"Stun Guns Should Be a Legal Personal Defense Item in New
Jersey”
At present, in the State of New Jersey, the possession of a
Stun Gun or other form of stunning device is prohibited
under New Jersey State Law. (N.J.S.2C:39-1 )
The signers of this petition respectfully ask that the
legislators of the State of New Jersey revise the relevant
statute to decriminalize stun gun ownership and permit
individuals to carry and use them as personal defense,
subject to appropriate background checks, licensing and
prohibition against improper use.
These devices are legal in 44 other States. There, men and
women over 21, with no criminal record, are allowed to carry
a stun gun for personal self-defense. In general, the
national record of the use of these devices in those states
has been positive, with many robberies, rapes and personal
assaults stopped without the use of deadly force.
A Stun Gun is a simple device, usually the size of a small
TV remote or cell phone. It is powered by a 9-volt battery
and has a pair of probes that can be held against the body
or a limb of an attacker at any place. The electric charge
that is released into the attacker disturbs the nervous
system, causing loss of muscle control and inflicting
disabling but non-lethal pain. As a result, the attacker
usually falls to the ground and is out of action for a few
minutes. This allows the victim ample time to flee to safety
and call for help.
Unlike firearms, a stun gun requires minimal training in its
use. Basically, you flip it “on” and then hold it against
your attacker's body, even through clothing, for one or two
seconds. It requires no ammunition.
In places where it is not prohibited, the stun gun is widely
used as a personal defense device, as well as by law
enforcement around the world, because it is considered a
more humane, practical and even less dangerous –
“non-lethal” is the word often used – device than firearms.
It can be more versatile than pepper sprays that don't work
unless the wind is right and must be discharged into the
face of the attacker.
Yet, in New Jersey, despite living and working in known
areas and neighborhoods where robberies, rapes and assaults
are high, decent, law-abiding people are not permitted to
own such devices, even after passing the same background
checks that your local police department makes when
approving the ownership of far more deadly weapons such as
hand guns and long guns.
It makes no sense that a person may own a firearm under
those reasonable restrictions and checks, but not own a less
expensive and easier to use stun gun.
To support this petition,
click here. |