I had an unexpected outcome recently when trying to sell self defense products on eBay that were disguised as something else. In thinking about what happened I have tried to see both sides of the story and wonder if the policy for lipstick stun guns or pen stun guns and lipstick pepper spray or pen pepper spray are good or bad. Are more people being helped or harmed by this policy?

The fact is that stun guns and pepper spray are allowed for sale on eBay, only regulated by the particular state or city laws that you would be shipping to. The items that I had listed were for pen stun guns and lipstick stun guns. I thought that these items were particularly good because they were very compact and could be carried inconspicuously. If a women felt threatened and pulled out something that looked like lipstick, no one would even notice. It is something that can be kept in a purse or pocket, so very portable and easy to access. Also a very effective, non-lethal weapon. Something that would give a person precious time to get to safety should an attack be imminent. If a man or woman felt threatened and pulled out a pen stun gun, again, who would think twice? Something that could protect you that is the size of a pen. It seems like a perfect self defense product. Again very portable, inconspicuous and effective. The same with the pepper spray products. They seem like perfect items that people can carry for self protection. eBay's policy is that they will not allow these items because they look like something else.

In trying to see the reasoning for this policy, I suspect that eBay is afraid of children finding these items and being hurt by them. They do indeed look like lipstick containers and pens. They both do have safety switches which have to be activated before they can be used but perhaps a child would not realize the implications of turning on the switch and then firing the weapon. Of course as a parent or an adult in a setting where there are children, one would have to take great care to keep these items stored safely out of a child's reach. As is always the case, an adult has to be so protective when keeping any type of weapon in the home. There are too many reports of children being hurt by weapons they find lying around.

Hopefully people who want products like lip stick stun guns, pen stun guns or lipstick pepper spray or pen pepper spray will look elsewhere for them. They are great items that can give people an extra level of comfort and protection and are very portable and inconspicuous. Having non-lethal options for self protection I think is very important in today's world. Being in the self defense industry, often when I hear or read the news about someone who was assaulted or kidnapped I wonder how different the outcome could have been if they had some protection for themselves. I am curious as to what you think about this and do you agree with eBay's policy.