necessity for Women

2008-03-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

Whoever thought that the world would become a better place in due time and with technological advancements and modernization was wrong. The world is still as hostile a place, and the only thing that has changed is the weapons. Crime has become more sophisticated in nature but the sad part is that women are still considered as soft targets.

Crimes against women have in fact, increased over the years in developed countries like the US and UK and across the world. Let us first take a look at the worldwide statistics for crime on women:

1 in every 3 women across the world has been subjugated to rape or sexual assault. (Data: 2001)
In some developing countries, at least one-third of the adolescent girls have been forced into sexual initiation (Data: 2002)
Sex crimes in South Africa take place every twenty seconds. (Data: 2000)
Major incidents of rapes have been reported in 12 African provinces. The rate has increased considerably from 182 in 2001 to 270 in 2002.
14,000 of the 331,815 reported crimes committed against women in the Russian Federation were rapes.According to a survey in the United Kingdom it was found that 19.4 % of the women there have been victims of some kind of sexual violence. (Data: 2001)
40% of girls in South East Asia are being forced into prostitution as a means to feed their families.

Now let's take a look at the US

One of the startling facts is that 1 in 3 American women are sexually assaulted in their lifetime.
89% of sexual crimes have been committed by someone known to the victim.
In 2002, there were 247,730 victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.
In 2005-2006, there were 232,010 victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.
Around 44% of rape victims are under age 18, while 80% are under age 30.

Sources (2005)

1. The World Bank. www.worldbank.org
2. "International Statistics." www.sexualassault.virginia.edu/statistics_international.htm
3. United Nations Development Fund for Women. "Facts and Figures: Sexual Violence in Non-Conflict Situations." www.unifem.org/campaigns/november25/facts_figures_3.php
4. The World Health Organization. "Sexual Violence Facts." www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention
5. United Nations Development Fund for Women. "Stop Violence against Women: Prevalence of Sexual Assault." www.stopvaw.org/PrevalenceofSexualAssault.html or www.unifem.org
6. National Center for Victims of Crime (2004)
7. NSVRC. "Global perspectives on Sexual

In such an insecure world, it is far more difficult for a woman to survive as compared to their male counterpart. But all is not lost because there are several methods or weapons that a woman can use to thwart an assaulter. One of the most powerful and popular weapons is the pepper spray, which has a far-reaching effect. The motive behind using pepper sprays as opposed to lethal weapons like Guns is that pepper sprays or Tasers will not kill the assaulter or anyone trying to commit crime on a woman but at the same time, these weapons are extremely effective and can save a woman's life and dignity.

The different types of crimes on women include:

Carjacking
Rape
Murder & Theft
Theft
Sexual abuse
Domestic violence
Purse snatching
Stalking
Threats
Property crimes
Sexual harassment in the office

Of all these crimes, rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment in office premises and stalking has a higher rate than other crimes. In such a crime, a woman can use a pepper spray, Taser or martial art techniques for self defense.

The Pepper Spray

The Pepper spray is also called an OC spray, where OC stands for Oleoresin Capsicum. It is basically a powerful lachrymatory agent, a chemical compound that can cause severe irritation in the eyes and ears and even lead to temporary blindness and severe pain. The pepper spray is used the world over by women to protect them against any anti-social element and have considerably brought down the number of sexual molestation and rape in many countries.

The Pepper spray can be used for various purposes like controlling a mob, controlling riot and even as a weapon of self-defense against animals like bears, wolves, and dogs. It is completely non-lethal although it can be deadly if not used in small quantities. In 1995, the American Civil Liberties Union had documented 14 cases of pepper spray use that turned fatal. If you spray an entire can of Pepper Spray into someone's eyes then in all probability the subject will go permanently blind.

The primary ingredient in Pepper spray is called capsaicin. Capsaicin is a chemical compound that can be derived from the fruits of a special plant belonging to the Capsicum genus and chillies. There are several different types of Pepper spray in use like Mace Pepper Sprays, Wildfire Pepper Spray, Lipstick Pepper Spray, and a specific version called the PAVA Pepper Spray. The PAVA Pepper Spray has capsaicin, pelargonic acid vanillylamide or desmethyldihydrocapsaicin and it is extensively used in England. A synthetic counterpart of the pepper spray is called the pelargonic acid morpholide. This was developed in Russia and is widely used there.

Pepper sprays are available in canisters and are considered to be an inflammatory. The moment you use pepper spray on a subject, it will cause severe irritation in the eyes and closing of the eye. Some of the other symptoms include a running nose, difficulty in breathing, and coughing apart from the tears. The duration of a Pepper spray effect actually depends on the amount of spray you have used but on an average it can last from anywhere between thirty minutes to an hour.

Here are some important tips:

1. When you are carrying a can of pepper spray in your hand, your thumb should be on the top of your trigger.
2. If your attacker comes too close too you then back up a little so that you are in a better position to use the spray.
3. Use a good amount of spray so that the chilli pepper can do its job as quickly as possible.
4. While the attacker is in pain and temporarily blind, you should try to get out of there as fast as you can.

TASER C2

One of the best self-defense weapons is a stun gun like the Taser C2. There are several benefits of owning or using a Taser C2 stun gun. It is handy and can be carried just about anywhere. It can be hid in the purse as it is of the size of a TV remote and can be used anywhere, anytime. It can be easily found over the internet and costs around $300.

The Taser C2 delivers a charge or electric current the moment it comes into direct contact with the attacker or the subject in question. The Taser C2 has a range of 15 feet and it can pierce through 2 inches of clothing. The range will help any woman to prepare and defend herself well in advance.

The Taser C2 is an electronically controlled device or ECD. The cartridge consists of two electrodes, which are propelled through the air with the help of two wires and compressed nitrogen. The electrodes pierce through the clothing and stick to the skin. Electrical pulses are transmitted through the wires to the electrodes and into the body of the attacker. The effect is stunning and the attacker will go into a shock. The effect will last long enough for you to flee from there or call for law enforcement agents. The Taser C2 can be fired to anywhere on the body and is non-lethal hence can be used extensively by women to thwart any attack.

Martial Arts

The last line of defense is Martial Arts, which combined with any of the above can prove to be a lethal combination. Martial Arts are not for everyone not because the training is difficult but because it is time consuming too. Martial art is considered to be a lethal force and you might end up killing your attacker. There are different types of martial art forms that can be learnt quickly like Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, and Tai Chi. Karate and Taekwondo are by far the most popular forms and can also cause severe injury to the attacker.

There are certain parts of the human body, which are prone to severe injuries like the face, forehead, neck, abdomen, and groin. You can hit a man or your attacker in the groin and the nose for maximum impact. The strongest weapons of a woman's body include the head, elbow, and knees. Martial art will teach you to use these body parts effectively to disable or wound your opponent temporarily. A hit with the elbow to the nose will not only stun them but also give you enough time to get away.

The only drawback of Martial arts is that it is effective only in close combat situations but if your subject is fleeing away or is at a distance then the Taser and the Pepper Spray can prove to be highly effective.

Use Of Tasers Vs Lethal Force In Law Enforcement

2008-03-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

Crime has come a long way to make its root firmer in the society and has forced law enforcement agencies to take up arms against criminals. Some of the countries arm their law enforcement officials with the latest and deadly weapons, which fall in the category of lethal force. The use of tactical weapons has become necessary because crime is not just about snatching bags anymore. Crime has also become techno-savvy and criminals have started to use some of the best weapons in the market. If we look at the top 10 countries with high rate of crime then the numbers are astoundingly high.

1. Iceland 14,726.95
2. Sweden 13,455.08
3. New Zealand 12,586.64
4. Grenada 10,177.89
5. Norway 10,086.72
6. England & Wales 9,823.38
7. Denmark 9,460.38
8. Finland 8,697.37
9. Scotland 8,428.97
10. Canada 4,123.97

The above are per 100,000 inhabitants

In the United States itself, the Crime Index Rates have increased from 1,887.2 in the 60’s to more than double, which are 5,897.8 by 1991 and this is per 100,000 inhabitants. In 1991, the crime rate in the US was 313% more than the rate in 1960. Crime rate in other countries of the world have also increased considerably in the last couple of decades.

For more than a few decades, law enforcement agencies in the US and in other countries across the world have been using automated weapons to fight criminals and this has resulted in loss of life on either sides. An NIJ report has confirmed that the US federal government spends approximately $75 billion on the different law enforcement agencies as well as the judicial system. Yet not all the money infused into the system has helped in protecting innocent citizens from becoming the victim. In fact, according to a report, if the overall productivity of the law enforcement agencies could be increased by 1% then it would make a huge positive impact on the crime rate in the US and will even cut down the economic loss by $700,000,000.

The question is how can the enforcement agencies fight crime effectively and without killing the criminal? The answer lies with alternative weapons, which resourceful, effective, inexpensive, and not life are threatening.

The Emergence of Taser

One of the recent problems faced by several law agencies is that of transporting hardened convicts from one prison location to another. There are times when convicts have tried to escape and in the confusion officers had to resort to using their weapons and sometimes inappropriate tactics and use of force, which cause more harm than good and even death in some cases.

This is where a Taser comes in. A Taser looks like a gun but it is an entirely different concept. It is basically a type of electroshock weapon, which can stun a subject from quite a distance. The models being used currently by law enforcement agencies are the M26 and X26. Some of the other models include the Taser C2 and the Taser M18.

The primary reason behind introducing Taser is the fact that they are non-lethal weapons that can be used by law enforcement agencies for subduing potentially dangerous and fleeing subjects like convicts. Taser can considerably reduce the usage of life threatening weapons like the service guns.

The Taser was developed initially by Jack Cover, who was a NASA researcher, in 1969. The modern day Taser can fire two small electrodes, which are connected with a main unit through two conductive wires. They are propelled into the air or towards the subject with the help of small but compressed nitrogen charges. Each of the air cartridges is equipped with two electrodes as well as enough compressed nitrogen to fire a single shot. The air cartridge has to be replaced after use.

Cartridges for the Taser are available depending on the range that you expect to achieve. The maximum range of a Taser is 35 feet or 10.6 meters, a distance at which you can fire it and catch a fleeing convict or criminal. The cartridges available for civilian use have a maximum range of 15 feet or 4.5 meters.

Once fired from the Taser, the pointed electrodes will pierce through the clothing and remain in place because of they are barbed. The latest models of the Taser including the C2 are called 'pulse' models and they can pierce through a Level III body armor vest. The Taser gives an electric shock that stuns the subject for a few minutes during which the law enforcement officers can overpower the subject and take him/her into custody.

The Taser C2

The Taser C2 is perfect for independent men and women who require an effective but not life threatening protection device. As of today almost 250,000 law enforcement officials across 40 countries are using different Taser devices including the C2. The Taser C2 is a great weapon for self-defense and is categorized under Electronic Control Devices (ECDs). It can propel wires that will stun the subject and affect the motor and sensory functions of the central nervous system. The Taser C2 is available with a replaceable cartridge that contains compressed nitrogen and two small electrodes and can fire a shot to a maximum range of 15 feet

The range of 15 feet gives the Taser a definite advantage because you can use it the moment you sense danger. You can even use it if someone snatches your bag at the supermarket and tries to flee. This flexibility in firing from a distance makes the Taser C2 an absolute weapon to have. The Taser C2 can protect you or your family from a potentially threatening situation and keep everyone safe.

The Taser C2 technology has been proven to be highly effective in laboratory exercises and in real life situation. It is considered as one of the best weapons for self-defense from a safe distance. Today there are in excess of 500,000 users of the Taser worldwide. The Taser C2 technology has also been supported by several medical reports and medical organizations that have vouched for the general safety that comes with this stun gun. There are no long-term injuries and the subject can recover completely in a matter of minutes.

What gives the Taser C2 the advantage over conventional weapons is that the discharge of electricity can affect the entire body as well as the central nervous system. The best thing is that you can fire it to any part of the body and it will do its job. According to several reports, the Taser C2 was found to be 95% effective during real encounters. . Unlike other Taser models, the Taser C2 will operate for a period of 30 seconds once activated. This special feature is primarily so that once deployed, an individual can drop the Taser C2 and have a 30 second window in which to escape to safety. To enhance this feature even more, Taser International warranties that if your Taser C2 is deployed in an attack, send them a copy of the police report describing the event, and Taser International will replace your Taser C2 free of charge.

The Taser M-18

The Taser M-18 is an advanced version of this non-lethal technology. It also uses compressed nitrogen to fire two small electrodes up to a maximum distance of 15 feet. The electrodes are connected with the help of high-voltage insulated wires to the Taser M-18. When the electrodes come into contact with a subject then electrical pulses are transmitted through the wires into the body of the subject and can penetrate 2 inches of clothing.

The use of the Taser M-18 over the years has become increasingly popular with civilians as well as law enforcement agencies due to its high degree of effectiveness and above all there is no bloodshed. It can be used in different situations and can save several lives. Most importantly, the number of deaths in custody, robbing, and theft has gone down due to the use of the Taser M-18. Using guns have never been as effective.

The Taser M-18 has a 100% rating for effectiveness. The Taser M-18 is not only considered as a better option to the automatic weapons being used by law enforcement agents but is also better than the traditional stun guns. One of the quantum leaps in the Taser M-18 technology is the effective stopping power due to the use of a new and advanced Electro-Muscular Disruption (EMD) technology. The advanced Taser M-18 can shoot 2 darts or electrodes using a 15 feet wire that ensures transfer of 50,000 volts to the central nervous system of the subject. What the Taser M-18 really provides is an incredible power to take down almost any opponent.

As a result of its effective use, Taser devices or guns are being looked at as the next generation weapon. Soon it might replace the conventional colt, Walther, CZ 75B or other automatic handguns and weapons. The Taser is a weapon that can be used for self-defense by both civilians and law enforcement agencies. It is easy to use, more effective than conventional weapons, works at close range and removes any threat to life. Now that’s a weapon of the future!

Streetwise Small Fry Blackout added to our lineup

2008-03-17T19:38:00.001-07:00

We are happy to announce that we are now carrying the new Streetwise Small Fry Blackout. This new stun gun offers all the same great features as the orginal Small Fry but also includes a 6 LED light for illuminating your attacker.

You can read more about the new Small Fry Blackout by clicking: http://www.stungunsupply.com/product/streetwise-small-fry-blackout-stun-gun.html

Crime Victims Forum

2008-01-11T05:29:00.000-08:00

CCU, Inc. would like to invite everyone to visit their online community for victims and the families of violent and non-violent crimes.

CrimeVictimsForum.com offers free information, help and support to crime victims. With topic ranging from Self Defense to Female Rape Victims, you are sure to find information to help you put the pieces back together again following a traumatic event.

Taser C2 Sale

2008-01-11T05:20:00.000-08:00

From now and until further notice, we will be selling the Taser C2 at $50.00 off the normal retail price. To claim your $50 discount, please register or log into your account and enter the appropriate discount coupon code displayed at the top of each taser page during checkout.

Look for more special savings and discounts coming next month.

New Products and some fixes

2007-09-30T19:54:00.001-07:00

We have recently begun adding additional products to our website from Streetwise Security Products. We are excited about the additional of these new products and feel that our customers will certainly appreciate these new additions. These items include rechargeable stun guns and stun batons. We will be adding additional Streetwise products over the next few days, so be sure to check back for new additions. The Streetwise Security Products can be viewed at: Streetwise Security Products.

In addition, we have also determined we were experiencing a problem with our Google Checkout process, but believe we have corrected this issue. If you experience any problems with the Google Checkout or any of our other checkout processes, please let us know immediately.

Potential Upgrade Problem Fix

2007-09-07T18:53:00.000-07:00

Well a lot of time has been put into trying to find a solution to our website access problem and we believe we have come up with a conclusion. It appears that Java and Internet Explorer don't really get along so well.

Regardless, I believe we have gotten the problem corrected. If you come across any further issues with the website, we would appreciate you letting us know.

Website Access Issues

2007-09-06T20:46:00.000-07:00

Well as expected, we have come across a slight glitch to our website software upgrades. We are getting reports that customers are occationally experiencing difficulties in accessing the website. If the customer clicks the OK button on the error message, and then does a page refresh, they are taken immediately to the website.

Our website adminstrator is looking into this problem and hopes to have it corrected within the next few days. We appreciate your patience in this matter.

Missing Butterfly / Balisong Knives

2007-09-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

For those individuals that have visited our website searching for butterfly knives, we appologize for being forced to remove them.

PayPal classifies a butterfly knife as another name for a switchblade knife. Why I don't know because there is no similarity. Thus in order to keep PayPal as a payment option, we were forced to remove the butterfly knives from our website until we can find a suitable means of listing these products while still remaining within PayPal's policies.

We are working on a solutions, but in the mean time butterfly knives can be purchased via email, fax or phone order.

Website Upgrades

2007-08-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

We have made significant changes and upgrades to the website lately, although not all are visible to the public. One thing that is quite obvious to our customers is that we have disabled our "Live Help" button.

The company we were using for Live Help hosting has apparently went out of business. Thus, it was necessary to disable this function until we can find a suitable software replacement. We are actively searching for alternative Live Help software and hope to have this function back up and running soon. Feel free to offer any software suggestions that you may know of.

We have also upgraded our checkout process to a easier and quicker checkout. If you experience any issues with the new checkout upgrade, please let us know.

Future additions will be "How To Videos" on stun gun, pepper spray and Taser basics. These videos will include things such as changing the batteries and proper stun gun and pepper spray operation. Feel free to leave any website suggestions you may have.