What About Pepper Spray?

Everywhere you look at self defense products and ideas you see tasers and stun guns and all kinds of new gadgets, but I’m wondering why so few people give serious consideration to good old pepper spray.  It does, after all, have a lot going for it  - namely its cheap, easy to hide, easy to use and its effective.  And there are a lot of types of pepper spray to buy.

A friend of mine recently questioned the effectiveness of pepper spray, specifically asking about how well it works on people with a high pain tolerance - like someone freaking out on PCP and the simple truth is that while no one who has ever been hit by it will completely negate the impact of pain on the effectiveness of pepper spray, its really just an added benefit.

Oleoresin capisicum has an immediate and pronounced impact on the tear ducts and the mucus membranes.  The eyes will automatically tear up almost completely and they will close.  This isn’t a voluntary reaction to pepper spray - it just happens and I for one am of the opinion that an assailant who is blinded is considerably less of a threat.  It also causes the mucus membranes to react in such a way as the breathing in seriously impaired - further slowing down your would be attacker.  Remember the point of the exercise is not to beat the living heck out of someone - its just to get away!

People who feel that pepper spray is reliant on pain are probably confusing it with MACE - the product- not the brand - which is also known as tear gas.  Its something altogether different and not nearly so effective.

Pepper spray is not legal everywhere. Indeed, only animal repellant sprays are legal in Canada and several US states have legal restrictions placed on Pepper Spray.