by Matt Kastner Frequently visiting vacant, sometimes unsecured buildings, I must admit that at times I have been quite uneasy when entering a property. Especially by myself. That’s why I bought a mace gun.
Of all the many showings and preview showings I have had in the real estate business, I have only twice ran into someone in a property. Both times I was by myself and both times the other person was more scared of me than I of them (you know, like with bears). Those run-ins, however, have made me increasingly wary of such situations. As a result I decided I need to protect myself in case I run into someone not so timid. I considered carrying a pistol and getting a concealed carry permit, but after careful consideration, I decided the potential for shooting someone in a non-confrontation closed-quarters accident or freaking out a client just weren’t worth it. I am quite familiar and comfortable with guns, but they don’t seem to be the right answer.
When considering traditional mace, I the range seemed far too short and the potential for an accidental discharge too high. I was about to opt for a can or bear mace, but I ended up finding this mace gun instead. With a range of almost 25 ft, great accuracy and a virtually idiot-proof design it seemed like the thing or me. I ended up ordering one off of eBay for less than $50.
The gun comes with a mace cartridge and a water cartridge for testing. In my tests I was surprised how far the liquid shot and for have long the discharge lasted. It comes out for a good three seconds, which is plenty of time to hit your target regardless of the situation. There is also a small LED flashlight built into the gun, which turns on whenever you touch the trigger. It could be a tad brighter, but it is a welcome addition for use in dark buildings.
Overall, I would say this is a great buy and a true must-have for anyone who shows buildings and apartments for sale and rent. Your not going to take down a gang with this thing, but the piece of mind it gives you is well worth the $50.
