We’ve discussed a few alternative self defense tools before, but here’s a particularly interesting option: the Yellow Jacket iPhone case.
Disclaimer: The Arms Guide is not a source of legal counsel. If you have questions about the laws regarding electroshock self defense tools in your state (or county), contact a legal professional.
Baton Rouge-based Yellow Jacket has developed a cleverly concealed stun gun that doubles as a smartphone case. Some of you maybe be reminded of another Louisiana based company of similar name, but nope, Red Jacket Firearms, the company featured in Discovery’s Sons of Guns television show, is not related.
Flipping the protective cover off of the top of the case reveals two sharp probes. Once activiated (via a single button press on the side of the case), 0.8mA of current (at 650k volts) flows between the probes, which delivers a sharp shock to an attacker. (It may be interesting to note that Yellow Jacket plans to release a law enforcement grade option in February 2014 with 2-3x the voltage, and twice the amperage.)
Yellow Jacket’s goal, as stated in their FAQ section, with this case was not necessarily to deliver one of the most powerful stun guns on the market, but rather to provide an inconspicuous tool that could “create separation,” giving the victim the potential opportunity to escape their attacker. Note, the Yellow Jacket case operates as a stun gun, not a TASER. That is to say, it delivers an uncomfortable (but non-fatal) electric shock on contact. The TASER projects barbs connected to wires (15ft in the C2 unit) and is designed to incapacitate an assailant by mimicking the signal that the brain uses to control muscles. For the full review on a TASER unit, read here.
In addition to the painful sting the Yellow Jacket case delivers, the unit also serves to effectively double the phone’s battery life. Yellow Jacket currently offers their product for the iPhone 4/4S in black, pink, white, yellow, and red, but they are expanding to offer iPhone 5 and Galaxy 4S cases, as well. The cases themselves are made of hard plastic, which also serve to help protect the phone from damage. The present models are currently running for just under $100 (their MSRP is $99, but I’ve seen them go for a few dollars less online, if you’re willing to look around a bit).
I’m one of the few unfortunate (or fortunate, depending on your perspective) souls unpossessing of a smartphone, but for those of you who do have one, what do you think of Yellow Jacket’s alternative self defense tool option?
Featured image courtesy of yellowjacketcase.com
