Pepper spray for self defense

[APX808]

In an Argentinian newspaper was published a video of a woman using her pepper spray to avoid getting her truck robbed.

Mujer en #Campana se defiende de #ladrones con gas pimienta, quienes no logran robar su auto

As you may see, the robbers didn't get the truck, but they could easily hurt her if they wished.
The guy who ran the woman was shot point blank in the face, as the woman spray the robber really close, but anyway was able to run the woman and then escape.

Some time ago, there was a video of a girl who tried to pepper spray a guy who robbed her cellphone and the girl was shot in the chest and died instantly.

A lot of people talk about non lethal self defense, it can be useful for some situations, but extremely dangerous for others and it could make things worse than they are.

What do you think? Have you used a pepper spray successfully before? Do you know other cases of things getting worse because of it failing to incapacitate the aggressor?

[Kentactic]

Pepper spray is a reasonable option say if you're walking your dog and a loose dog approaches aggressively.  Assuming that dog wants to fight your dog and not you then spraying it with pepper spray might be an option depending on how aggressive it seems. Thats one option. Many use pepper spray in situations that call for lethal force though.

[JohnyMac]

Use what you have but only if you practice with it. 

Kimber has a interesting two shot pepper spray gun that fires two blasts. The best part of the Pepperblaster Gun is kimber offeres the Pepperblaster trainer which fires dye and you would use it to practice and the Pepperblaster demonstration which allows you to repeatedly use for practice.

On another note:
I had to go to the County Court House while in the Philly area while visiting the area for Christmas this year. As of 2-3 years ago Pennsylvania passed a law that you were not allowed to enter a Court House carrying any kind of weapon anymore. Before that you were allowed but you had to leave it at a "coat check" (Gun Check) window.

Anyhow my wife and I left our cutlery, mags and handguns in the car before we entered the Court House. Even without the hardware the metal detector kept dinging as I repeatedly went through. So I was taken over to the side and "wanded."  While the bored police officer was wanding me I noticed a weird looking gun on his belt. I pointed to it and asked him what it was and he replied, "A taser."

I replied, "A TASER? Good God."

"Yeah." He said, "They took away our pepper spray and issued us a taser."

MrsMac at this point had her arms crossed, was tapping her foot and giving me "stinky-eye" so I didn't quiz him why the change from pepper spray to the taser was made; However I suspect the taser was more affective.

I know that some folks carry pepper spray while in the woods for bears. I have also heard that a angry mom will only be slightly discouraged by pepper spray and again you have to practice. Here is one of many posts on the internet about using pepper spray on bears.

[RONSERESURPLUS]

Pepper spray? No, I prefer a gun, I know many can;t or won;t but I have seen it not work and will not trust it


Ron

[special-k]

I've never had the opportunity to pepper spray a person, but I have used it on dogs on two occasions... It delivered an immediate attitude adjustment both times.   

[thatGuy]

For self defense I prefer the lethal option that said pepper spray is a hell of an offensive weapon.. Not that I would know.. *wink, wink, nudge nudge.

[hjmoosejaw]

My daughters carry it, as they are still waiting to be old enough to carry a firearm. They both said they will carry when they're old enough.

[Reaver]

If your going with over the counter OC get Sabre Red.

Brings the strongest to their knees and that's from experience gents.

[thedigininja]

From someone who has been on both sides of pepper spray/riot gas I can tell you that although it isn't flawless it has it's uses.

In most fight styles when you get to combat applications you learn your 3Ds: Defend, Distract, Destroy. Pepper spray comes in handy during your "Distraction". Hit him with a blast of mace and follow through with a few solid blows while he's disorientated.

Against the zombie horde (bunch of tweakers hopped up on bathsalts intent on eating your face) probably not advised.

As for use against a gunman, I wouldn't recommend it. However, if you consider that the average hit rate in firearm cases is 1 in 4 and add to that the difficulty of aiming with partial blindness then it might give you enough of an edge if you had no other option.

[Kbop]

What do you think about using the 'bear repellent' type sprays.  better range a larger area of effect.  it might hit more than your target but capsicum burn heals faster than lead poisoning.

[USMC0331]

As my FTO use to say to me...  "Good initiative, poor judgment!"

[Burt Gummer]

What do you think about using the 'bear repellent' type sprays.  better range a larger area of effect.  it might hit more than your target but capsicum burn heals faster than lead poisoning.

I'd like to get my hands on a couple of cans of that. I can think of so many scenarios where lethal force would exacerbate the already fucked up situation. Such as the video, a non lethal force theft. If I don't have to shoot someone and I have that option available to me I would definitely use it.

[Kentactic]

What do you think about using the 'bear repellent' type sprays.  better range a larger area of effect.  it might hit more than your target but capsicum burn heals faster than lead poisoning.

I'd like to get my hands on a couple of cans of that. I can think of so many scenarios where lethal force would exacerbate the already fucked up situation. Such as the video, a non lethal force theft. If I don't have to shoot someone and I have that option available to me I would definitely use it.

Just be aware that a lot of those big canisters actually used for spraying bears, is of a stronger concentration of suck, as I understand it. It can cause permanent blindness and who knows what else? Closing of the airway? You might have to assume lethal force is necessary in order to "legally" employ it. Even then the case might be made that you didn't intend to kill them and did by not realizing the effects of the tool. So perhaps manslaughter?

This all assumes rule of law is place during the scenario. But even if its not id hate to spray a kid and kill him, not realizing what im using can do so. Its called less-lethal for a reason and bear strength stuff would likely increase that lethality potential.

Research what im saying because im not positive here but just thought id throw it out there.

[Burt Gummer]

Just got a big o'l 9oz can of "OC-17" pepper spray, and now I need to test it on something/one.
Any suggestions?

[special-k]

You could go for a stroll and hope for a dog to nip at your ankles.... OR you could just pay a bum $5 to let you spray him.... heck, I'd let you spray me for $10 right about now. 

[Burt Gummer]

But I coud spray TWO bums with that...

[thatGuy]

But Special-K is a hard working American, surely he can do the job of two bums!

SHOOTING WHILE PEPPER SPRAYED

"pepper spray is some bad shit."

[special-k]

But I coud spray TWO bums with that...

I'm desperate but not THAT desperate.  Just wait a month or two.... but then again, with inflation, I might still want $10... and so will the other bums.

[JohnyMac]

Ok....Who's the Rusky dude?

[APX808]

Ok....Who's the Rusky dude?

https://www.youtube.com/user/FPSRussia

[Burt Gummer]

"Bad shEEt."

[thatGuy]

Off camera guy gets him good too..