Much as we hate to admit it, crime in many parts of the U.S. is on the rise. Close to 1.2 million violent crimes were committed in the country in 2015 alone, a 3.1% rise since 2014. No matter how we try, there may come a time when we're unable to avoid a situation when you are forced to defend yourself from a mugger or someone intending to do you harm.

What do I do?

How should you react in such a situation? Whip out a knife and defend yourself? In many cases, that can simply escalate the situation. Your best option is to find a solution that incapacitates your attacker once and for all. That's right, we're talking about tasers and Stun guns!

Tell me more…

Tasers are electroshock weapons that fire two darts that, once embedded in an attacker's flesh, send millions of volts racing through the body. Stun guns are handheld versions of a taser. The two prongs have to be pressed to the attacker's body in order to electrocute them. Both stun guns and tasers provide a safe, effective solution for self-defense in a wide range of situations.

Note: Stun guns are illegal in Hawaii, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York.

We've done the research to find you the best stun guns for sale today. We've looked through all the various models of stun gun and taser for sale, tested a few ourselves (WAY more fun than you'd think), and read through thousands of reviews to find the stun guns and tasers best-suited for self-defense. Read the list below to find your top-rated options…