This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Let’s face it – the chance of you actually needing to wear a kevlar vest (unless you’re in law enforcement) are very small. Though handgun crimes are common in certain areas, the average person has an extremely low chance of needing bullet protection. However, some people like the peace of mind offered by a bulletproof kevlar vest. If you’re in the market, here are a few tips for choosing the vest that’s right for you.

Protection Level
The main factor that you’ll probably want to consider is the level of protection that you want out of your kevlar vest.  Though a higher level offers better protection, it can also be much heavier and more difficult to conceal compared to some other types of vests. Also, you have to take into consideration what types of calibers you would like protection from. For example, the .22 rifle bullet is common, but most situations involving gunfire might be more likely to involve handguns than rifles. The protection levels are:

Level I
This type of vest is lightweight and easy to conceal. However, it also only has a low level of stopping power. It can stop .22 rifle bullets (with an impact velocity of less than 1,050), 38 special rounds, .25 handgun rounds and .32 handgun rounds.

Level IIA
This level of protection can take an impact from .45 automatic rounds, 38 special +P rounds, 9mm rounds and 357 Magnum rounds.

Level II
This vest is designed to withstand 357 Magnum rounds  and 9mm rounds with a higher velocity.

Level IIIA
The Level IIIA vest protection level can withstand 9mm rounds that have a full metal jackets, which have a high impact velocity. It can also withstand most handgun rounds, as well as .44 Magnum rounds.

Level III
This level of protection is designed mostly for protection against high-powered rifle rounds, such as 7.62mm round with full metal jackets. It can also protect against 30 Carbine FMJ bullets, and 12 gauge rifled slugs.

Level IV
You’ll only need this level of protection from a bulletproof vest if you are seeking protection from armor-piercing rounds. This vest will help take the impact of 30 caliber armor-piercing bullets, as long as they have a nominal mass of 10.8 grams.

Disclaimer – These protection levels are meant as a basic guideline only. Other factors, such as the distance between the vest and gun, or the angle of the bullet could affect how much protection each vest offers. 

Making Your Decision

If you’re simply purchasing a bulletproof vest for peace of mind, you’ll probably be safe with buying a vest that offers protection from the most common caliber bullets. If you want to be able to easily conceal your vest, you’ll probably be purchasing one of the lower-level protection vests, since they’re lighter and less bulky. Some kevlar bulletproof vests are specially designed so that they can be worn underneath clothing without being conspicuous.

In the end, it comes down to your specific reasons for purchasing a bulletproof vest, and which factors are important to you. As stated before, the chances of an average person needing protection from gunfire are extremely low. However, if you have the extra money, and would like some “peace of mind” insurance, a kevlar vest might be the best option for your personal security.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Jackie Chan is famous for his extensive filmography of martial arts movies, with his acting career beginning back in 1962. Though Jackie Chan was also famous for doing a lot of his own stunts, in the 2002 movie “The Tuxedo”, Jackie Chan’s stunts were augmented by the use of special effects. The movie, which was about an ordinary taxi driver (Chan) who came into possession of an extraordinary tuxedo, which he uses to fight off bad guys and act as a bodyguard for a genius scientist (Jennifer Love Hewitt). Though the movie didn’t do very well at the box office, it did have some fun, outlandish fight scenes between Jackie Chan and several security guards.

With how tight the economy is right now, hiring a security guard for your home may seem like an unnecessary expense. However, many people each year choose to put the protection of their home in the hands of a professional security guard.

Why Would I Hire A Security Guard?

In many cases, people hire security guards because they have special conditions. For example, a family may have a significant number of expensive items in their home. Or, a family member may be an important political figure. Some families hire a security guard simply because it gives them peace-of-mind about the security of their property.

Is it Expensive to Hire A Security Guard?

The expense of a security guard depends on several factors. If your security guard has been licensed, this means that you may be paying them upwards of $13.00 per hour. If your guard has not been licensed, you will be paying them from $8.00 to $12.00 per hour (though this is dependent on several factors). Even though it’s less expensive, it’s not recommended that you hire a security guard that has not been licensed.

What are the Risks?

Essentially, the risks involved in hiring a security guard are similar to hiring a babysitter, gardener or any other person who will have access to the security measures in your home. Because of this, there are a few things you can do to help lessen these risks:

Check References
When you interview potential security guards, they will most likely provide you with a list of their personal and professional references. By contacting all of these references, you can gain a better understanding of their past job performance and personal character.

Licensing
As mentioned before, it’s best if you hire a licensed security guard. While hiring a guard that has not been licensed may be less expensive, it may mean that you’re hiring a guard that is not qualified.

Agency
If you want to make sure that you hire a reputable guard, you may want to contact a security agency. These agencies are usually able to meet the needs of businesses as well as the need for personal security guards.

Top Photo Source: http://www.tsisecurityservices.com/attachments/Image/california_security_guard.jpg

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

For Theresa Smalley, Richie was the perfect man. He described himself as “loving, caring and hardworking”, with a picture of him and his cat cuddling on a couch. Richie first contacted Theresa through an online dating website, asking her if she’d like to chat with him. Theresa was flattered, and the two of them struck up an online relationship that lasted for four months. In the first few weeks, Theresa was in heaven. Richie sent her chocolates, a teddy bear and a balloon for Valentine’s day, which was accompanied by many passionate emails.

Richie told Theresa that he was from Massachusetts, though he was out of the country helping to build a stadium in Nigeria. He hoped to be returning home to the USA soon, as he “couldn’t wait” to see Theresa in person. However, that day never came.

Richie began asking Theresa to cash money orders for him, and to send him the money she received. Without a second thought, she did as he asked, and wired the money she received to him in Nigeria. When Richie was ready to come home to the United States, he said that he encountered a problem with his visa, and asked for Theresa’s help again in cashing money orders. Theresa sent over $2,700 to “Richie” before she finally realized that something was wrong. Her bank called her, telling her that the money orders that she’d been cashing were fraudulent, and that she would need to pay back all of the money she had received. That’s when Theresa’s world fell apart, and she realized that the man that she’d been in love with for four months didn’t even exist.

Theresa is by no means the first woman to fall victim to an online dating scam. A quick scan of online forums shows that thousands of women each year are approached by alleged scammers through online dating websites. To protect yourself, you should be aware of some of the common warning signs of a scam.

1. An Incomplete Profile
Many scammers won’t take the time to completely fill out their online dating website profile in detail.

2. Foreign Country
Be wary of scammers that may claim to be in another country, but still claim to have citizenship in the United States. A common scam is for a man to claim that he’s in the army, deployed in a foreign country.

3. Inconsistency
In many cases, two or three scammers may communicate to their victims through a single online dating profile. Be wary of emails/messages that signal a change in tone, aggressiveness or a sudden shift in personality.

4. Asking for Money
No matter how genuine you believe someone to be, always be extremely cautious when they begin asking for money! This seems like common sense, but thousands of women each year are victims of online dating scams.

5. “Too Perfect”
A scammer will often be charismatic, charming, understanding and flirtatious. They will listen to your problems, and may appear to be free of personality defects. Their picture will be attractive, and they may even send you flowers, chocolates or other gifts through the mail. Don’t be fooled! A combination of key warning signs may mean that your online beau is really a scammer in disguise.

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What kind of information do you share online?

Many people aren’t fully aware of how much information they are sharing with other people, companies and users on the internet. Its easy to forget that everything that many of the things you post online quickly becomes documented, archived and picked up by search engines. With a few keystrokes, a stranger could find out more about you than you may realize.

There was recently a lot of buzz about “Please Rob Me“, a website that collected and published when certain users on twitter advertised that they were not at home. Since then, there has been criticism, validation and other reactions to the concept of shedding light on social network information sharing. Please Rob Me has since stopped publishing a live feed of twitter updates, with a message from one of the site’s founders:

Currently we’re looking through the emails we’ve received regarding the future of the website. As soon as we’ve thought of a suitable way to continue, you’ll find it right here. We’re not showing the Twitter messages anymore, as they no longer add anything. If you don’t want your information to show up everywhere, don’t over-share

Another website, “I Can Stalk U“, has picked up on the same concept, publishing a feed of when certain people blatantly advertise that they will be out of their homes.

“Rob Me Now” is another website that searches for phrases and tags that indicate when someone has left home. A message from the site’s founders says:

Gowalla is a fun application. Geotagging is fun. But please, think before you Geotag. It would be really easy to use 4sq or gowal.la as “todo” list for a burglar – but this is nothing we recommend or encourage! Do not tweet/blog about your vacation plans. Don’t use your voicemail to tell people when you are away. Use email auto responders wisely – don’t tell exactly when you are on vacation.

What Does This Mean?

As facebook is possibly going to be releasing a new location sharing feature soon, it’s extremely important to understand why location sharing is such a big deal. The backlash against websites such as “Please Rob Me” and “I Can Stalk U” has been considerable, with some people even going as far to claim that these sites are participating in “fear-mongering”.

The reality is, of course, subject to personal interpretation, and is defined only with what you feel comfortable with. However, you need to be fully aware of the potential consequences of making your location publicly available. If you aren’t comfortable with a stranger being able to approach you at a restaurant and say “Hey, I saw that you were here from your post on Twitter, so I came here too”, then you should probably be opting out of most location sharing features.

The issue of burglary is another potential consequence of location sharing, which has also recently been highlighted in news stories. A burglar planning to hit a specific neighborhood could search on facebook, twitter or other social networks in order to determine daily schedules. For example, if you are “checking in” twice per week at your yoga class, a burglar would be able to determine that you are usually not home during the same days each week.

What Should I Do?

Here are a few videos to help you to tweak some of your privacy settings. Remember, even with good privacy settings, you should always be mindful of the information that you share online. Never, ever share information that reveals detailed personal information, even to people who claim to be administrators of a social networking website!

Modifying Your Privacy Settings on Facebook
Here is an explanation of how to modify some of your privacy settings on facebook. After new updates to the privacy settings (as well as the default option for many items being “viewable by everyone”), it’s a bit difficult to understand or modify some of the settings. This short video shows how to make some of your data not viewable, or unable to be indexed by third parties.

Click here to view the embedded video.

How to Modify Your Privacy Settings on Facebook
This is another explanatory video detailing how you can modify your privacy settings. This video is more recent than the previous video, and also shows you how to opt out of many of the sharing features that are included on facebook. It also includes a more detailed explanation of how to modify and change your settings. Many of these features have the same configuration settings as previous versions of facebook.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Identity Theft on Facebook is Easy
This interesting video details a study that a company did about identity theft on facebook. They created a fake profile, and did an experiment to see exactly how many people they could convince to share information with them. Amazingly, a large number of people responded, unknowingly sharing a large percentage of their personal information with the “anonymous” profiles. Keep this in mind next time you respond to a friend request from someone that you don’t know!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Setting up a Twitter Account
This video shows how to set up a very basic twitter account, as well as how to tweak some of your twitter settings. However, this video isn’t focused on privacy, and should only be used as a rudimentary reference. Always modify your twitter settings to reflect the amount of privacy you want to have over who views your information.

Click here to view the embedded video.

**Title Photo Source: http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID39209/images/resized_foursquare.jpg

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Unfortunately, we live in an age where people can’t always be relied upon for their honesty. In some cases, it may be necessary to check identification information, references and other information before building a relationship with a person. Doing a background check can be an effective way to help build trust with a new individual, and to keep your own interests safe.

For example, many parents often do a thorough background check on a potential nanny before hiring them to care for children. There are a variety of methods you can use for doing a background check, some of which require the services of a professional. Here are a few of the options you may use to do a background check on an individual.

Before You Begin

Before you begin searching for methods to use for a background check, you first need to gather information about the individual. While some services may require only a name and address, you should try to gather the following information:

• Name
• Current Address
• Past Addresses
• Employment History
• Social Security Number
• License Number
  

After gathering this information about the individual that you will be doing the background check on, have them sign a form that confirms that all of the information that they have given you is up-to-date and correct.

By having this information, you can make the process of acquiring a background check much easier.You may also need to acquire written consent from the person that you will be checking up on. For example, if you are doing a background check on a potential employee of your company, you would have them sign a form giving you permission to access their background information. Without this consent form, you may not be able to acquire background information about an individual.

Hiring an Agency

Since doing a background check on someone yourself can be difficult, some people opt to hire the services of a professional agency. Unfortunately, there are many fraudulent background checking agencies, which may steal or sell personal information about individuals. Be sure to thoroughly research the agency that you use, including testimonials from their past customers.

The main drawback of hiring a professional agency to do a background check is that it can be very expensive. Depending on the scope of your search, some agencies may charge thousands of dollars for their services. Be sure that you take into account the cost of a background check before hiring an agency.

Doing it Yourself

State governments often handle background checks on criminal history. As stated above, you will most likely need to provide a consent form in order to access this information. To check someone’s credit report, you will have to pay a fee to the credit agency. Also, there are several state and federal laws that designate what kinds of decisions you can make based on someone’s credit report. To check a person’s educational references, you usually only have to make a phone call requesting the information. To check someone’s driving records, you can contact the DMV in the person’s state(s) of residence. You will usually need to provide all relevant information (including the person’s license number), and the DMV may charge you for accessing this information.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

To compete with services such as Foursquare, Twitter has recently released a targeted location sharing feature. This feature is called “Tweet With Your Location”, and is similar to other location sharing services. Here’s a quick guide to this feature, its potential advantages and disadvantages, as well as how you can protect your privacy.

How it Works

When you have the “Tweet With Your Location” feature enabled, every tweet you make will be tagged to your geographical location. This means that any twitter user can mouse over your tweet, and a pop-up map will pinpoint exactly from where you made your tweet. There are two choices: you can either have your general neighborhood be tagged to the tweet, or your geographical location. The neighborhood sharing feature is slightly more broad, since it only allows your general area to be attached to your tweets. Once you attach your location to a tweet, Twitter will store this information. To delete the location information from your past tweets, there is an option under your Settings > Account page.

This is what it looks like when you allow Twitter to attach your exact location to your tweets.

Advantages of Location Sharing

Sharing your physical location has recently become very popular among social network users. For example, if you are a club in Orlando, you have the ability to see who else from your Twitter friends is also at the same club. You can also search for tweets of random people who are currently there, which could range from “That DJ’s hair is awesome!” to “I wouldn’t recommend the sushi here”. This gives you a real-time stream of information about any given location.

Another potentially useful example would be checking tweets of people currently at a popular restaurant. With a few quick searches, you can see if there’s a long wait for a table, or if you can sneak in right before the dinner rush. This is a huge bonus in convenience.

When trying to network with a large group of people (such as if you are attending a live concert or a business conference), this feature could also give you real-time updates on where everyone is. Instead of asking everyone how long before they’ll reach the venue, you can check the location of their tweets.

“A recent burst of interest in location sharing applications, games, and services has many Twitter users excited about appending geographic data to some of their tweets” – Twitter co-founder Biz Stone.

Disadvantages of Location Sharing

Any time that you allow people to search for your personal schedule by using the internet, you are putting yourself at risk. For example, if you check in at a location several hours from home, a burglar can use this information to assume that your house will be unoccupied until you return. You may remember that filmmaker Israel Hyman was robbed, which was supposedly connected to a tweet that he made advertising that he was on vacation with his family in Kansas City. The website titled “Please Rob Me!” highlights how easy it really is for a burglar to discover empty homes in their area.

Reactions to Twitter’s location sharing feature have been mostly negative. Here are a few reactions taken from Twitter users about their opinions on location sharing:

“I know I’m paranoid but NO, I don’t want 2 tweet my location. Tweeting a million strangers where I am goes against my survival instinct.”- Twitter User Zazochi

“I turn it (Location Sharing) off, not like I have anything to steal at my current location, but you can never be too careful.”- Twitter User TinPanAlley

“…married with 2 daughters. Worries me, ladies announcing their schedule over and over. Makes it easy 4 predators.” – Twitter User lunarwrase

“Location sharing is fine if you want everyone to know where you are but if you respect any of your common rights, like privacy..it is unwise to share your location at all times.” – Twitter User Mighty_Lark

“I don’t use geo tracking, the less people know about me the better, too much information on the Internet already.”- Twitter User kyonkun

“Twitter Location Sharing is a great feature if used correctly but I still prefer FourSquare for better overall control/Privacy ”- Twitter User SpazWuzHere

Another disadvantage of location sharing (which applies more to women) is that it allows for extensive “stalking”. By constantly updating your location, you give people an idea of your weekly schedule, which means that a potential stalker could know when and where they could find you.

Protecting Your Privacy

By default, this location sharing feature is off in a user’s Twitter settings. To enable it, a user has to manually activate it by choosing the opt-in setting. If you do not want to share your location with your tweets, you can keep this feature off, and activate it later if you change your mind. To check to see if you have this feature enabled, navigate to:

Settings > Account

Then, look at the setting for “Tweet Location“. If the “Add a Location to your Tweets” box is checked, you are sharing this information. If not, your tweets will remain location-free.

As with any location sharing feature, it’s important to be very aware of what type of information that you share with the internet community. If your tweets are not protected, this means that they are visible even to people who aren’t following you. If you have any concerns about sharing your location being a security risk, you may want to double check to make sure that you aren’t sharing your location via Twitter.

YouTube Video about FourSquare, Gowalla and Twitter

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sources:

http://twitter.zendesk.com/attachments/token/v5ca220eeeff13u/?name=John_shadow-1.jpg

http://www.kokeytechnology.com/social-networks/twitter/twitter-debuts-location-sharing-feature-like-using-a-gps-device/

http://www.pcworld.com/article/191457/twitter_adds_locationsharing_im_eating_tacosin_texarkana.html

http://virgintech.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Local-trending-topics.jpg

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Some historians believe that 12,000 years ago, emigrants from Siberia traveled across the Bering Land Bridge into what is today known as Alaska. However, they weren’t alone. They brought with them hundreds of sled dogs, which is suggested to be the earliest form of dog domestication. Today, dogs are mostly kept as companions, work animals and family pets. However, some people keep dogs for a different reason – to have an animal bodyguard. 

What is a Personal Protection Dog?

A personal protection dog is an animal that is trained to protect against suspicious activity. These dogs are often subjected to very specific training, and may only obey spoken commands from a single person. Some personal protection dogs are “Bluff Dogs“, which are only designed to intimidate a person engaging in suspicious behavior. “Bluff Dogs” are often trained to bark, growl, lunge and engage in characteristic aggressive behaviors upon command. Other protection dogs are called “Man Stoppers“, which are trained to detain and hold a suspect until help arrives. “Man Stoppers” are dogs that can identify aggressive behavior in humans, and will attack upon command. Depending on your personal protection needs, you may choose to train a dog in either of these specializations.

Misconceptions about Protection Dogs

Many people mistakenly believe that personal protection dogs are constantly aggressive, and can’t be safely socialized in a family environment. However, with the proper training, a personal protection dog can also be a loving, affectionate and loyal family pet. The “attack dog” image causes many people to forget that protecting their “pack” is actually an inherited canine instinct. Dogs are naturally defensive of their pack-mates, and engaging in personal protection training may actually help you to strengthen your bond with your dog.

Protection Dog Breeds

Not all dog breeds are able to exhibit aggressive protective behavior. Some dogs have been selectively bred for specific breed-based traits over time, which may have caused their protective instinct to become less dominant. Here is a short list of dog breeds that can be effectively used as personal protection dogs:

• German Shepherd
• Doberman
• Pit Bull
• Rottweiler
• Akita Inu
• Bullmastiff
• American Bulldog
• Fila Brasileiro

Training a Personal Protection Dog

Due to the liability of keeping a dog that has the ability to obey attack commands, it’s strongly encouraged that personal protection dog training be done by a professional. Many dog trainers have a separate course for protection dogs. In order to be a protection dog, however, it’s essential that a dog first pass basic obedience classes. A dog must be completely obedient to their master in order to prevent them from attacking when unprovoked. The laws are very strict in regards to dog attacks – the dog’s owner is nearly always liable.By taking on the responsibility of keeping a personal protection dog, you are required to take every measure necessary to ensure that your dog will not cause unprovoked harm to others.

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When many people think of self defense, they immediately associate it with martial arts. Becoming skilled in a martial art can be a great way to improve muscle tone, gain concentration and lose weight. However, taking a martial arts class can also help you to defend yourself in times of need. There are many different martial arts styles, each of which focus on a specific set of goals and concepts. However, how can you choose the best martial arts style that fits you?

Evaluate Your Goals
Before you begin to research martial arts styles, you first need to decide to outline a list of goals. Possible reasons for taking a martial art may include:

• Self Defense
• Weight Loss
• Enhanced Flexibility
• Meeting New People

Write down your reasons for taking a martial art, in the order of their priority. Decide how important each reason is to you, and what you would like to achieve from your classes. Once you have compiled this list, you can begin to research different styles, and evaluate how well they fit your goals.

Classify Your Body Type
Some martial art styles are very physically demanding, and are significantly easier for people in top physical shape. Other styles are suited to people that are exceptionally short, or have good leg strength. Other styles are designed to minimize damage to your limbs while effectively defending your core. Be honest if you’re overweight, and may not be able to participate in some of the more demanding martial art styles. At this time, you should also choose if you want your style to be focused primarily on disabling your opponent, self defense, or adopting an offensive stance.

Choose Your Style
Here is a brief overview of some of the more popular martial arts styles, as well as what body type they are best suited for. This is a general guide, and it’s recommended that you attend at least one “test” class before committing to a specific martial arts style.

Tae Kwon Do
Tae Kwon Do focuses primarily on kicking and using lower body strength. This style is best suited to someone who is flexible, with a long reach. Usually, Tae Kwon Do is best for people that are tall, with long limbs. However, if you have a significant amount of muscle or fat on your legs, you may not be able to execute some of the faster and more complicated kicks in this martial arts style.

Judo
The martial arts style of Judo focuses on unbalancing your opponent, usually through complicated throwing techniques. Because of this, Judo is best suited to someone who has a short, stocky body style. Since Judo focuses on staying off of the ground, it can also be possible for tall, slender body physiques as well. However, shorter people usually have more success with the Judo fighting style.

Kendo
Kendo is an ancient martial arts style that places a huge emphasis on formality and etiquette. Kendo can be a great martial arts style for someone looking to learn discipline and concentration. However, the uniforms and weapons in Kendo tend to be fairly expensive, so it’s important to keep this in mind.

Krav Maga
Krav Maga is an Israeli martial arts style that has recently become popular with the American Army. Krav Maga is very physically demanding, and focuses on dealing damage to your opponent. The style can be likened most with “street fighting”, due to the abundance of grappling, striking and wrestling techniques that are used with this style.

Karate
Recently, the term “Karate” has been generalized to include many different martial arts styles. There are martial arts schools that say they focus on “Karate”, but this can mean any number of things. Usually, a Karate class will focus on direct hitting with punches, kicks, open-handed strikes and elbow contact.

Jujitsu
The concept of Jujitsu focuses on disarming an armed opponent, or disabling an unarmed opponent. Jujitsu requires you to be fairly small, since it will involve moves in which you roll quickly away from your opponent, or sometimes even dart through their legs. Jujitsu will also require you to be on the ground constantly, so it’s important that you aren’t carrying a significant amount of weight.

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Stun guns are a very popular defensive tool used by students, women and other people who require additional protection for their personal safety. There are many different types of tasers and stun guns on the market, which tend to vary greatly in price and features. If you’re currently looking to purchase a taser, you may be slightly intimidated at the number of choices. Here is some useful information that will help you to choose a stun gun that will best help you to stay safe.

A Word of Caution

Just like many other defensive products, tasers and/or stun guns are not legal in all states. In addition to this, some states have strict restrictions on stun guns and other self defense products. It’s important to be aware of these laws before purchasing a stun gun, especially if you’re traveling. If you are caught with a stun gun in a city or state that has an operational ban, you could face legal consequences as well as a hefty fine. Here are some states that currently have strict restrictions on stun guns.

States with Taser/Stun Gun Bans

• Wisconsin
• Rhode Island
• New York
• New Jersey
• Michigan**
• Massachusetts
• Hawaii
• District of Columbia

** Michigan only allows stun guns and/or tasers to be possessed by sworn police officers, aircraft pilots, bail agents and private investigators. In addition to this, each stun gun contains a tracking device that identifies its owner. Violation of this law is punishable as a serious offense.

States with Restrictions

Connecticut
In Connecticut, it is illegal to possess a taser or stun gun outside of your home. If caught with a taser in your vehicle or on your person, you may be punished by up to 3 years in prison, federal charges and a monetary fine. These restrictions exclude law enforcement officers.

Arizona
In Arizona, it is legal to carry a stun gun or taser for defensive purposes. However, every sale of a stun gun or taser is required to be documented by the seller, under penalty of legal consequences.

Indiana
In Indiana, there are specific restrictions pertaining to stun guns, tasers and electric stun weapons. If you wish to purchase a taser, you need to obtain a handgun licence.

New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, it’s illegal to sell a taser or stun gun to an individual that is under the age of 18. If used against a law enforcement officer, use of a taser is punishable by a potential felony charge.

North Dakota
In North Dakota, it’s prohibited to carry a stun gun or taser in a liquor establishment, or into a casino/gaming site. When carrying concealed, you must have a licence.

It’s also important to note that not all cities follow the same laws as their specific states. For example, it may be legal to carry a stun gun in a specific state, but it may be punishable by criminal charges in certain cities. When traveling, be sure to double-check the state and city laws in order to ensure that you can safely carry a stun gun or taser.

Types of Stun Guns/Tasers

In general, there are three different types of tasers, each of which uses a slightly different electrical impulse to provide a method of self defense. The three types are:

Static Charge
This type of stun gun operates as a defensive tool by utilizing a static charge, which powers the electrical current.  Range of voltage is usually from 80,000 and 625,000.

Phase Induction
This type of stun gun (often sold under the “Talon” brand name) is able to deliver an electric shock through using phase induction. This is a more efficient method of delivery, and is more powerful than the Static Charge type of stun gun.

T-Wave
The T-Wave stun gun is the type most commonly used by law enforcement officers. It uses two small barbed darts, which deliver an EMD (Electro Muscular Disruption) charge to an assailant. The darts are usually released by compressed nitrogen gas chambers, which need to be reloaded in between firings of the stun gun.

Close Contact or Ranged?

Some stun guns require direct contact between the device and a potential assailant in order to operate. Other tasers fire two pronged charges that can stun an assailant through clothing. In addition to this, some devices are able to stun both on direct contact, and from a distance. It’s important to remember that a ranged stun gun will require that you re-load the wires, as well as install a replacement air cartridge in between firings. This means that if you miss the first time, you won’t be able to fire again.

For most students, women and other individuals interested in personal safety, it’s best to stick with the direct contact tasers. They don’t require expensive refills, and are able to be used repeatedly until their battery charge is depleted. In addition to this, they are often small enough that they can be kept in a purse, laptop bag or backpack in case of an emergency.

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1. ZAP Knuckle Blaster/Blast Knuckles Stun Gun This post is originally authored at the home security blog...
2. TASER M26C – Features and Customer Reviews This post is originally authored at the home security blog...

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

In today’s world, it’s very important to take the necessary steps to protect your personal safety. One of the most common crime-related problems that many people fear when traveling, is that they will be mugged or robbed. This is an especially common fear when traveling in an unfamiliar area, or walking alone during the night hours. Here is some useful advice that you can use to protect yourself against muggers, or discourage them from choosing you as their target.

Be Inconspicuous.
Even if you’re a naturally creative person, it’s best to avoid standing out from the crowd. Avoid wearing bright colors, flashy jewelry or carrying an expensive bag/purse. If you’re traveling in the city, it’s usually best to choose your attire by what most other people are wearing. In most cases, a dark-toned overcoat with a stylish cut will allow you to be comfortable, yet avoid attracting too much attention.

Travel Smart.
Though it may be common sense, avoiding dangerous areas while traveling can greatly lower your risk of being a target of crime. Before entering an area, plan your route to your destination. If necessary, make use of public transportation in order to avoid unnecessary travel in dangerous areas.

Be Prepared.
In the event that you are threatened by a criminal, you may need to defend yourself. It’s highly recommended that you carry a travel-size can of pepper spray in your purse or bag when traveling in dangerous areas. However, some states have restrictions that prohibit certain types of pepper spray. For a more detailed explanation of these state-specific regulations, as well as some important tips about pepper spray, you can read: Defensive Pepper Spray – A Buyer’s Guide.

Bring a Companion.
As a general rule, it’s always best to travel with a companion than to travel alone. When possible, bring someone with you if you absolutely need to travel through a dangerous area. If you are in an unfamiliar city, ask a friend or relative to accompany you. Traveling alone may be appealing to some, but it also increases your risk of being targeted by potential thieves.

Don’t Be a Tourist.
Many criminals target potential mugging victims from the tourist population in a specific area. Because of this, try not to be too conspicuous about your tourism activities. Avoid wearing novelty items, or taking an excessive amount of pictures when in a dangerous area.

Don’t Flash Your Wallet.
Many cities have street vendors that offer a variety of inexpensive items for purchase. However, when removing money from your wallet or purse to purchase an item, you are making yourself vulnerable. Try to avoid removing your wallet from your pocket, since it may be easily taken by a potential thief.  Instead, remove only enough money for street purchases, keeping it in the front pocket of your pants or coat.

Never Press Your Luck.
In order to be completely safe, if you feel that you are in a dangerous situation, it’s always best to leave. Even if you are only confronted by a single attacker, do not risk your own safety because you believe you have a chance of overpowering them. If you have a defensive item such as pepper spray, use it to disorient your attacker, and then immediately run to a safe area.