Here’s another guest post from friend and site contributor Madison Parker from HomeSecuritySystems.net.  Her last post on our site was about how to keep your home safe over the holidays.  This one is full of practical protection advice to use year round. Enjoy! – Bill

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The Best Non-Lethal Weapons for Home Defense

Keeping your home and family save when facing a burglar or home invader can be a challenge. While a firearm is often a good option for some people, it’s just not right for everyone. Firearms can pose a risk to the people who live in the house if they’re not properly stored, and in some cases you might have to jump through a number of legal hoops just to own one.

Fortunately, there are a number of non-lethal weapons you can use for home defense. Understanding the options will help you pick the right one for your situation.

Non-lethal weapons for home defense fall into three categories:

1. Stun guns.

Stun guns are, in the most basic sense, a device that will send an electrical charge into a target, effectively disabling them. They’re often more effective than a firearm, and while there are times when a stun gun might interact with a person that has a health problem and lead to death, they’re generally considered non-lethal. Some have to be placed in direct contact with the target, while others shoot from a distance.

There are a number of options you can pick from when it comes to stun guns. One of the best options is probably the M18 TASER. The M18 TASER comes in a variety of models, some of which even include a laser sight.

The basic premise behind this type of stun gun is that a compressed cartridge of air fires two probes with electrical wires into your target’s clothes or skin. Those probes give an electrical charge that’s significant enough to cause the attacker to lose control of their muscles, thus stopping them.

Stun guns are illegal in many states, including Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, as well as a number of localities.

2. Pepper spray.

Pepper spray, also referred to sometimes as “mace,” is a canister that ejects some combination of chemicals (often simply pepper or derivatives) and is designed to irritate the skin or blind an attacker. Some offer a stream, some will foam, some fog an area, and some spray in a cone.

One of the best options for pepper spray is the Sabre Pepper Foam Home Self-Defense Spray. This spray has a range of up to 8 feet and contains 15 shots. The foam delivery makes it less likely that you’ll suffer from blowback – which is what happens when the pepper spray comes back toward the user.

Unlike stun guns, pepper spray is legal in all 50 states.

3. Personal alarms

A final type of nonlethal personal safety equipment – while it’s not strictly a weapon – is a personal alarm. These alarms create a loud noise and alert people around you that there’s a problem.

These alarms come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s hard to compare quality from one to the next. One particularly good personal alarm is the MS-223-S keychain alarm. It has a 120 dB siren, as well as a keychain flashlight. You can pick one of these up for less than $10.

Regardless of what kind of nonlethal weapon you choose for home defense, make sure you understand how to safely operate it, and that you’re following state and local laws.

Madison Parker is a home security expert whose passion for safety has led to the creation of her HomeSecuritySystems.net blog. Swing by her blog to get more home security tips and advice!