Is a Taser a good self defense weapon?

[lordmanji]

My wife and I live in the city in a working class neighborhood and frankly, watching the news and reading the crime stat map in our neighborhood is pretty frightening. I'm thinking of getting the home/her a C2 Taser and am wondering if this is a good quality itemthat may stop an attacker. The cost is quite high for one. Would appreciate thoughts/recommendations.

[Samuel]

An electronic control device is a "less lethal" tool. All of Taser's products are less lethal. Less lethal is never going to be 100% effective (even our lethal tools aren't 100% immediately effective all the time).

That being said, IMO, Taser makes very good products. And That being said, IMO, the C2 would be better for a bad situation out in public. You're supposed to be able to tase a bad guy and then run away before the 30 seconds is up. Remember the C2 only has one shot. If you're dealing with more than one bad guy, it may not be the only tool you're gonna need. IIRC, Taser will replace your C2 for free if you ever have to use it for real - something about sending them a copy of the police report...

Personally, I would not get a Taser for home defense purposes.

[Cat_Doc]

Personally, I would not get a Taser for home defense purposes.

I concur.

[mcsap]

Pepper foam or Pepper Spray that soots out in a stream , not a fog. Has a range of 8-10 ft and allows for near misses to be OK. Very cheap , no license to carry , very effective , lasts for 30 minutes and is not usually regulated.

[ChesCopPodz]

A TASER is not a proper home defense weapon. The C2 delivers a 30 second cycle that is meant to give the user time to escape. In a home defense situation, once that 30 seconds is up, he's still in your house.

As a personal defense weapon when out and about, it's a good tool for someone who may not be inclined to carry a gun. However it is a single shot unless you carry another cartridge.

If you do go the C2 route, know that if you need to use the C2 in the proper manner, deploy, drop it on the ground while it's cycling and run away, TASER will send you a new one at no cost.

[lordmanji]

Thanks everyone for their input. We've decided to purchase a taser because of all the benefits mentioned above taking into consideration the drawbacks as well. I do intend for either of my spouse and I to run the heck out of dodge if the situation ever calls for it.

[ET109]

I'm not sure I would want to try and use a taser unless I had a firearm to back it up with; something to think about.

[Joeyd6]

What are you going to do when you shoot the C2 and the probes don't land far enough apart or penetrate the outter clothig and now you have a pissed off bad guy? Tasers are electrical equipment that do fail, and the civilian models are not built to the same standards as the police/military models. They are also considered SECONDARY. You also need a back-up to it in case it fails. Buy some pepper spray.

[greg72982]

Thanks everyone for their input. We've decided to purchase a taser because of all the benefits mentioned above taking into consideration the drawbacks as well. I do intend for either of my spouse and I to run the heck out of dodge if the situation ever calls for it.

^^^Anyone else laugh at this post?? I must be reading a a different thread because in the one I read everyone is saying the opposite...

[mcsap]

The barbs will not likely penetrate a thick coat , you can miss and only one barb hit ( it wont work) etc.

Pepper gives you multiple chances and allows you to just get close. Plus it is a LOT cheaper.

If I couldn't carry a gun , I would carry some 10% pepper foam.

[marinepilot]

^^^Anyone else laugh at this post?? I must be reading a a different thread because in the one I read everyone is saying the opposite...

Same here, but I figure it's his choice to interpret the posts as he sees them...