Is it OK to Carry a Handheld Stun Gun on Campus?

[Vol Texan]

I apologize in advance if this question has been asked and answered, but I didn't find anything in my search.

My wife has an employee who is too young to get a CHL. This employee is also a college student at one of the campuses here in Houston, and she has noticed an uptick in crime on campus lately. She wants to know if it's legal for her to carry a handheld stun gun while walking through campus. Any advice from the wise ones here?

[jmra]

Mace would be a better option IMHO.

[Javier730]

Mace or knife are better self defense weapons. Ive got a Small Fry 1 million volts and a Vipertek 7.8 million volts. A few years ago, I was hanging out with my brother and some friends of his. Most of them were all having some drinks and my brother told me to bring out my "tasers". I brought them out and a few of them volunteered to get zapped. They all pretty much yelled and laughed. Curiosity made me try it. They were painful but tolerable. A punch would hurt more. I would NOT recommend a stun gun, at least not the drive stun. The projectile one the police have seem to be pretty effective though.

[bayouhazard]

I agree with the comments about effectiveness, but you asked about the law, so I don't know any state law against it. Municipalities could ban them and make it a class C misd. Employers can fire employees who do things they don't like, even legal acts. Hope this helps.

[E.Marquez]

Having been stunned by several types of commercial touch type stun guns, and two types of issue (Mil and LEO) stun guns.. I'd agree with the suggestion to pass on the stun gun.

Pepper spray has better stand off, and is debilitating for seconds to minutes depending on the attackers motivation intoxication and natural reaction to OC.. In those seconds of disorientation an assist opening knife as now allowed by law, with a few properly placed swipes as needed should the attacker close the distance.. will render the attacker ineffective.

[nyj]

Can of fox labs spray.

[texanjoker]

Having been stunned by several types of commercial touch type stun guns, and two types of issue (Mil and LEO) stun guns.. I'd agree with the suggestion to pass on the stun gun.

Pepper spray has better stand off, and is debilitating for seconds to minutes depending on the attackers motivation intoxication and natural reaction to OC.. In those seconds of disorientation an assist opening knife as now allowed by law, with a few properly placed swipes as needed should the attacker close the distance.. will render the attacker ineffective.

I am not a big fan of OC. I have sprayed a LOT of people over the years with stream OC, fog OC and of course used the pepperball launcher on some armed subjects. In most cases it was ineffective. It seemed to effect the suspect after they were fought and put into handcuffs or about the time they hit the jail/station when the adrenalin wore off. From what I remember about the class we took back in the 90's is that it is about 85% effective, and unfortunately the percentage that you really need to stop is in the other 15%. I have also been sprayed in fights and it didn't phase me due to adrenalin and the fight. Spray me sitting her typing and I am flopping like a fish .

[nyj]

And a stun gun is 0% effective for a female who becomes disarmed.

[jmra]

Having been stunned by several types of commercial touch type stun guns, and two types of issue (Mil and LEO) stun guns.. I'd agree with the suggestion to pass on the stun gun.

Pepper spray has better stand off, and is debilitating for seconds to minutes depending on the attackers motivation intoxication and natural reaction to OC.. In those seconds of disorientation an assist opening knife as now allowed by law, with a few properly placed swipes as needed should the attacker close the distance.. will render the attacker ineffective.

I am not a big fan of OC. I have sprayed a LOT of people over the years with stream OC, fog OC and of course used the pepperball launcher on some armed subjects. In most cases it was ineffective. It seemed to effect the suspect after they were fought and put into handcuffs or about the time they hit the jail/station when the adrenalin wore off. From what I remember about the class we took back in the 90's is that it is about 85% effective, and unfortunately the percentage that you really need to stop is in the other 15%. I have also been sprayed in fights and it didn't phase me due to adrenalin and the fight. Spray me sitting her typing and I am flopping like a fish .

Good info to know. 85% effective is not ideal by any means. Can you give an opinion on how effective the consumer available stun gun is in comparison? Any other devices or options available for consideration?
Thanks.

[texanjoker]

Having been stunned by several types of commercial touch type stun guns, and two types of issue (Mil and LEO) stun guns.. I'd agree with the suggestion to pass on the stun gun.

Pepper spray has better stand off, and is debilitating for seconds to minutes depending on the attackers motivation intoxication and natural reaction to OC.. In those seconds of disorientation an assist opening knife as now allowed by law, with a few properly placed swipes as needed should the attacker close the distance.. will render the attacker ineffective.

I am not a big fan of OC. I have sprayed a LOT of people over the years with stream OC, fog OC and of course used the pepperball launcher on some armed subjects. In most cases it was ineffective. It seemed to effect the suspect after they were fought and put into handcuffs or about the time they hit the jail/station when the adrenalin wore off. From what I remember about the class we took back in the 90's is that it is about 85% effective, and unfortunately the percentage that you really need to stop is in the other 15%. I have also been sprayed in fights and it didn't phase me due to adrenalin and the fight. Spray me sitting her typing and I am flopping like a fish .

Good info to know. 85% effective is not ideal by any means. Can you give an opinion on how effective the consumer available stun gun is in comparison?
Thanks.

I have never carried a taser so I am no expert on that. I had used the old skool hand held ones back in the day. We also had the "nova" shield which was a shield you used to pin somebody with the taser built in. The shock is there, but it was more psychological then anything. I have also taken many hits off those and once you did it the first time, it was like a bee sting. I refuse to take a hit so I won't carry one. I have a friend that developed a heart issue after taking the hit.

The one key to remember about the OC is that little is more. It needs to evaporate to work. Guys would say they dumped 1/2 a can and it didn't work.

[TexasGal]

I used to carry a stun gun until I learned it delivers less security than it seems it would. To work, a hand held stun gun must make contact for maybe even several seconds without interference from thick clothing. That means you are in arm's reach of the person. You have nothing otherwise. If I have to be that close unarmed, I'd rather have a knife and mace. Especially since a man's reach is greater than mine in most cases. This thread just underlines why we need campus carry.