No. They are quite different. I'd go for a small pepper spray defense device. Many different sizes and all made for self protection.

Gas pistols and rifles are often called "CO2" pistols or "pellet guns". They come in two basic varities: CO2 cannister powered, or in the case of the rifles, CO2 and 'pump' (the rifle has a pump). These are often found in the sporting goods section of most department stores, e.g. Walley-worlds. (no copywrite infringement here, LOL!) Gas pistols and blank pistols are NOT the same. Gas pistols use compressed gas to propel a pellet. Blank pistols use a gunpowder propellent. The round resembles a bullet. As far as I know, no license is required for the purchase of a 'pellet gun' or 'CO2' pistol in the USA. I have several.

I'm in the US and carry Pepper Spray. Never had to use it, but feel safer w/it and it's easy to obtain and use.

u will find protection in god only not in gun

You can buy a taser in the u.s if you don't want to carry a gun..They are far more effective than pepper spray and you wont kill them..just take them to the ground so you can run away :)

Visit a dealer who specializes in self-defense and protection (gun shop) and consult with them.

watch out for those guns firing blanks, they CAN KILL! Brandon Lee, the son of Bruce "the Dragon" Lee was killed with a gun loaded with blanks on the set of his last movie, "The Crow" a "Blank" is a real round of Ammunition with the lead bullet removed and the case crimped shut. your best bet for self defense are: 1. Pepper Spray Pro's: "less than lethal" i.e. does not kill unless extreme reaction as in asthma in target. Con's: can be blown back at the person spraying it, excess fluid drips from noxxle after use. * 2. Taser (hand held/short range) Pro's: "less than lethal" i.e. can adversely effect pacemakers and those with congenital heart defects/heart disease. Con's: must be at arms length to attacker, must touch electrode prongs to attacker * 3. Taser Gun (twin darts with wire back to unit) Pro's: "less than lethal" i.e. can adversely effect pacemakers and those with congenital heart defects/heart disease. can be used from a distance. some units come with strobe flash/flash light. Con's: units have one or two shots only, both darts must hit attacker, thick insulating outer wear may deflect darts. * see more info here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Less-lethal_weapon#Safety_controversy * Good luck, just remember, what ever you use could be taken from you and turnned against you if you allow the attacker to get to close (i.e. within 6' to 8' lunging range)

I'm an activist organizer with a very public profile. There's no way the State would permit to have a gun legally, and I can't afford the risk of keeping an illegal firearm where the police could find it. That's why I own a hunting slingshot. Slingshots are legal, easy to and safe to transport, and at close range they're every bit as deadly as a pistol. Plus you'll never run out of ammunition. In Chile, anarchists use slingshots with ceramic balls as ammunition to protect liberated factory co-ops from the police. I had a roommate who used to mock my reliance on a slingshot until I demonstrated it for him by putting a small glass marble right through a wooden door. He stopped laughing after that. You won't have to join a gun club to practice, either. When I feel like brushing up on my slingshot skills, I just go to the park with some cans and some white decorative marbles for ammunition so I can see where they land.