Talk politics.

I don't know that it really matters, anyway - let's say someone invents a less-lethal weapon that for all intents and purposes works like a gun does. Even if what we've got now aren't in fact as effective, I'm sure someday there'll be a weapon that fits. It can still maim or kill, though obviously it's less likely to than a bullet. Would you be in favor of granting it a special legal status, apart from other deadly weapons? Should people really be allowed to use a weapon that only kills you some of the time in situations where armed assault is currently banned?

This site does a pretty good job of summarizing self-defense law as it stands currently:
http://www.criminaljustice.org/public.nsf/01c1e7698280d20385256d0b00789923/f587d7d10c34fff2852572b90069bc3c?OpenDocument