Varied Uses Of Pepper Spray
Pepper spray has been in use for many years as a non-lethal weapon for use in self-defense. It comes in canisters small enough to be easily carried in a pocket or a purse and can even be made as part of a key-chain or a piece of jewelry. For self-defense, its function is to disable an attacker long enough to allow the victim to escape. It works well for this.
Most police officers have a can of 'mace' or pepper gas as part of their equipment, just like their gun and handcuffs. It affords a non-lethal means of bringing down a suspect and, you know, the police like to have options. In rare instances a spray will not be totally effective on a particular person, but, usually it has the desired effect.
The 'pepper' in the name comes from the main ingredient, which comes from the fruit of a pepper plant. It's called capsicum, and it's HOT! It's made into aerosol form by a fairly simple process and packaged into several different sized containers, for sale to the public. A certain ammunition for use in paint ball guns also contains capsicum and is used by some police departments for use in riot control operations.
Pepper spray falls in the category of lachrymatory agents, which means it affects your eyes, causing them to burn and tear up. It will also cause intense pain, forcing you to close your eyes and can even cause temporary blindness. It is considered non-lethal generally, although some deaths have been caused through its use, either directly or indirectly.
Pepper spray is an inflammatory agent and causes an immediate reaction in the form of coughing, runny nose, difficultly breathing and painful, burning eyes that forced shut. These effects will usually last for a half hour or more, with residual effects sometimes lasting many hours more. Some suspects will exhibit less willingness to succumb to the effects of being sprayed with pepper gas, but it's rare. Usually these are the ones really high on amphetamines.
If given the choice, DON'T get sprayed with this stuff. There are stories of people spraying themselves accidentally while checking out their unit. Bad move! If you happen to be in an area where a riot starts (it could happen) and the police start using the capsicum rounds, cover your mouth and eyes and get away. Stay upwind if possible.
There's a ban against the use of any riot control agents in the waging of war, according to current conventions. That sounds crazy, but it's the rules! Laws governing the use of sprays for police forces or personal self-protection vary according to country and local jurisdictional practices. In Hong Kong, for instance, non-lethal sprays are classified as firearms and require issuance of a permit to carry. In India, where they're specifically allowed only for self-defense, no permit is required but products aren't sold over the counter.
Pepper spray works well for its intended purpose. It's very popular with women as a deterrent against would-be attackers. If there's ever a need, it's a good thing to have handy. Consider the alternative.
Author: Mike Ward can help you find the right pepper spray product. For more information about pepper spray and other personal security products please visit Protection Depot.
Tags: home security, pepper spray, personal protection, personal security, security, self defense