Hi my name is Ralph Thomas and I want to give you a quick consumer's education on self defense products. First off, if you are surfing the Internet you will likely run into hundreds of sites selling self defense products. I'd be the first to tell you that many of the people who own these sites are honest and hard working folks. However, more than a few are quick-buck artists that know nothing about self defense. Worse yet, there are a few who actually sell products they know nothing about, take your money and never deliver the product. You know the type. Last year, they were a used car salesman. This year, they are marketing self defense products. Next year, they will be selling something else. I have been in business for about thirty years and was selling self defense products long before the Internet came along. We know our business and want to share with you some important information of various types of self defense products. I'm going to give you the knowledge without all the bull and point out the major disadvantage of each so you will know what to expect when you use them.

Self Defense Sprays
Let's face it, there are a huge assortment of self defense spray brands on the market and there seems to be a new product every few months. With hundreds of different products, it confuses the market place. A huge assortment of this stuff is pure junk. One company is marketing a can of what about amounts to spray paint or foam with a box of stickers you wear for something like $50.00 or more. I don't think the average person wants to walk around town with a button that basically implies that if you mess with me--I'm going to spray you with paint so the cops can catch you. Sure, if you "foam" someone in the face with a can of spray paint--it might deter an attacker and help you get away but you can get a small can of spray paint at the hardware store for that! Foam spray has it's place in self defense but you want something much better than just colored foam. You want something a little more effective.

Aside from the over-priced stuff, I'm also extremely concerned about the cheap junk that's being dumped on the market. Yea, you can search the Internet and find different types of self defense spray selling for under five bucks but I ask you, what are you getting? There's an old saying that goes like this, "if it sounds too good to be true it likely is." When it comes to protection of your life or your family's ability to stop a rapist or a criminal from attack, you don't want to rely on this bargain-basement junk, you want the best. Self defense sprays are already inexpensive but don't beat your life with a three dollar and fifty cent special closeout! In a few seconds you will understand why.

Someday, you might be staring at yourself in the mirror with an injured spouse in the hospital or worse yet, lying in a funeral parlor all because you listened to some hot-shot salesman that sold you bargain-basement self defense spray or substituted real self defense spray with paint and a box of stickers or some other new gimmick. And you can forget about calling the dealer back about it, they have likely already gone back to painting houses or whatever it was they were doing before they sold you the gimmick.

An effective self defense spray starts with a strong chemical base. The chemical spray isn't the only factor to consider but it's a major one so let's start with that. There are basically two types that have been time-tested over a long period of time. They are Tear Gas and Pepper Spray. A third chemical known as CS is generally considered for law enforcement use in riot control situations. Let me review these chemicals.

Tear Gas (CN)
Tear Gas has become an accepted word for the chemical Chloracetophenone commonly called CN. CN (Chloracetophenone) was discovered by a German chemist in 1869 and is generally accepted as "tear gas" by law enforcement and military agencies throughout the world. CN is minute quantities has an apple blossom odor. In larger quantities, CN causes heavy flow of tears and mucous. Burning and itching sensation of moist exposed skin occurs. CN will produce nausea in larger quantities. CN is considered an irritant. It has been used by law enforcement for riot control for years.

CS
You should at least be aware of a chemical called CS. CS is a chemical known as ortho-Chlorobenzalmalononitrile. It is a white solid crystalline that has been used as an anti-pioy agent for many years by police departments. It was discovered and developed by B.B. Corson and R.W. Stoughton in 1920s. CS can be disseminated in grenades, projectiles, aerosols, or as a powder. CS is manufactured here in the United States strictly for law enforcement. It is generally not suitable for personal defense sprays.

Pepper Spray (OC)
Pepper Spray is a chemical compound commonly called OC which stands for Oleoresin Capsicum. OC is a derivative of Hot Cayenne peppers. OC is the newest self defense type spray but there are a number of cheap substandard products on the market. Unlike tear gas, OC is an inflammatory agent. Upon contact with mucous membranes (e.g., eyes, nose, throat, lungs) it will cause an instant dilation of the capillaries of the eyes, resulting in temporary blindness and instant inflammation of the breathing tissues, cutting off all but minimal breathing to sustain life support. OC is often rated by a percentage content of the overall chemical such as 5% or 10%. That's important, but what is even more important is the Scoville heat rating. You could have a 25% OC base in the chemical but if the heat rating is not high enough, the chemical is simply not strong enough. You need to look for 1.5 to 2 million Scoville heat unit rating. Anyone attempting to sell you a Scoville heat unit rating of above 2 million is either lying to you or breaking the federal law because a 2 million rating is the highest rating allowed by federal law for consumer use.

The problem with both of the above products (OC and CS) is one is an irritant agent and one an inflammation agent. When you want the best of both worlds, you want the effects of both because different people are effected in different ways. Mace has solved this complex problem by coming up with the finest mixture of a self defense spray in a formula that uses both CN and OC in their new Triple Action Formula.

The Chemical Grain
Grains have to do with the tiny size of the actual grains shooting when the defense spray is fired. Cheap bargain-basement self defense sprays likely don't contain the fine gains needed to be effective as they need to be. The finer the grain, the more effective the spray is going to be. All of our self defense spray products have a very fine gain that work extremely well.

The Actuator
By the actuator, we are talking about the part of the product that holds the actual chemical. There are several critical issues involved in this. Let's review them.

Volume: Volume content is the actual content of the chemical. Some people who sell you single formulated pepper spray use the defense that over time, CN will go bad. Actually, over time; any product that is in such a can will eventually go bad. If you have ever picked up a five year old can of shaving cream left in the back of your bathroom cabinet by mistake, you'll understand exactly what I am talking about. You hit the button and nothing comes out. Although the chemical is still in it, the pressure inside the can that makes it work is gone. The same holds true for any self defense product. The difference, of course; is that when you get no shaving cream you don't shave. When you get no self defense spray, your life could be in danger so don't let these hot-shot salesman fill you a line of bull about it. All self defense sprays need to be replaced about every five years. It's as simple as that. Anyone telling you their self defense spray product comes with a "life-time guarantee" is full of you know what. It's all a bunch of unless hype. And then there is the one that says, "if you actually use it, send in the police report and we will send you another." They only mention in the fine print that there is a "shipping and handling charge" which amounts to a profit of what it costs to manufacture another can. Almost any self-defense spray manufacture will send you a new one anyway just to get your police report about the use of their spray rather you send in the "shipping and handling fee" or not.

A good self defense spray will let you test for actual volume content. For example, Mace Brands let you perform a test by placing the product in a glass of water with a volume content measurement on the side of the can. Many cheaper spray products defend themselves by saying that you could simply weigh the content. That's fine, but do you have a little scale around to do this every few months and do you know the weight of the container you need to subtract? Likely not.

Expiration Date
Self defense sprays are really inexpensive. That's a fact! Don't buy one that doesn't have an expiration date on it--here's why. There are thousands of self defense spray dealers all over the United States. Most of them are in this business part time. Many of them, in order to obtain a good wholesale price; buy enough product to last them several years. By the time your purchase comes around, that dealer might have purchased three or four year old spray from another dealer who sold out his part time business. You want a fresh product, not something that only has a shelve life left of a few months or even a year left. The problem is, the cheaper sprays, don't have any expiration date on them. Since they don't have any date of them, you don't know if if was made last month or eight years ago. Mace Brand Sprays do!

Force
By the force, I am referring to the force at which the spray comes out of the can. Again, I have just gone over a very important aspect of self defense sprays when it comes to this factor. Any pressurized canister, over a period of time; will loss it's force.

Quick Action Fire And Feel
When I say quick action, I mean this is critical. Sometimes a spilt second could mean the difference between life or death! You need to be able to get the spray pointed and fired instantly. All these snap tops take time to open. Granted, they only take a second or two but spilt seconds count. Recently someone sent me a sample of what he termed a "new" pepper pen. I was amazed when I got the sample. I mean, it looked really nice tucked away in a fancy expensive-looking pen. But you had to actually spend time unscrewing this top before you could fire the product. I could just picture someone needing to use it telling an attacker to "halt" about fifteen seconds while the top was unscrewed. A user could have easily been attacked, injured or killed before the unscrewing of the pen took place. Another recent prototype sample I got was pepper spray built into what is supposed to look like a pager. The pager had a backwards lip on the belt clip which could easily hang when you attempt to pull the product off of your belt or purse for firing. That would have been fine if the product was a break-away belt clip but it was not. Again, I advise you to think about the quick-action you need to get your self defense product aimed and fired as quickly as you can. The feel of your self defense spray is also important. You don't want to have to look at it to fire it. That takes time. If you are in the dark, you are out of luck. Some of these cheap sprays on the market are so bad with their feel that in the dark, you have about a fifty percent change of shooting yourself instead of an attacker.

Overall Carry
I have seen modern defense sprays built into all kinds of covert objects such as pens, pagers, cigarette lighters and the likes. That's all fine but it has to be more than just another attractive gimmick from the outside. It's what's in the chemical and how fast you can shoot it that really counts. Many products have attachments for key chains simply because it's the most common type of way to carry the self defense spray. With a key chain attachment, you always have your keys with you so it makes since to keep in on your key ring. It's also nice to have a belt clip built into the unit. The clip can be attached to belts, purses or whatever. I prefer easy break-away belt clips. That is, if you pull on it, the belt clip simply breaks away. No change of hanging there! I told this to one developer and he told me if it was used in that manner, you'd ruin the product. I told the guy that he needed to get out of the "sales" business and into the self defense usage business! Yea of course--it's going to be ruined....it's going to be fired silly! It might save someone's life! After it's over, the spray has it's purpose anyway and it's time to get a new one. The important thing for you to understand and consider now is how its going to be carried after you purchase it. It's not going to do you any good if you forget it and leave it at home if you need it. It's not going to do you any good if you lock it in your car. You need it with you at all times.

Accidental Discharge
Believe me when I tell you that you don't want to be near a can of spray that accidentally goes off. I know, I have been around these cheap sprays when that has happened. It ruins car interiors. In ruins the inside of purses. It ruins and stains clothing. Anyone around it, four a half hour or more is going to feel the chemical effects. When we first starting selling self defense sprays in our showroom in Austin, Texas, we made the mistake of leaving them out on the counter. Someone came in and pulled the trigger. We don't do it like that anymore. The showroom was closed for the rest of the day. Many cheap sprays avoid accidental discharges by having safety switches on them. The problem is, they have added another setup to the process for actually using the product and that's not good. Only Mace Brand has the patented flip-top split-second fire that is very hard to have an accidentally discharge with.

Dying Chemicals
Many of the better self defense sprays have a dying chemical in them these days. Some of the cheap ones do not. Dying chemicals shot a dye into the attacker along with the spray so if the attacker runs away, he can easily be identified by the police at a later time. With some so-called self defense sprays, other than blinding the attacker with paint for a second, that's about all they do! The best dying agent is an invisible one. That is, the attacker doesn't know he's been marked. When the attacker knows he's marked, he will tend to run and hide in a place where he will likely try and wash it off. Some of these marking chemicals don't come off that easy. Now he's going to lye low knowing he is a marked man. However, if the attacker doesn't even know he's been marked, he's more likely to be out in the open where the police can question him. It's simply a matter of common sense. UV marking dye provides the very best marking simply because a UV light, which just about every police department has; will reveal the marks. Mace Brand has the all important UV dye

With all that said, I would like to make a comment about self defense sprays inside cars. I know that there are a number of companies that make "auto models" and I certainly understand the reasoning of wanting to keep them in your car. You don't want to keep a regular formulated pepper spray in the car especially if you live in the south. In the summer time the inside car heat can go up to over 120 degrees. That's not good for the spray and it could burst. You'll have a huge mess.

New Higher Quality Fourth Generation Self Defense Spray
There Is A New Higher Quality Fourth Generation Self Defense Spray On The Market that involves concealment of the self defense spray which is sometimes worthwhile. I am, of course, not telling people to break the law but concealed pepper sprays are worth reviewing. Here are the best ones and the ones I would recommend:

Overall Disadvantages Of Self-Defense Spray
A major disadvantage of pepper spray is a wind factor. I don't care what brand you use. If you have a very strong wind, they aren't going to be effective unless the attacker is at extremely close range. In very strong wind, you are going to get spray-back if you have to spray against the wind. In the overwhelming majority of cases you will be fine but it's important for you to understand that their is going to be a certain diminishing effectiveness of ANY self defense spray being sprays against the wind. That's why you will also want to have a small Stun Gun with you also.

Understanding Stun Gun Technology
Dispelling The Myth And Hype! Grabbing Onto The Reality

Using battery power, a Stun Gun is a self defense product that puts out a high voltage shock. An attacker can be simply touched with the product and he will be immobilized for several minutes, with no permanent damage. A very short two second shock will cause muscle spasms and an extremely dazed state of mind for about fifteen minutes. Five seconds of the gun will cause one to feel as though they had been pushed off a two story building. The stun gun does NOT have to touch exposed skin for it to work at all. You'll get the same effect through everyday clothing.

A little know fact about Stun Guns is that you have to have a minimum of about two seconds of contact for them to be effective on the average person. Some Stun Gun sellers claim that only a split second is needed. This is a falsehood no matter what brand of stun gun we are talking about. Almost all sellers know this fact but keep it from you for fear you will not purchase one from them. In self defense products, there isn't any room for trial and error. Your life or the life of a loved one could depend on it.

The Pulse Frequency Rate
How The Stun Gun actually works it's magic is quite interesting. It has to do with what is called pulse frequency rate. The electronic shock sends a pulse frequency rate that tells the muscles to engage in a great deal of work very rapidly. What then happens is the attacker's blood sugar level is converted into lactic acid. The end result of this is that the muscular functions become impaired and will not work. It's like going limp. Nothing moves!

Contrary to popular myth, a Stun Gun does not depend on pain or high amperage to obtain results. It's the pulse frequency rate that really matters. The pulse frequency rate takes over the neurological pathways of the nervous system. Even big guys usually drop right to the ground. The effects are split second and massive disorientation, loss of balance and limpness occurs. If you happen to be touching the person or they are touching you, the effects of the Stun Gun will not effect you but the attacker will almost instantly let go.

Dispelling The Voltage Myth
When I first started marking stun guns, a 50,000 volt stun gun was a very high voltage one. Today we are seeing Stun Guns going over the 400,000 volt mark. Although these stun guns do have more voltage power, the secret to Stun Guns is in the pulse frequency rate, not the voltage. Therefore, a lot of this high voltage stuff is really nothing more than hype.

Stun Gun Feel And Carry
Like self-defense sprays, Stun Guns need to be designed so you can instantly grab and feel the way they point and need to have the ability to be fired in an instant. The trigger button needs to be in a place which can be accessed with your finger in a split second. One popular Stun Gun has a top cover you must first take off before you can use it. The problem with this is that it takes time to get the top off. That's not good. I don't really like the Stun Guns that have a safety switch on them. I personally prefer the velcro holsters for them. In a spit second, you can pull them out and fire. Better stun guns come with a belt clip attachment so they can be easily attached to belts or purses.

New Phase Induction Technology
The very best Stun Guns on the market today are now third generation, here's why. New generation stun guns use a new Phase Induction technology (Patent pending). You can not only hear the difference, the pulse frequency rate is generally higher and the batteries tend to last longer. There are some Stun Gun sellers that are advertising "Phase Induction Power " but there is really only a few which come with a lifetime guarantee. Don't let someone pull the bait and switch game with you. There are thousands of low-end stun guns in the market place that have a high defect rate and tend to stop working as soon as they get dropped ones or twice. The new generation stun guns combine light sources, alarms and even pepper spray built right into them.

Here are some high quality stun guns I recommend:

It's important to test your Stun Gun to make sure it works every week or so. Stun Guns are made so that you can see the sparks arc across the two prongs. The typical stun gun has four extending probes, two on each end of the gun. The inner probes are for testing it and is where the test arc will happen. The other two probes are the contact probes. It's worth saying that you don't want to be touching any of the metal probes when you test fire the Stun Gun. Although it's important to test the Stun Gun once in a while, don't hold down the button for more than a fewseconds. This can burn out the Stun Gun. It's also important to not set there and play with the Gun making it arc all the time. Save the Stun Gun power for when you need it. It's also important to change the batteries about every six months.

Unlike self-defense sprays which are pressurized cans, you don't have to worry about leaving a Stun Gun in a car in which heat could potentially cause the unit to accidentally discharge.

I personally like the:

Third Generation Top Quality StunGun Combo
Flash Light, Alarm And 200,000 Volt Power StunGun All
Built Into One High Tech Unit. Very Bright!

Because of it's small size. You will also find bigger higher voltage Stun Guns but I think the 200,000 Volt product will work just as well as the 400,000 volt Stun Guns. The difference is price between the standard voltage Stun Guns and the high voltage stun guns is amazing. The realhigh voltage Stun Guns usually run six, six or seven times more. But, since Stun Guns really depend on pulse frequency rates, it's all just a game to get you to spend more money. The secret to their effectiveness is not only in the voltage. What I am basically saying is that you don't need a 900,000 volt Stun Gun that cost ten times the price because the standard voltage Stun Guns work just fine.

Overall Disadvantage Of Stun GunsThe overall disadvantage of Stun Guns is the fact that you have to be in close range and make contact with the attacker for them to be effective. Unless, of course; you choose an Air Taser.

The Air Taser
The disadvantage of Stun Guns is that you have to be right up to someone for them to work at all. You have to touch them with it. The Air Taser Solves this problem with the first shooting Stun Gun. The Air Taser works just like a stun gun but it shoots 15 feet. It uses compressed air that shoots two small probes at an attacker. The probes are connected by a special Taser wire backto the main unit. If you miss, you can still use the Taser as a Stun Gun. The Taser has an optional red dot for aiming and several holster designs. With the red dot, you can visually aim the taser before you fire seeing the dot on the body of the attacker. This makes a miss highly unlikely. I highly recommend the Taser as I keep one in my car personally.

To review the different air tasers, check out these models:

The M18 Advanced Air Taser
The Shooting Stun Gun

M18L More Advanced Taser
More Features And Protection

Advanced Air Taser X26
The Most Advanced Taser System In The World.

Protection Of Your Assets And Information
In today's fast-paced business word, people carry around with them vital data and assets in a briefcase. Think about what would happen if you lost the information in that briefcase and their assets. For years, diplomats have carried a high security briefcase around with them that will set off an alarm and act as a stun gun if anyone tries to steal it or pick it up. That same technology is now available to you.

New! Remote Controlled Shock Alarm Briefcase
Lose-Proof - Theft Proof And Burglar-Proof! Diplomatic Level Travel Security.

New Generation Police Batons
Police batons are very inexpensive and a very handy self defense product to carry in your car or on your person if you are a professional who needs that type of thing. The newer generation expandable police batons have tips you can install on them and use them as a light source.

 Police Batons
Amazing Professional Models

Body Alarms
Body alarms are an effective add-on self defense product that I personally like but I wouldn't want to depend on an alarm only. recently, a national multi-level marketing company hyped the fact that the US Government states that sound is a strong crime deterrent. They certainly can be, but the remark was taken out of context. Body alarms need to be used with other self defense products. Sound can be used as a strong deterrent but it has to be loud enough and it has to be ear piercing and it needs to be combined with other products as an overall personal defense system. I wouldn't get one that was less than 100 dab. At times, if can be the first action take by you for defense when you have one on you. Just pull the cord, and the alarm goes off. The better ones now include a strobe light that flashes so you have sound and light. If the attacker keeps coming get ready with your self defense spray or taser. If other people are around, you have certainly drawn attention to yourself. Even if no one is in sight, most people will recognize the alarm sound. If you are going to get one get a good one! The cheap ones dumped in the US market have weak battery connections, lower sound ratings and a very high defect rate. The best one can be used a both a body alarm and door/window alarm for traveling. The best one I have found on the market is the Pro Tech Plus Personal Body Alarm . It comes with a strobe light that doubles as a handy safety light, puts off an ear piercing 130 bD siren and has a designer carry pouch, and can double as a door/window alarm with the extra attachment.

 Pro-Tech Plus Personal Alarm
The Rolls Royce!

Diversion Knives
Diversion knives can be used as a last line of defense. By that, I mean everything else has failed but you are still holding onto your lipstick tube or pen that hides a cutting edge. For information on the self-defense knife systems click here.

An Overall Self Defense Products Program
As you have read through this information, some lights should have gone on in your mind. When it comes to self-defense products, there are several things you can do to up the chances of avoiding injury and/or attack. The real secret is to backup your one product with other effective products. The most effective non-lethal self defense system should include a good self-defense spray, a good Stun Gun or taser and an alarm and strobe light. With all that, you reduce your risk tremendously. That's why we have put together the best self-defense spray, combined with the best Stun Gun technology combined with the best sound/light strobe alarm at a specially reduced savings. I urge you to review this limited time combo self-defense special that saves you money. Whatever product you purchase, take the time to review the material that comes with it and know how to use it. Taking a few minutes to practice with the product will likely result in shaving seconds off the time it takes you to use it if and when you need to. Should you have further questions about self-defense products, feel free to email me at: RThomas007@aol.com


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Copyright: 2005, Ralph D. Thomas
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