WAAY 31 Evening Anchor Tory Dunnan spoke with the owner of Less Lethal Security in Owens Cross Roads.
A less lethal pistol. That's how Luke McLaughlin, the owner of Less Lethal Security in Owens Cross Roads, described his self defense tools in his store. WAAY 31 Evening Anchor Tory Dunnan went to check it out and see what it's all about.
Rian Sharp is a newly single mom.
"I have two boys, 8 and 3," she said.
She's training on how to protect her family.
A new store opened in Owens Cross Roads advertising less lethal ways to protect yourself.
"I want something that I knew would be safe in the aspect of home invasion, going on long road trips," said Sharp.
She's turned to projectiles instead of bullets as a form of possible protection.
"I think what drove me out to get it is, I went from being married for 8 years and having another person in the household, and having the firearms and everything to now doing a new adventure on my own with two boys and not feeling super comfortable having the firearm itself in the house," said Sharp.
McLaughlin explained it in simple terms, but there is some shock value when you first hear about it, and the chemical irritants it can expel.
"It is literally a less lethal pistol," he said. "It takes projectiles, .68 caliber, a non lethal round, but we do have rounds that have pepper spray or tear gas in them for protection also."
He went on to say, "If someone is hit with that, they are incapacitated for a good 45 minutes. When I say incapacitated, they can't get up, they can't run, they can't see, they can barely breathe. It'll give you time to get away from that situation and notify authorities."
McLaughlin said when you think of range, imagine a semi-trailer length. The pieces or launchers as they call them, can go up to 60 to 100 feet.
"Literally you load it just like a traditional firearm, put the CO2 in, as soon as you squeeze the trigger, it's coming out," he said.
McLaughlin believes there is an audience somewhere between proud gun owners and those who don't believe in owning a weapon. He said even in Alabama.
"I would say not only is there a desire for it, there is a need for it," said McLaughlin, who explained he's selling to all ages, everyone from law enforcement agencies to single moms to ladies.
"Some people say the answer is a gun to protect yourself," said McLaughlin. "I don't think that taking a human life is always necessary, and then some people may not be able to mentally handle what they did after the fact even though they were protecting themselves. This gives them that option."
He said a comment someone made to him is what inspired him to open the store.
"It was a pretty brazen comment," he said. "When I was asked when the last time I was worried about being attacked, of course I don't worry about that, but women do and it got me to think outside the box."
