Choosing a Defense Spray – Pepper Spray or Tear Gas

Over the last several years, the popularity of self defense sprays, mistakenly called tear gas or Mace, has grown tremendously. The rising rate of violent crime, the publicity and media coverage of such crimes and the reasoning that “if it’s good enough for the police, it is good enough for me” has led more and more citizens to rely on these devices. The demand for defense sprays has become so great that today there is literally dozens of different brands, types, and size to choose from. And, to make matters worse, there are three basic chemical compositions used, only one of which is worth considering for civilian self-defense.

Chemical Composition

There are three basic chemical compounds used in self defense sprays:
- CS (Orthoclorobenzalmalonitrile)
- CN (Alphachloroacetaphenone)
- OC (Oleoresin Capsicum)

OC (Oleoresin Capsicum) is the newest of the three, by far the most effective, and one you should definitely consider for self defense use.

Comparative Effects

CS and CN are irritants to membrane tissues. They cause stinging pain and tearing, and take from 5 to 30 seconds to be effective. In cases of persons who are drunk, on drugs, suffering a psychotic episode, or otherwise cannot feel pain, there may be no effect at all. For years, the field experiences of police officers have been riddled with accounts of total failure of CN and CS products when used as a self defense spray. The reduced ability of CS and CN to subdue those who can’t feel pain, coupled with their delayed effectiveness (5 seconds is an eternity if you’re being attacked with a knife), make these two chemicals too unreliable for use by untrained, possibly physically limited, persons. OC is not an irritant. It is an inflammatory agent; and this makes all the difference in the world. When a person is sprayed with OC, two things happen instantly. First, the person’s eyes clamp shut, instantly. If they do manage to force them open, they still can’t see because the OC dilates the capillaries and causes temporary blindness. Second, an immediate fit of uncontrollable coughing doubles the person over since the OC causes instant inflammation of the breathing tissues, restricting all but life support breathing. OC, in effect, puts up a brick wall between an assailant and the victim. As one police trainer has put it, “It’s like being hit with a flame thrower!” An assailant, who’s sprayed with OC stops what they’re doing, stops what they’re thinking – period. This is true even for those who are drunk, on drugs, or psychotic. OC works extremely well on animals, although most versions are not made for this purpose.

Other Considerations

In addition to not being as effective as OC, CN and CS take longer to wear off and the chemical residue can last for days. They are both man-made chemicals and are identified as possible carcinogenic agents. Long term skin problems and toxic reactions have also been documented. OC, on the other hand, is a natural chemical derivative of various hot peppers. It has not been found to be toxic in any way, and absolutely does not harm delicate tissues. The effects of OC, depending on the concentration and the availability of fresh air, take about 20 to 30 minutes to wear off. The assailant makes a full recovery, with no after-effects unless the OC spray contains an identifying dye. This usually lasts a week or more, but is harmless.

Recommendations

For the reasons outlined previously, we recommend a defense spray containing OC in any formulation and concentration over a CN- or CS- based spray for self defense by law enforcement and civilians. Combination sprays are very effective as long as it contains a good quantity of pepper spray.

Purchase Considerations

Once proven that OC was superior to CN and CS (the number of suppliers and brands of OC spray multiplied quickly. And with their increased numbers, came different concentrations, formulations, sizes, nozzle types, and spray patterns. Even if a buyer of defense spray chooses OC, there are still several other critical considerations.

Size and Capacity

Size generally ranges from approximately one half ounce up to four ounces. Small units work well as a key chain or clipped onto a pocket. A medium-size 2 oz. unit works well in a purse or on a belt. The large 4 oz. size can also be carried in a purse or on a belt, but tends to be bulky. These are made primarily for law enforcement purposes. The size of the unit generally determines its capacity- how much compound can be sprayed for what length of time. Other capacity indicators are the number of shots per unit and how far the unit will shoot. This is where it may get confusing. To simplify things, two factors are fairly flexible: the range and the number of shots available. The range needs only be 6-to-8 feet, the distance at which most personal assaults take place. Keep in mind, that the greater the distance the unit is fired from, the more accurate the aim must be, something that can be difficult in a time of stress. The number of shots available is not critical, as a good one- to two-second burst will disable almost any assailant. Even the smallest units have enough compound in them to handle multiple attackers if done correctly.

Nozzle and Spray Pattern

Much more important than capacity, is the spray pattern and dispersal-density of the unit. There are generally two types of spray patterns: a stream pattern which gives good range but requires aiming directly at the face; and a cone mist, also known as a fogger, which has a shorter range but does not require true aiming. In addition to these factors, there are two other important comparisons. First, if there is a breeze, the stream spray is more controllable. The cone mist can be blown off target or even back at the sprayer. The second question is how easily the mist can be inhaled. OC works best when it hits the eyes and when inhaled. The cone mist is inhaled instantly while the stream may require longer exposure to cause coughing spasms. With all types of sprays, it is critical to hit the attacker in the face!

Formulation

OC normally comes in concentrations of 10% and 50%. Due to a number of formulation differences, the percent of concentration is not always a good indicator of effectiveness. One of the biggest misconceptions about defense spray is that the higher the percentage, the better it will work. The percentage has nothing to do with the actual “heat” the spray, as that is rated in terms of Scoville Heat Units.

Recommendation

Although each individual should purchase what they feel is best for them, a medium-size with a cone-mist spray is probably the overall best choice for most people. Since most people carry a keychain, a keychain unit is a good choice. In addition, a large fogger type unit & unit with a cone spray should be in the home, either at bedside or by the front door. This will be covered later.

Legal Considerations

As nice as it would be to think we have the right to protect ourselves with a non-injurious device no matter where we are, such is not the case. Despite the fact that OC spray has never been found to injure anyone, and in fact has been responsible for preserving life and limb of law enforcement officers and civilians alike, there are still some jurisdictions that have outlawed all defense sprays. Most of these laws are based on the history and perception of old-style tear- gas sprays. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you check with local law enforcement officials before purchasing, carrying, or possessing a defense spray of any kind.

Age Consideration

At what age should a person be allowed to carry a personal defense spray? The answer depends on several factors. First, the maturity of the person should be considered. The young person must understand that defense sprays are to be used for defense purposes only. They are not toys, or something to brag about to their friends. And they’re certainly not to be used to play practical jokes, etc. Second, the environment of the young person should be considered. If they regularly live, work, attend school, etc. in an area where they are at risk, then a defense spray could provide the protection they need. Parents need to understand the need and personality of their child before they allow him/her to carry defense sprays. If the parents of a 16-year-old girl feel their daughter is mature enough to go out on dates, she should be mature enough to carry a defense spray. This, provided, she’s been taught how and when to use it. Those same parents may have a wild, sometimes uncontrollable 17-year-old son who, if given a spray, would likely show it off to his friends, spray people as a prank, and might even possibly use it to commit an assault on someone else. The key question a parent must ask, is whether or not their child needs the spray, and whether or not they have the maturity to respect and use the device for self-protection only. Another consideration is your local and state laws. These need to be checked before you purchase defense spray for yourself or your children.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Copyright By D. Lamb

Riot Control Tactics and Crowd Management Techniques

Police and military forces are better trained and better equipped to handle crowds that get out of control. In handling riot situations, it is important to know what causes riots, how police approach crowd control problems, and what equipment they use to clear the streets safely.

What Makes a Riot?

First we must understand how a riot develops in the first place. A riot is a crowd that takes aggressive and illegal actions as a reaction to fear or anger. The crowd takes on a mob mindset and does things they normally would not do because the crowd makes them anonymous. Being anonymous and seeing the actions of the others makes them feel like they can damage, burn or harm whatever and whomever they want.

The fuel for a riot builds up over time. In many situations, this can take years or even decades of racial prejudice, unfair treatment or abuse. When people have no effective way of dealing with these issues or bettering their situation, an undercurrent of anger and frustration grows stronger and stronger.

Once the situation is at a breaking point, almost anything can set it off. An incident that angers one group can immediately turn them against another group of people. Sometimes an actual incident isn’t even required and it may just a rumor that spread through a group to turn anger into a violent outburst.

Sports teams losing or winning a major game can sometimes cause riots. In this case, the fuel doesn’t build up for a long time and it’s mainly the result of alcohol. The drunkenness of the crowd contributes heavily to these riots and is simply sparked by the excitement or disappointment.

Riot Control Tactics

The tactics used to control riots in the past were very simple. The success was based on the fact that the police were almost always better armed than the rioters. The tactics they used basically consisted of forming a line and charging into the crowd. The police today are even better armed, but the techniques have advanced significantly and usually prevent the injuries that we have seen in the past.

When a riot is in full swing, police will arrange themselves in a square formation with a command team at the center. The command team is protected on all four sides by echelons of troops deployed in groups of 10 or 12 officers. There is also an arrest team at the center of the square.

This riot control unit is very mobile and can adapt quickly to changes in the mod or situation. If a threat suddenly appears in a different direction, the echelon facing that direction is designated the front of the unit. The entire team can change direction without a lot of reorganizing. The echelons can also cover each other when the team moves to take new positions. If a section is under attack, the whole team does not move together. One echelon moves while the others provide covering fire or an actual physical screen using riot shields. Then another echelon moves up into position.

This layout is not meant to be an impenetrable wall of police. Actually, the riot team leaves an escape route to let rioters run past. The officers can take a passive stance by spreading out and leaving a large opening between each officer. The crowd can then easily filter through them. If an overly violent person or group moves toward the officers, they can immediately close the gaps and form a tight line.

As the officers move forward into a crowd, they push at anyone who doesn’t respond to verbal requests to move away by. If they still refuse to move, the unit continues moving forward, but the front line opens up and passes around the protesters. Once the specific people are inside the square, the unit stops and the arrest team processes the rioters. The front line closes and the unit can continue moving.

Riot Control Technology

When crowd control units get ready to engage, the first thing required is protective gear. The full outfit typically consists of:

* Helmet with face shield
* Body armor
* Large body shield

The body shield and face shield are typically made of a material called Lexan. If thick enough, it can be bullet proof. But in this application, it basically protects against thrown objects or attacks with sticks and similar weapons.

The most basic offensive weapon a riot control officer has is a baton. These are usually between 24 and 42 inches long and are made of various materials. Expandable batons or expanding batons are also used because of their size when closed. They can fit into holsters and worn on the belt similar to handcuffs. There are also batons that are fashioned after stun guns and referrer to as stun batons. Most crowd control units use some type of baton instead of rifles because the presence of guns are likely to escalate any situation. If someone manages to take a gun away from an officer, the results could be disastrous.

If guns are being used, the police typically employ a variety of non-lethal rounds. Although these are not generally considered fatal rounds, anything fired from a gun has the potential to be deadly. But, they are trained to use these weapons in ways that minimize the risk of death or serious injury.

These rounds are commonly fired from a 40mm single shot or multi-round gun. They are similar to military grenade launchers.

Riot Control Rounds

Some of these non-lethal rounds include:

* Blunt-force rounds – These rounds cause pain when they strike, but they don’t penetrate the skin. They are often fired at the ground so the round skips off the pavement and strikes the rioters in the legs. Each round is filled with small discs. When officers skip the rounds off the ground in front of the crowd, they separate and tend to hit multiple rioters. It can cause a lot of pain, but has a lesser chance of doing damage as compared to a solid piece of the material. The objective is to cause enough pain to make the rioter comply with the officers.

* Bean Bag Round – These are square-shaped bean bags that have a long-range but they tend to be inaccurate. There are teardrop-shaped bean bag rounds with a tail that are geared toward accuracy.

* Sponge Round – Bullet-shaped round with a sponge tip. They are all-purpose with average range and accuracy.

* Stinger rounds – A Stinger round is loaded with small, rubber pellets that disperse on impact.

* Pepper ball rounds – A paint ball gun is slightly modified to fire pepper spray pellets instead of paint balls. When these strike someone, the severe burning sensation in the eyes and nose will incapacitate most people without doing permanent harm. When children or elderly people might be present in a crowd, the police can use water pellets instead. It still stings to get hit with water pellets and sometimes people are afraid they have actually been hit with pepper spray, so the crowd disperses.

* Aerosol grenades – These are metal canisters that are activated and thrown like regular grenades. They spray tear gas or pepper spray gas over a wide area. Officers rarely throw these directly into a crowd since it can increase panic. They typically use the gas to create a type of barricade to direct the crowd’s movements in a certain direction. A gas grenade might be thrown into the crowd if a particular group is extremely violent or attacking a single victim.

* Ferret rounds – Ferret rounds are made to penetrate windows or wooden barricades, where they can then deposit the gas. These are used to flush people out of barricades and other standoff situations.

* Dye rounds – Sponge rounds, ferret rounds and pepperball rounds can all be filled with marker dye. These are used to mark certain people in a crowd so that other officers can identify them or so that they can be caught later if they leave the scene. In a riot, the leaders are often tagged with marker-dye rounds so the arrest team can pick them up later.

* Gas rounds – These rounds are loaded with a gas that causes severe irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, and even causes contact skin burns in some cases. These most commonly contain pepper spray or tear gas. Officers don’t like to use gas rounds, because they know they’re going to experience some of the effects of the gas themselves. Still, they wear gas masks and goggles to protect themselves in case the need arises.

Crowd Control Prevention

Today’s riot control units are not usually called riot squads anymore; they are crowd-management units. Rather than trying to beat the rioters in battle, the police just try to calm them down and get them to go home. The use even non-lethal force is a last resort.

The first step in crowd management is making sure a riot doesn’t happen in the first place. Although riots can erupt unexpectedly, they are frequently tied to a planned protest or organized demonstration. When the police think a situation could potentially get out of control, they contact the organizers of the protest ahead of time. They set up ground rules that the protesters are to follow and they designate a specific area for the event to take place. The police assign specially trained officers to monitor the event and to ensure that everyone stays safe. The police will only take action if the ground rules are broken.

If the officers disagree with the opinions of the protesters, they are still trained to maintain an unbiased attitude. The officers try not to look at the protesters as enemies. Instead, they recognize that the rioters are part of the same community that the police are entrusted to protect and serve. There is fine balancing act.

Even though police are trained to be polite, they are careful to not give off an impression of subservience. They have to be seen as being in charge and in control at all times, even while they stay passive and allow the crowd to operate within the ground rules set out ahead of time. Occasionally these preventative measures don’t work and a riot breaks out despite police efforts to keep everyone peaceful.

Crowd Control Conflict

If a crowd gets disorderly and starts taking violent action, the police will switch to a more aggressive approach. They understand that most riots are lead by a few individuals who feel strongly or have something to gain from a violent confrontation. The majority of the people are present either because something exciting is going on or they are simply bystanders that get caught up in the mob mentality. The likelihood of arrest or confrontation with police usually prompt them to escape and go home.

The first step is simple intimidation. Riot police stand in strict formations and act with military precision. Once they form the lines of barriers, they tap their batons on their shields or stomp their feet in unison. The result can be quite intimidating to unarmed civilians. It can appear that the group is getting ready to attack. In reality, this display is meant to scare off as many of the rioters as possible without the officers ever getting near them.

Police do not try to arrest every person in the riot. Their first targets are those who are leading the riot because the crowd will often disperse without their leaders encouraging them. Everyone seen breaking a law are also targeted for arrest, especially if they injure someone.

When the officers are actually in conflict with the rioters, the objective is still to disperse the crowd. A combination of advancing lines of officers and the use of gas is used to move the crowd in a particular direction. The crowd is never pinned down and always given an escape route. The main purpose of the crowd management team is to get the people to disperse.

Identity Theft has Evolved as Technology Grows

Today, people must keep up with technology in order to conduct their lives and daily routines. They are required to change almost daily to new knowledge and exciting discoveries that constantly change the way they function and do business. Everything from saying hello to a friend down the street to video-conferencing with someone around the world can be done electronically from anywhere.

Technological advances now allow people to carry out the most mundane of tasks, such as ordering groceries from the store, to the most complex activities, such as performing complicated surgery.  All this can be done from a separate remote location with simply a computer connected to the Internet.

Since its beginnings in the 1990s, the Internet has grown into a huge electronic network that now spans the entire globe.  Because people use the Internet in their everyday lives, they rely on it almost completely for safe and accurate exchange of information.

Constantly, personal data such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, and passwords are traveling through wires, and also through the air, from one computer to another. With security measures in place to protect this sort of information online, most people feel safe on the Internet and trust that their personal information will remain confidential. But, unfortunately, criminals have also adapted to advancements in technology and, these days, people are becoming victims of crimes committed over the Internet.

The Evolution of Crime on the Internet

For years, criminals have been using discarded credit card receipts, bank statements, tax notices, and other bills (often found in the trash) to gain the personal information necessary to assume another person’s identity. However, on today’s electronic playing field, these criminals have used technology to devise cunning new methods of theft in the form of cyber crimes. Now, computer hacking and email scams known as phishing are included among the risks of sharing information online.

Computer hackers are able to enter areas of the Internet where they are prohibited and hack in to another computer network. Once they are inside a computer’s network, they are able to view documents, files, and confidential data and use it for their own personal gain. Phishing, on the other hand, is a method in which people are duped into providing their own personal data to a thief who is posing as a legitimate business or agency. Both of these cyber crimes have been steadily on the rise in recent years. In fact, according to the Wall Street Journal, there were more than 9.9 million cases of identity theft last year in the United States.

Hacking Into Your Life

One example of the growing computer hacking problem in which personal information was stolen emerged in February, 2005 when an information broker, ChoicePoint Inc., announced that an identity theft ring had hacked into its database and gained access to hundreds of thousands of personal documents. Some of the information that was stolen included full names, Social Security numbers, home addresses, and credit reports.

Many other large corporations such as T-Mobile USA were also recently hacked, and had their clients’ information stolen. Even superstar Paris Hilton could not escape the threat of identity theft as her personal photos, text messages, and phone numbers in her personal directory were stolen by a hacker and spread across the Internet. The U.S. Senate will soon hold hearings to determine whether these corporations and information brokers require more extensive regulation.

Don’t Get Hooked by Phishers!

Phishing is currently on the rise around the world as well. Phishing works because scammers are able to construct bogus emails, pop-up ads, and even websites that appear to be from legitimate businesses or agencies. They inspire a false sense of trust, then send out emails asking for personal and financial data so they can steal identities.

Some phishing emails may even install software on your computer that could be used to redirect your computer to bogus websites. Be extremely cautious of whom you trust with personal information on the Internet. You should know that legitimate businesses will never ask you to provide nor confirm any personal information through an email or pop-up message.

Tips to Protect Yourself and the Internet

The Internet can be a powerful tool, and the convenience it offers to manage business and recreation is invaluable. But theft and fraud are damaging the positive reputation of the Internet as a medium for business. Consumers are losing confidence in their own safety on the Internet, and fewer people are making purchases online these days.

However, there are steps that you can take to decrease your chances of becoming a victim, and to help catch cyber-criminals at work:

* Be aware that there are people online who would like to gain access to your personal information. Do not share this information unless you have initiated the exchange or are absolutely sure of who is receiving it.

* Install security and scanning software onto your computer to protect it from online hacking.

* Do not use your name, date of birth, address, or any other personal information for passwords. These passwords are easily cracked by hackers. In fact, it is suggested that for any password, you should not use a word that is found in the dictionary, as there are hacking programs that will attempt every word in the dictionary.

* Never disclose personal information in response to an email. Legitimate businesses would never ask you to do this. If an email or pop-up ad requests you to confirm personal information, even if it looks genuine, it is an example of phishing and should be reported to reportphishing@antiphishing.org, the attorneys at the Securities and Exchange Commission at enforcement@sec.gov, and to the Federal Trade Commission at uce@ftc.gov.

* If you are concerned about an email you receive from a company, contact that company by phone to verify the information. If there is a web link provided in the email, type it directly into your browser instead of using the link or copying and pasting it, as some links can be redirected to other sites.

* When giving personal information over a website, check to make sure that site is secure. Look at the first part of the web address in your browser. It should read https:// and not http://

* Regularly check your credit card and bank statements and keep track of your transactions. Also, log into your online accounts frequently. This way, you will be able to notice any changes to your account soon after it happens.

By taking these steps, you can greatly reduce your chance of having your identity stolen, and help to combat this growing problem. If you are careful not to reveal personal information online, and help to make others aware of the risks, you will be playing a part in making the Internet a safer place for all of us to communicate and conduct business.

Staff Patrol offers several services to check your own details and see if anything is associated incorrectly with your social security number.

Kubaton Uses & Self-Defense Techniques

The Kubaton is a small baton developed by a Japanese self-defense master for use as a restraint device. The Kubaton proved so effective in law enforcement work that it has become one of the most commonly carried martial arts weapons in the United States. The Kubaton combines functionality and convenience and sometimes is attached to a key chain for even more convenience. It is light, inexpensive, easy to use, legal in most areas and available from a variety of retailers.

The self-defense techniques used with a Kubaton are very simple ones. They work by trapping the nerves in the skin between the two hard surfaces (the Kubaton and the opponent’s bones). If used properly, the pain is excruciating and leaves no lasting injury. There are non-lethal impact points on the body suitable for the Kubaton. These are along the spine, chest, solar plexus, and various pressure points along the arms and legs. Extremely effective locations include the throat, eyes and groin, but these locations may lead to permanent injury to the opponent. These techniques are easy to apply, but you must understand how they work, how your opponent will react, the best way to manage the effect, and how to control your attacker after using the technique.

The human body has many methods that ensure its survival in times of danger. One of the most effective methods is the release of a chemical called Adrenaline. There are dozens of physical responses to Adrenaline such as making the heart pump faster, sending blood to the muscles and making an individual stronger. It also numbs pain so that an individual can overcome injury or exhaustion to get away from danger. These things should be recognized when dealing with an opponent and if you cause consistent pain using a Kubaton, the opponent will eventually panic. Adrenaline will surge into his body and he will eventually no longer feel the Kubaton. The secret is to apply pain in only the amount necessary to get compliance and then release the pressure. This will slow your opponent’s flow of adrenaline and help you to keep him under control.

When you are dealing with opponents under the influence of drugs or alcohol, their pain threshold will differ. They may not react to pain very quickly or at all. The Kubaton may be ineffective as a restraint under these circumstances, so you need to judge accordingly.

In a different approach, the Kubaton can be used as a jabbing or striking weapon. The Kubaton can be used underhand or overhand with a swing or jabbing technique. Of course, the Kubaton is only effective if used forcefully and accurately to the impact points. It does have the same limitations that all short-range, hand-to-hand self-defense weapons have. You must be in close physical contact with your opponent to use a Kubaton. If you are elderly or physically challenged, the Kubaton may not be the best self-defense weapon for you.

Essential Techniques in Women’s Self Defense

Criminals are brighter than we give them credit for when it comes to their choice of victims. They do not typically choose a victim at random, but rather when they see a good opportunity available to them. It’s the same scenario as the low hanging fruit or the mentality of a predator when he sees an injured animal in the wild. They will prey on those who are vulnerable, unaware, or viewed as an uncomplicated target. If you act as if you are familiar with your surroundings, show strength, and walk with confidence, a criminal will not want to put in the extra effort to fight you.

Keep your attention on everyone around you. Do not assume that a well-dressed gentleman cannot be an attacker. If someone is approaching you in a confronting manner, look them square in the eye, and yell “Stop” or “Go Away”. Almost every assailant that has agreed to an interview says that they will not pursue a woman if she shows self-confidence and the mental fortitude to fight back.

Verbal self-defense is a very strong weapon and many who have used this as part of their strategy say it was very effective when used in a strong and assertive voice. Using pepper sprays, stun guns and other such personal defense weapons can work in the same manner. Just by pointing it at an attacker and telling him you have the device can neutralize the situation.

Self-defense items are very valuable in addition to right mindset. However, it’s important that you practice and have the item available. In some cases, the element of surprise is the best advantage with a defense product. If you would like to see the full range and types of self-defense products available, there is a very good site at www.staffpatrol.com/products .

If you decide to use pepper spray or tear gas, practice a few times on a tree or similar target. It’s important to know how far and wide the spray will go with your particular model. If you are using a stun gun, practice how you can position it and how to hold it firmly. Stun guns in particular can deter an attacker by simply firing a short blast in the air. The higher-powered models will blast a bright electrical arch and create a very menacing sound.

Understanding how verbal self-defense works is necessary whether or not you choose to use additional self-defense products. The power of your voice shows your confidence, willingness to defend yourself and your commitment to use any item you have. If you do choose a personal protection item, it’s important to check with your local law enforcement to see which products are legal in your area. Fortunately, most states allow some type of defense product for personal use.

About the Company – Staff Patrol offers preemployment screening, criminal investigative services and a host of personal defense products. For more information, contact support@staffpatrol.com or visit http://www.staffpatrol.com

What Exactly Is A Background Check?

A background check is usually an investigation of a person. A report is complied that will show the details that were found after one or more “searches” are conducted. When companies run background checks as part of their pre-employment screening process, the following are the more common search options from which the employer will choose:

o Criminal Checks
o Driving Record
o Credit Report
o Drug Screen
o SSN Verification
o Past Employment Verification
o Education Verification
o Reference Verification

Why Are They So Important For A Company To Run?

It is the responsibility of an employer to take actions that will help provide a safe environment for their employees and customers. There has been a very significant increase in the number of “Negligent Hiring” lawsuits that have been filed against employers in almost every State. For more information about this, do an Internet search on “Negligent Hiring.”

What Information Is Needed To Run The Check?

Different pieces of information are needed to run different reports. Typically you may need:

o Name
o Social Security Number
o Date of Birth
o Current Address
o Driver’s License Number

Why Can’t I Just Run It Myself On The Internet?

The information that is publicly available on the Internet is typically very limited. While some courts do have online access, most have suppressed case information or identifiers that are used to determine if a name match is indeed your subject. Information like Credit Reports and Driving Records are very restricted. Companies use Background Check Companies as they should have someone who can walk into all 3400+ US County Court Houses and have specialized online access to Motor Vehicle Departments and Credit Bureaus.

Do I Need To Have Someone’s Permission?

When an employer is running a background check in order to make a decision on hiring or retention it is required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act to have written authorization from the subject of the search. The authorization form should be kept on file for five years.

How Far Back Does The Check Go?

It depends on what types of checks you run. Driving Records usually go back 3,5, or 7 years depending on the State. Credit Reports usually report 7 years. Criminal information can sometimes go back 10-15 years, but it is becoming more common to check for 7 years due to some restrictions imposed by State level Fair Credit Reporting Acts.

How Thorough Is A Background Check?

This can vary based on what types of checks are selected, what level of offenses your subject may have been involved with, how many times they have moved, and to a certain extent, how familiar they are with the criminal system. Background Checks can never be guaranteed to be 100% accurate based on how the system works. However, they go a long way in assisting the employer with providing a safer environment and doing their due diligence.

How Long Does It Take To Do?

Based on the selections made, some searches are instant. Others can take 2-4 business days. The search for criminal records in some outlying areas or when there is a potential record, can take a week.

What Are The Important Legal Issues?

There are a number of legislative acts that manage the relationship between the needs of the employer (security) and the rights of the individual (privacy). Some of these documents are the Federal and State Fair Credit Reporting Acts, The Driver’s Protection Privacy Act, The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and numerous other publications related to employment law specifically at the state level. While Background Check companies cannot provide legal guidance, a good company will be knowledgeable in many of these areas and can share some practices that their clients use. However, this should not be seen as a substitute for your own legal counsel.

What If There Is A Mistake On A Background Check?

A Background Check company is known as a Credit Reporting Agency. It is required by the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act that any reports of inaccuracies by the subject of the search are documented and reinvestigated by the CRA.

Using a Baton for Self Defense

There are a lot of choices out there when you are talking about items for self-defense. A good choice is an impact weapon such as an expandable tactical baton. Like any weapon it has its strengths and its weaknesses. Unlike some weapons, such as a stun gun, the baton does require skill to use effectively.

An important concept you need to know about any expandable or retractable baton is reaction time and distance. As an impact weapon, the baton requires time to gain momentum in order to be effective. That time translates into some distance that you must maintain between you and your attacker, for the baton to be effective. Ideally, you want to remain about 1-2 feet outside of the range where you can just strike the opponent. This distance not only enables you to slip forward and strike with power, it allows you the reaction time you need to step back and make a defensive move with your baton when your attacker strikes.

As you might imagine, this distance requirement is both an advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage really comes from the length of the baton and  you may very well be able to stay outside the effective striking range of your attacker and yet still be able to strike back at him. This is especially true if you target the weapon, hands, or arms of your attacker. A good strategy is to target whatever part of your attacker happens to be closest to you rather than trying to get in a strike to his body or head.  This gives you the advantage in both reach and reaction time. If your attacker can move inside of your optimum striking range or reaction distance, you are at a serious disadvantage. There are some strikes and blocks you can use with a baton when the attacker is close to you and those are described later.

The second thing you need to consider is what area of the opponent you target with your baton. A big advantage impact weapons have over other types of close combat weapon is that you can effectively strike at the attacker’s weapon, not just the attacker.  This allows you to stop the weapon of an opponent, which can be very valuable in keeping you safe. It is quite possible to disarm an attacker with a good strike around his grip, hand or wrist. Besides the attacker’s weapon, you typically want to target bony areas when striking with an impact weapon. These include the wrist, elbow, knee, ribs, collarbone and head. A strike to muscle with a baton will cause pain and possibly some muscle cramping, but it won’t be nearly as debilitating as a strike to bone. One solid strike to an attacker’s knee will probably end the encounter completely. That is another advantage of the baton – it has the ability to disable an attacker without having to kill him to do it. This can be a legal bonus. The disadvantage is that bony targets may be difficult to strike in the heat of combat. Anywhere you strike with an expanding baton will do damage, but bone is definitely better.  Any strike to the head, neck or spine may legally be considered probable lethal force.

The method of striking is important. First of all, you need to grip the baton with your thumb wrapped around the handle rather than resting along it. Your grip should be secure but not tight because speed requires a degree of relaxation, especially in your wrist, elbow and shoulder. There are four basic types of strike available to you with an impact weapon such as a police baton or expanding baton. A slashing strike is one that intersects and then moves across the target to the other side. These are most often horizontal or downward angled strikes that, for instance, start on your left side and end on your right side. Swinging a baseball bat would be an example of a slashing strike. These strikes tend to be the most powerful type of strike and they also have the best flow of any strike. It is easier to flow from one strike to the next with these strikes because you are moving with the momentum of the weapon.  Keeping the baton in motion keeps its energy and power flowing and simply steering it where you want it to go next is easier than stopping and starting over again. A horizontal slash with the tip of your baton angled up slightly is very effective at striking and deflecting downward attacks.

The second type of strike is the jab. This strike whips forward, impacts the target and then retracts back to its original position again. Although not as powerful as a slashing strike, the jab does have a couple of advantages: it is very accurate and can effectively strike small target areas.  It is also effective in confined spaces.

The downward circular strike is really just a particular kind of slashing strike. It is a vertically oriented circle between you and the target that returns to its original position upon completion. This strike is very quick and powerful because it has the assistance of gravity.  In the typical ready stance, with your baton held vertically in front of you, you are already positioned to execute the strike. This strike also moves outward as it makes a circle, especially if you chamber the baton by angling the tip backward over your shoulder prior to your strike. Thus, you can use it to strike down onto the frontal face of an attacker (or weapon) at about a 45-degree angle of impact. The downward circular strike can be done to any degree within a 180-degree plane in front of you. It is quite effective at stopping incoming horizontal attacks as long as you target the face of the incoming weapon and strike it away from you rather than trying to strike it downward.

The last type of strike is the thrust. To be effective with a baton, the thrust must follow a similar line as the uppercut punch or hook punch from the side. A thrust straightforward just doesn’t have any real power. The thrust is one technique that can be used at relatively close range if necessary. If done to the solar plexus of an attacker, it can be a very potent strike. One thing to be aware of with expanding batons is that your weapon is collapsible and a powerful thrusting strike may collapse it. Even if your weapon does collapse, there is a good chance your strike will stop the attacker at least long enough for you to reopen the baton.

In addition to using strikes to stop an incoming attack, a baton can also block or parry. To block with a baton, you essentially move it between you and the incoming attack, shielding yourself. Push into the block with your whole body and keep your baton close to you, don’t try to just extend your arm out to meet the attack. Use your free behind your baton to help support your block against the impact. Usually, I keep my free hand and forearm a couple of inches behind the baton and perpendicular to the baton when I am blocking. It is important to have good skeletal alignment so that the force of impact on your block travels in a straight line down the forearm of the hand holding your baton and into your body. A block can be quick and it requires very little motion to pivot your baton into position.  It can be done inside the effective range of your strikes and it will stop an incoming blow. However, it will not do anything to disrupt your attacker since the block is a purely defensive maneuver that will not take the initiative away from your opponent. It requires more effort to flow from block to strike to block than it does to flow between strikes. For such reasons the block is not one of my favorite techniques, especially if I can maintain a good reaction distance between my attacker and myself. However, there are times when a block is the only thing that will work.

The subject of power is very important. Although difficult to describe on paper, it is important that you put your entire body mechanics behind a strike. This makes your strike much more powerful than if you just use the muscles in your arm and shoulder. Upon impact with a baton, both of your feet should be firmly on the because your legs on the ground provide the foundation of your power. Again, it is somewhat similar to swinging a baseball bat.

Positioning and footwork is probably the second most important factor when using a baton in combat. It is rare that you want to move straightforward or backward. Ideally, when you step forward you want to angle to the outside of your attacker as if you were stepping along the lines of the letter “V” (starting at the bottom where the two lines meet and moving out towards the top of the “V” as you step). If your opponent attacks with a horizontal slash to your left side and you step forward angling to the right you have accomplished several things: 1) you have not significantly changed the distance between you and your attacker, 2) you have given yourself a little more reaction time and a great angle of attack on the hand holding incoming weapon and 3) you have moved inside of the opponents ideal striking range and power, but have kept him at your ideal striking range. When you strike at your opponent, move and strike to the outside of his weapon hand as this will make it more difficult for him to strike back at you in return and make it easier for you to defend against his return strikes. When you move backward, you should angle back and out, along the lines of an upside down “V” as well. If an opponent is rushing, this allows you to slip to the side, block his strike if necessary, and then be in a position to hit him as he goes by.

The legality of carrying an impact weapon such as the expandable baton may differ. In every state, it is illegal to carry such a weapon concealed without a permit. In some states, it is illegal to carry one at all.. In quite a few states, a baton is legal to carry, as long as it is not concealed. So check with your local regulations and the laws of any state where you will be traveling before deciding to pick a baton for self-defense. If you do choose to carry a baton, buy a good quality one because it will hold up when needed. All models from Staff Patrol are of high quality and range in price so you can pick the one that fits your needs.

Hopefully this article has given you some insight into the use of an impact weapon for self-defense. Such weapons have both advantages and disadvantages, but the advantages usually win. Regardless of what weapon you choose to carry, whether it is pepper spray or a stun gun or anything in between, remember that it is only a tool and the best advantage you will ever have comes not from your weapon, but from your brain and your attitude.  Those are the things that will determine how useful your weapon can be. Most importantly, practice and always be prepared.

A variety of expandable batons can be found on our site.

What is a “Scoville Unit”?

The “Scoville Unit” is used to calculate the temperature of peppers and can range from 1000 for mild bell peppers to over 500,000 for exotic habaneros. Pure Oleoresin Capsicum (the active ingredient that make peppers hot) can go into the millions! There are laws that dictate how pepper spray ingredients must be processed and refined. At the maximum legal concentration of 15%, pepper spray can reach over 2,000,000 Scoville Heat Units. However, the concentration of Oleoresin Capsicum is not as important as the effective heat provided by a particular pepper spray formula. The higher the concentration, the thicker the liquid becomes and this can slow down absorption into the skin. So there is definitely a science in developing the optimal pepper spray formula. Staff Patrol has tested its formulas against dozens of other brands and can honestly say that these are the most effective pepper sprays available. Our full selection is at http://www.staffpatrol.com/store5/agora.cgi

How Does a Stun Gun Work?

We tend to think of electricity as a harmful force to our bodies. If lightning strikes you or you stick your finger in an electrical outlet, the current can maim or even kill you. But in smaller doses, electricity is harmless. In fact, it is one of the most essential elements in your body. You need electricity to do just about anything. When you want to perform a simple task, for example, your brain sends electricity down a nerve cell, toward the muscles in your arm. The electrical signal tells the nerve cell to release a neurotransmitter, a communication chemical, to the muscle cells. This tells the muscles to contract or expand in just the right way to move your hands or legs. When you pick up an item, the sensitive nerve cells in your hand send an electrical message to the brain, telling you what the item feels like. When you have a meal, your mouth sends signals to your brain to tell you how it tastes. In this way, the different parts of your body use electricity to communicate with one another. This is actually a lot like a telephone system or the Internet. Specific patterns of electricity are transmitted over lines to deliver recognizable messages.

Disrupting the System

The basic idea of a stun gun is to disrupt this communication system. Stun guns generate a high-voltage, low-amperage electrical charge. In simple terms, this means that the charge has a lot of pressure behind it, but not that much intensity. When you press the stun gun against an attacker and hold the trigger, the charge passes into the attacker’s body. Since it has a fairly high voltage, the charge will pass through heavy clothing and skin. But at around 3 milliamps, the charge is not intense enough to damage the attacker’s body unless it is applied for extended periods of time. It does dump a lot of confusing information into the attacker’s nervous system, however. This causes a couple of things to happen:

The charge combines with the electrical signals from the attacker’s brain. This is like running an outside current into a phone line: The original signal is mixed in with random noise, making it very difficult to decipher any messages. When these lines of communication go down, the attacker has a very hard time telling his muscles to move, and he may become confused and unbalanced. He is partially paralyzed, temporarily. The current may be generated with a pulse frequency that mimics the body’s own electrical signals. In this case, the current will tell the attacker’s muscles to do a great deal of work in a short amount of time. But the signal doesn’t direct the work toward any particular movement. The work doesn’t do anything but deplete the attacker’s energy reserves, leaving him too weak to move (ideally). At its most basic, this is all there is to incapacitating a person with a stun gun — you apply electricity to a person’s muscles and nerves. And since there are muscles and nerves all over the body, it doesn’t particularly matter where you hit an attacker.

Standard Stun Gun

Conventional stun guns have a fairly simple design. They are about the size of a flashlight, and they work on ordinary 9-volt batteries. The batteries supply electricity to a circuit consisting of various electrical components. The circuitry includes multiple transformers, components that boost the voltage in the circuit, typically to between 100,000 and 500,000 volts, and reduce the amperage. It also includes an oscillator, a component that fluctuates current to produce a specific pulse pattern of electricity. This current charges a capacitor. The capacitor builds up a charge, and releases it to the electrodes, the “business end” of the circuit. In the circuitry of our strongest stun gun, it can produce close to 1,000,000 bone-jarring volts.

The electrodes are simply two plates of conducting metal positioned in the circuit with a gap between them. Since the electrodes are positioned along the circuit, they have a high voltage difference between them. If you fill this gap with a conductor (say, the attacker’s body), the electrical pulses will try to move from one electrode the other, dumping electricity into the attacker’s nervous system.

More Electrodes

These days, most stun-gun models have two pairs of electrodes: an inner pair and an outer pair. The outer pair, the charge electrodes, are spaced a good distance apart, so current will only flow if you insert an outside conductor. If the current can’t flow across these electrodes, it flows to the inner pair, the test electrodes. These electrodes are close enough that the electric current can leap between them. The moving current ionizes the air particles in the gap, producing a visible spark and crackling noise. This display is mainly intended as a deterrent: An attacker sees and hears the electricity and knows you’re armed. Some stun guns rely on the element of surprise, rather than warning. These models are disguised as umbrellas, flashlights or other everyday objects so you can catch an attacker off guard.These sorts of stun guns are popular with ordinary citizens because they are small, easy-to-use, and legal in most areas. Police and military forces, on the other hand, typically use more complex stun-gun designs, with larger ranges and specific applications.

How long does it take to immobilize someone with a Stun Gun?

As a general rule, a one-half second contact from a stun gun will repel and startle the attacker, giving some pain and muscle contraction. One to two seconds will cause muscle spasms and a dazed mental state. Over three seconds will cause loss of balance and muscle control, mental confusion and disorientation. However, don’t think about how many seconds you should hold the stun gun to your attacker. Think about it this way, you should hold your stun gun to the assailant until they drop and you can get away and call the police. Whether it is one second or six seconds, the whole process is very quick.

What is the difference between the lower and highter volt models?

All stun guns will render your assailant helpless using non-lethal voltage from the stun gun, but you might have to hold a 100,000 volt version a second or two longer than the 750,000 volt version. A stun gun is effective on many parts of the body, but give yourself the best chance to get the best of your attacker. Hold the stun gun on a body part that has a lot of surface area, such as the chest, abdomen, groin, kidneys, back, etc. An area such as the arm or leg may work fine, but these body parts do not allow you the same amount of surface area that you will need to contact for a few seconds.

What does a Stun Gun shock feel?

Imaging the feeling you get when you hit your funny bone. Multiply that a hundred times and extend it throughout your entire body. The inablility to function and feeling of helplessness combined with the sensation of millions of tiny needles going through your body provides certain inherent physical, mental and emotional trauma. Except in rare cases, stun guns prove to be very effective defense weapons with no lasting effects on the body.

Will the voltage pass from the assailant to the person holding the stun gun?

The electrical shock that emits from the stunning device will not pass from the person being stunned to the person doing the stunning. The effect is localized only in the affected area and does not pass through the body. Even if you or the attacker are wet or standing in water, you will not be shocked.

What type of battery works best in a stun gun?

Stun Guns are powered most commonly by 9-volt alkaline batteries. Some smaller models use more compact batteries.We recommend using only Energizer 9-volt Alkaline batteries. These batteries seem to work far better than other brands in the stun guns that we carry.

Will test-firing a stun gun damage the unit?

Test-firing your stun device is recommended to ensure battery life as well as practice using the stun gun. However, it is recommended not to test fire the unit more than a second or two. Firing the stun gun in the air for too long can damage the unit as it is not grounded. This does not apply when you are applying the unit to an assailant because the stun gun is then grounded out on the person being stunned.

How long will the battery in my stun gun last?

A new Energizer alkaline 9-volt battery will last for quite some time in your Stun Gun or Stun Baton. Unless the unit is discharged frequently, it is no different than a flashlight. However, it is recommended to test fire the unit occasionally to ensure that the batteries are still 100% functional.

Are stun guns legal to carry in my state or county?

Stun guns are legal in most states. However, before you order one, please make sure they are legal where you live.