History

• During the pioneer days in the United States, shooting and killing anyone who threatened to attack you or steal your horses was perfectly legal. While that is not advisable today, a person still has a right to defend himself against an attack. The Second Amendment to the Constitution gives American citizens the right to bear arms' however, the Fourteenth Amendment allows individual states to regulate that right and to determine what types of self-defense equipment you may legally carry.
  
  

Types

• Know what you may legally carry in your state.
  
  Possession and the concealed carrying of a gun are regulated in every state. In addition, other self-defense items that have the potential of causing a lethal injury, such as knives, are also regulated in some areas. Non-lethal self-defense equipment such as pepper spray, mace, noisemakers, stun guns and tasers are allowed in most communities, but you should consult your local law enforcement agency for specifics.
  
  

Features

• Self-defense equipment need not be a weapon. Security lights with motion sensors, alarm systems and loud police whistles are examples of items that provide safety measures but harm no one. Because most self-defense equipment has the ability to harm or temporarily disable another person, care must be taken both in the application of the equipment and in the method in which you carry it. Make sure you know how the item operates before you need to use it.
  
  

Effects

• The outcome of the use of self-defense equipment is directly related to the force it generates and how that force is applied during an attack. Carrying a concealed handgun is not beneficial if an attacker takes it away from you; likewise with a knife, stun gun, taser or baton. The general rule when carrying self-defense equipment is to know how to use it, be prepared to use it and not hesitate to use it.
  
  

Theories/Speculation

• Since the law is different in every state, you may assume only generalities on the amount of lethal force allowable. When defending yourself, you should use a sufficient amount of force to counter the attack. If you use lethal force when defending yourself, you often must show that you feared lethal force from the attacker. Shooting someone who was going to slap you will probably result in your arrest.
  
  

Warning

• Research the laws in your state and in any states you may travel through. A Concealed Carry (CC) license from your home state may not be reciprocal in another state.