News

Women's Self Defense Tips and Techniques

Our team came across a report from WPTV in West Palm Beach discussing basic self defense tips for women. While we always recommend being prepared with products from our Tasers for Women and Women's Pepper Spray collections, its important to understand self defense situations rarely go according to plan. While the high heel self defense tip might not make sense for everyone, take some time to watch or forward to a family member, friend, or coworker and review our brief rundown of basic personal safety tips. If we have left anything off the list, feel free to add your own tips in our comments section. 

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

One of the keys to avoid becoming a victim is to be aware of surroundings. Keeping your head on a swivel can help you to recognize anything that looks out of place and avoid situations before they become dangerous.

Situational awareness is knowing what is going on around you. While situational awareness can allow you to identify dangerous situations, it also can also keep you from being targeted.Criminals prefer having the element of surprise while targeting an unaware victim. Being distracted by using a smart phone, texting, or listening to music, can mark you as an easy target.

While there are various degrees of situational awareness, at a minimum it includes:

  • Identify odd behavior: Does the individual demonstrate aggressive body language?
  • Be aware of individuals focused or following you: Pay special attention for repeated glancing or staring.
  • Identifying suspicious objects: Is the individual clutching or carrying an object or have an object, potentially a weapon, hidden in their clothing?
  • Knowing exit locations and accessibility: Know exits from buildings, near-by public areas, and/or security offices.
You can maintain situational awareness through a variety of methods:
  • Use peripheral vision: Using peripheral vision allows you to watch a larger area without making direct eye contact
  • Make use of barriers and structures: Stopping and leaning up against walls or buildings can allow you to see if you are being followed without having to look over your shoulder. Stopping or pausing while keeping a safe distance will allow you to determine if an individual who might be following you reacts suspiciously.
  • Make use of reflective surfaces to see what is going on behind you.
Avoid being an easy target
 
Criminals target individuals who will provide the least resistance. Focusing on a phone or device keeps you from being aware of your surroundings and makes you an easy target for criminals. Walk with confidence and with a purpose. Make eye contact and move at a steady pace and know where you are going. Try to walk in well-lit and well populated areas. If walking on a sidewalk, walk against traffic to avoid having a car pull up from behind you. If you are listening to music with headphones, keep volume low or keep one earbud out to allow you to hear other noises and potential threats.
 
If vacationing or traveling abroad, avoid looking like a tourist: Tourists are typically targeted by criminals because they usually carry cash and/or valuables typically in backpacks or large purses, are unfamiliar with the surrounding areas, and are distracted by new surroundings. If on vacation, try to stay in well-lit and well populated areas and know where you are going or take a taxi or travel in tour groups.
 
What to do if you sense danger
 
If you think you are being followed, move to a well-lit and populated area. Make noise and scream for help; criminals try to minimize the attention and number of witnesses. By moving to a well-lit and populated area and drawing attention, you can avoid being seen as an easy target as you increase the criminals’ risk of getting caught or other people getting involved.
 
If you have a self-defense weapon, such as a Taser, Stun Gun, or Pepper Spray, you should position the weapon into an easily accessible location. Depending on the type of weapon, you may want to display the weapon to scare attackers away or keep the weapon hidden to keep the element of surprise. 
What to do if you are confronted
  • Try to remain calm. If you have been aware of your surroundings you likely saw this coming.
  • Remember that personal property can be replaced; your physical safety is your top priority.
  • Try to make use of barriers or structures. If confronted by more than one assailant, placing your back against a wall allows you to avoid surprised from behind. This should be done only when outnumbered or when you believe there to be a low likelihood of being able to escape as placing your back against a structure can help attackers corner you and keep you from escaping.
  • Follow directions to the extent it doesn’t risk your physical safety. If you feel the criminal is simply looking to take anything of value, do not do anything sudden that would risk your safety.If you are going to move, move slowly, communicate your moves and explain why you are moving. Communicating will keep misunderstandings to a minimum and lower the risk of physical harm.
  • Tell the attacker anything that would surprise or encourage them to leave as soon as possible. For example, say you are expecting visitors at any moment.
  • Try to look for distinguishing scars, tattoos, height, and weight, it may be helpful for law enforcement in identifying the attacker.
  • By this time your self-defense weapon should be positioned to be used if you feel the criminal may pose a risk to your physical well-being. This can include a tactical pen, pepper spray, or stun gun.
  • Take action to defend yourself if you are attacked or sense danger. Remember, fighting back may put you are increased risk. Only fight back if you feel you would be at greater risk by doing nothing. 
  • If you are involved in a physical confrontation, understand that protecting your head, neck, and chest are vital to your survival. In any physical confrontation, you will likely be injured. The key to survival is limiting that damage to non-vital areas of the body. 
While there is nothing that guarantees your safety, following the tips listed above can significantly 
reduce the chances of being a victim. No matter what the situation, remember that personal valuables 
are replaceable but the lives and physical well-being of you and your family members cannot be replaced. 

Independence Day Sale - Stun Guns, Tasers, and Self Defense Products

With the 4th of July just around the corner, it is a great reminder to take some time out of your day to celebrate more than just the BBQs, pool parties, and the three day weekend. American Independence Day stands for so many things. For many, it is a reminder to look back at the founding of the nation. And to appreciate the freedoms that can sometimes take for granted. For our team, we are inspired to continue the work of those who have embraced the spirit of self-defense. This has allowed Americans to celebrate freedom for 240 years.

Since the earliest days of the American Revolution, America has been founded in the very spirit of self-defense. Dating back to the Boston Tea Party and founding of the Continental Congress, Americans have risked of their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. On this July 4th, we hope you are inspired by the generations who have fought for all future generations.

The Department of Self Defense team will continue our mission in self-defense. As far as the liberty and pursuit of happiness part, we leave that up to you. To help continue this mission, we our offering special sales on our best selling products. Not only are these products popular today, we feel they would have been the best selling products back in the original thirteen colonies and ordered by General Washington himself had we been around in 1776.

Check out our special sales below and have a happy and safe 4th of July. 


Ladies Choice Taser for WomenThe always fashionable Streetwise Ladies Choice 21,000,000 Volt Coral Stun Gun would have been exactly what the Daughters of Liberty would have needed if a Red Coat drank a little too much Ale and was getting out of hand. The only complaint about the product would have been that it isn't available in red, white, and blue. 

 


 
 
Sting Ring Taser for WomenWith George Washington away from Mount Vernon and John Adams helping Thomas Jefferson with the Declaration of Independence, Martha Washington and Abigail Adams were left alone to manage the homes. The future Presidents would have felt better about leaving their wives at home knowing they were protected by the easily concealable Streetwise Sting Ring 18,000,000 Volt Stun Gun.

 

 


 
Flashlight TaserImagine how effective the Continental Army would have been had they been able to use the Jolt Police 45,000,000 Volt Tactical Flashlight Stun Gun. The bright LED flashlight gives a whole new meaning to the Bunker Hill rallying cry "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes".
 
 

 


 
Flashlight Stun Gun While they might not have made their mark on the battlefield, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and all the other members of the Continental Congress were risking life and limb after being labeled as traitors by King George III. They might not have been looking over their shoulders while signing the Declaration of Independence had they been given these compact Police Force 9,200,000 Volt Gun Metal Tactical Flashlight Stun Guns. 

And don't worry about Benjamin Franklin, we would have had him properly outfitted as well. As a man of fashion and practicality, our Zap 1,000,000 Volt Stun Cane would have given our favorite Founding Father a powerful stun gun without losing any mobility. 

 

ZAP Blast Knuckles Extreme Taser

With so much uncertainty, walking down the street of New York or Boston could have meant being confronted by Red Coats or a group of unruly loyalists. What better way to enforce your right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness than with the Zap Blast Knuckles Extreme Stun Gun. With the rubberized coated soft contour grip helping to deliver 950,000 volts through 4 sharp electrodes, this would have left any loyalist reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Great Blog to Check Out

We at the Department of Self Defense strive to provide you with up-to-date and relevant self defense products, reviews, and information. While we can appreciate that we aren't experts in every aspect of self defense, we are always searching to find you the best products, experts, and information to help keep you safe. 

For those of you who are looking for non-lethal self-defense tips and information, we recommend checking out lessthanlethalselfdefenseblog.com. 

Important Lessons for Parents from Attempted Abduction in Florida

This recent story of the attempted abduction of a 13 year old girl in Hernando, FL has been making the rounds through the media for the past week but is worth revisiting for the benefit of people who haven't yet seen it. As upsetting as it might be to watch, we can learn from it to help ensure we are prepared to keep our children safe in the event something similar happens to you. A couple of brief observations:
  • Be aware of where you are and who is around you: This incident highlights how important situational awareness is in keeping you and your family safe. Notice the odd behavior of the suspect right before he moves into abduct the child? Had the mother been focused on a phone or otherwise distracted, the suspect might have had just enough time to get the girl out of the reach of the mother. The mother's awareness was one of the keys in keeping her daughter safe. 
  • Know where your children are at all times: It's important to keep children close to you. It's tough to keep a child and all their bottled up energy from running up and down the aisle. In this instance, keeping the child close made all the difference in allowing the mother to respond quickly. Had the child been running up and down the aisle, the mother may not have been quick enough to reach her daughter.   
    •   
  • Always prepare for the worst: This mother's never give up attitude kept her child safe. Even then, it was way too close to being a tragedy. Being in a tug of war situation with an abductor or any other criminal leaves too much up to chance. What if you slip or are unable to hold on? Having a self defense product such as a Stun Gun or Taser can help keep the odds of survival in your favor by giving you a couple million volts of immobilizing power. We've talked to many parents who would like to carry a something to keep their family safe but worry about their child reaching into their purse or bag looking for a toy or snack and getting accidentally stunned. Many parents are surprised to learn that many of the Tasers for Women and Stun Guns for Women products we carry, including the Streetwise Hottie 11,000,000 Volt Rechargeable Stun Gun and Streetwise Ladies Choice 21,000,000 Volt Stun Gun, are designed for mothers to keep in their purse. These units including as many as three layers of security before the unit will discharge. This gives you another weapon to use to keep you and your family safe without the worry of your child being accidentally stunned. 

9th Circuit Court of Appeals: No Constitutional Right to Concealed Carry of Firearms

In another ruling that continues to make non-lethal stun and pepper spray products one of the best choices for self defense, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that there is no constitutional right to the concealed carry of firearms. The case was brought forward by Edward Peruta after the San Diego, CA Sheriff's Department rejected his application for a concealed carry permit due to lack of "good cause". The Department's standard for "good cause" included having a job or owning a business that involves the carrying of a large amount of cash or being the victim of a threat or stalker. Peruta's application did not include any of those factors but simply included his desire to protect himself. 

This decision overturns the initial 3 panel 9th Circuit decision that affirmed the right of law abiding citizens to concealed carry under the Second Amendment. While Concealed Carry Permits will still be allowed, applicants will need to meet the good cause standards. 

This case follows the Supreme Court's March 2016 rejection of the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision in Caetano v. Massachusetts which supported Massachusetts' Stun Guns ban by finding the weapons were not protected by the Second Amendment because they were not in common use at the time of the nation's founding. In that case, a woman was arrested and convicted of having a stun gun after police found it in her purse while looking into an unrelated report of shoplifting. The woman carried it for protection against an abusive ex-boyfriend and had appealed her conviction based on her right under to the Second Amendment to self defense. 

The important take away from these cases is that is that you should continue to stay up-to-date on the ever changing laws involving firearms and weapons used for self defense. Although some findings have resulted in additional restrictions, the general consensus has been an affirmation of the fundamental right of self defense. In their Caetano decision, Justice Alito and Justice Thomas made a pretty strong case for carrying a stun gun: 

After a “bad altercation” with an abusive boyfriend put her in the hospital, Jaime Caetano found herself homeless and “in fear for [her] life.” She obtained multiple restraining orders against her abuser, but they proved futile. So when a friend offered her a stun gun “for self-defense against [her] former boy friend,” Caetano
accepted the weapon.

It is a good thing she did. One night after leaving work, Caetano found her ex-boyfriend “waiting for [her] outside.” He “started screaming” that she was “not gonna [expletive deleted] work at this place” any more because she “should be home with the kids” they had together. Caetano’s abuser towered over her by nearly a foot and outweighed her by close to 100 pounds. But she didn’t need physical strength to protect herself. She stood her ground, displayed the stun gun, and announced: “I’m not gonna take this anymore. . . . I don’t wanna have to [use the stun gun on] you, but if you don’t leave me alone, I’m gonna have to.” The gambit worked. The ex-boyfriend "got scared and he left [her] alone.” 
 
For products that will help you scare off attackers and get them to leave you alone, check out our Stun Guns and Tasers for Women collections. Also, don't forget that we also have compiled Stun Gun Laws, Taser Laws, and Pepper Spray Laws to help keep you aware of restrictions in your state. 

Best Tasers and Best Stun Guns for 2017 - Reviews

We’ve posted our Best Tasers and Best Stun Guns page to our store. Similar to our Best Flashlight Stun Guns page, our new content provides recommendations for to help you find the best self defense product to suit your needs. Our team has selected a diverse collection of six of our most popular stun gun and taser gun products. Highlights from our team and customers are included in the product descriptions.


Tasers (referred to by many in place of the common stun gun) are great self defense options for easy carry. Certain models are ideal for concealed carry based on design and size. Regardless of size or design, all of our best taser options are high voltage. The items are great self defense products for situations where a self defense spray (Pepper Spray or Mace) simply will not do.


The items selected by our team feature the high quality construction you’ve come to expect from Department of Self Defense. Our best stun gun and best tasers page features stun products with the following attributes:

- High voltage taser (stun gun)
- Rechargeable stun gun
- Integrated personal alarm
- Integrated stun gun flashlight
- Unique design for concealment

    Not surprisingly, our list includes an actual TASER product. The newly released TASER Pulse Stun Gun receives top scores for compact design, stopping power, and overall quality. The TASER brand name is the one of the best in the self defense products industry. Department of Self Defense is an Authorized TASER Dealer, so you can shop for all your TASER products with confidence.


    Check out our Best Stun Guns and Best Tasers for Self Defense and let us know what you think in the comments section below. Our goal is to simplify the decision making process and ensure that you have the best products for your safety. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

    Best Flashlight Stun Guns for 2017 - Reviews

    Hi guys! We've posted a page on our Best Flashlight Stun Guns to our store. As part of our continued effort to provide timely information on self defense products, we've combined the views of our team and customer feedback to create reviews for products in the Flashlight Stun Gun category. Our focus was to create good feedback and reviews on the best flashlight stun guns for 2017. These reviews should be helpful in educating our customers and should streamline your shopping experience.

    This will be the first in a serious of product content added to our store. We will be posting similar pages for the best stun guns, best stun batons, and best women's stun guns segments. We would appreciate feedback on other areas of interest you may have.

    Our team started the series with flashlight stun guns due to the popularity and versatility of the product. Stun flashlights incorporate a high lumen flashlight and a full strength stun gun into one product. They are sometimes referred to as flashlight tasers because of these functions. These devices allow you to signal for help or temporarily blind your attacker with the flashlight. You can also stun your attacker with the taser, allowing you to get away.

    Our stun flashlight collection consists of products made from high grade materials. These are the same grade materials found in tactical flashlights. We feature products at many different price points and sizes.

    Rechargeable batteries are another thing that our customers love about our stun flashlights. All of our products in this collection feature this convenience. This also saves you on replacement battery costs.

    Check out our Best Flashlight Stun Guns and let us know what you think in the comments section below. Our goal is to simplify the decision making process and ensure that you have the best products for your safety. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

    We're on Facebook!

    Department of Self Defense has launched our Facebook page to connect FB users with the latest updates from our team. We'll focus on posting new product info, industry updates, product photos and reviews, and links to relevant self defense news. Come see us at https://www.facebook.com/departmentofselfdefense/ and give us a like. Send us a message and we'll shoot you a coupon code for use on your next purchase of a stun gun, stun flashlight, stun baton, TASER, Mace, or other self defense product.

    For those of you interested in the business side of things, we've also created a LinkedIn page that can be found at https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-of-self-defense.

    We look forward to building out these extensions of our self defense blog.

    Father's Day Gift Ideas

    With summer almost upon us and the excitement around upcoming summer vacations building, it’s easy to forget about Father’s Day. The team at the Department of Self Defense is here to help you avoid another year of struggling to find something for the man who has it all. We have compiled our list of the best-selling self-defense products for Dad that he is sure not to already have stashed away somewhere in the garage. What better way to let Dad know you care for him and appreciate everything he has done to protect you than by getting him a gift that he will use every day and will help keep him safe. As part of the Department of Self Defense salute to Dads everywhere, for a limited time, you can save $5 off a $50 purchase by using coupon code: Dad$5 at checkout. 

    ZAP Hike n Strike 950,000 Volts Stun Walking Stick- $79.95

    Walking Stick with Stun GunGreat for the weekend hikes and camping trips, the Hike n Strike pulls double duty both as a walking stick and as a stun gun with spiked electrodes that can offer up 950,000 volts to man or beast. Extending to 56” (29” closed), the Hike n Strike weighs only 18 oz so you won’t have to hear Dad complaining about how heavy it is on the hike back from the lake. In case he complains anyway and you decide to let him hike back alone, take comfort in knowing he will have a built-in LED flashlight so he will be able to find his way back in the dark. The unit features a two year warranty and features a cap to cover the stun function to make sure he doesn’t “accidentally” test it out on your Mom. 

    JOLT Police 45,000,000 Volt Tactical Stun Flashlight- $39.95

    Tactical Flashlight with Stun Gun

    One of our best stun flashlights, the Jolt Police 45,000,000 Volt Tactical Stun Flashlight gives you a quality 2-in-1 stun/flashlight combination at a reasonable price. Dad always needs a flashlight, whether he is using it to catch your brother sneaking back in the house after a night of partying or changing a flat tire on the drive home from work, why not give him the added protection of a 45,000,000 volt stun gun? This bright LED flashlight is encased in military grade aluminum alloy to protect it from damage and comes with an easy carry holster with a belt loop. Plus, the Jolt is rechargeable so he doesn’t have an excuse to not get you a great birthday gift now that he won’t have to buy high priced replacement batteries. A great all around flashlight stun gun.

    32 oz. Beer Can Diversion Safe- $14.95

    Diversion Safe Beer Can Secret Safe

    Here’s to you Dad! Whether he needs to keep his stuff hidden from your Mom or burglars, this High Life diversion safe will do the trick. Made from a real 32 oz can of Miller High Life, this is a great gift that your dad is sure to appreciate. For the Dad who isn’t a fan of Miller, check out our other real-life product diversion safes including A&W Root Beer, Brut Shaving Foam, and Liquid Wrench. 

     

     

    ZAP Stun Walking Cane 1,000,000 Volt- $91.95

    Stun Gun Cane, Cane with Stun Gun, or Stun Cane

    Don’t forget about Grandpa this Father’s Day. Grandpa might be too stubborn to admit he needs some help getting around these days, so why not make the conversation easier by telling him it’s just to disguise his new easy to use 1,000,000 volt stun gun. With the last 7.5” of the cane wrapped in electrodes, this unit will leave anyone messing with your Grandpa needing walking assistance of their own. Measuring 32” and extendable up to 36”, this cane supports up to 250lbs so Grandpa doesn’t have to cut back on the peanut brittle. Powered by a rechargeable battery, Grandpa also won’t be calling you every month to go pick up new batteries. This cane also features an ultra-bright LED flashlight so he can always see where he is going.

    For more ideas on ways to honor Dad on his special day, check out our collections of other quality and low priced Stun Guns, Stun Flashlights, and Stun Batons as well as our TASER and Pepper Spray/Mace products.  Don't forget our service team is here to help you. Call our service team at (949) 427-8889 from 9AM to 5PM Pacific with any of your product questions. Thanks Dad!

    Strength of TASER Stun Guns

    Just a quick post illustrating the stopping power of TASER devices. Check out our TASER Collection for detailed product and accessories info.

    Note: Video property of Discovery Television.