Because of the high statistics of accidental deaths, many people are turning from traditional firearms to safer self protection alternatives such as stun guns, stun batons and air taser guns. The stun gun is a non lethal self defense protection device that uses batteries to generate a high voltage shock that can be used against an attacker to deter him and render him temporarily disabled. Unless it's seriously misused (as has happened in a very few police and criminal interactions), the stun gun doesn't kill or permanently harm the recipient.
It is ideal for people who want to defend themselves but who don't want to carry traditional firearms because of the established risks.