| Pepper Spray is a common inflammatory agent used | | | | severe tearing and skin irritations. During the Vietnam |
| in repelling a would-be attacker. Using the essence of | | | | War, the United States developed an array of |
| a hot pepper as a weapon is not a new age idea. | | | | delivery vehicles for CS, including small pocket |
| The ancient Chinese put ground cayenne pepper in | | | | grenades, the "Mighty Mite" (a continuous spray |
| rice paper and flung it in the face of their opponents, | | | | device used in caves and tunnel systems) and 58-kg |
| and Japanese ninjas used ground pepper to disable | | | | cluster bombs dropped from helicopters and planes. |
| opponents as well. During Japan's Tukagawa Empire, | | | | CS quickly became the chemical of choice for police |
| police used the "metsubishi," a box used to blow | | | | to control unruly crowds. |
| pepper into the eyes of captured political opponents. | | | | Tear gas tends to hang in the air and may keep its |
| Today's commercial pepper spray products are | | | | potency where it lays for days. Most important, |
| mostly O.C. (Oleoresin Capsicum) which is a derivative | | | | unlike pepper spray, tear gas in high concentrations |
| of the hot pepper family. The degree of OC in | | | | has caused pulmonary failure, heart attacks and |
| solution is often touted as a percentage, usually in | | | | severe gastroenteritis. For these reasons OC pepper |
| the range of 5% to 15%. Experts caution consumers | | | | spray has replaced CS in many parts of the world. |
| not to take these marketing numbers too seriously. | | | | Certain Mace brand "Michigan approved" models |
| A higher percentage of OC may not penetrate the | | | | contain CS tear gas and a UV dye. |
| membranes as fast as a lighter fluid. A more scientific | | | | For pepper spray to be effective, it must hit the |
| rating is in Scoville Units. Look for a product rated at | | | | face and if possible the eyes. To that end, a |
| 2 million Scoville Units. That's plenty hot and will do | | | | consumer can choose from several dispersion |
| the job if you must use it in an actual attack. Do not | | | | methods including gels, foams and traditional sprays. |
| use it in any situation other than as an emergency | | | | Gels and foams tend to stick to the attacker's face |
| defensive maneuver. You can be fined by police or | | | | causing maximum tearing. These canisters are under |
| sued by the person who claims the assault to be | | | | pressure so they can typically shoot a stream from 8 |
| inappropriate or injurious. | | | | to 12 feet. The newest type spray pattern is a |
| Pepper Spray affects all the mucous membranes | | | | fogger which expands and vaporizes into a cloud of |
| (eyes, nose, mouth and lungs). Common reactions are | | | | pepper. This type of spray pattern is great for |
| tearing, coughing, gasping for breath and temporary | | | | multiple attackers, crowd control, bear repellent and |
| blindness. The effects are temporary, perhaps 15-25 | | | | home use. |
| minutes which is certainly enough time for you to flea | | | | Most pepper products contain several short bursts. |
| the scene or call 911. Pepper spray has been the | | | | Unless you get a 2 ounce or larger canister, you're |
| preferred first line non-lethal agent for police and | | | | limited to perhaps 4 to7 short shots. We recommend |
| security guards for the last few decades. | | | | larger units-better to be safe than sorry. The new |
| Pepper spray should not be confused with tear gas. | | | | Mace Dragon Fire Pepper Gun shoots from |
| We may know tear gas and its effects from | | | | replaceable canisters and has a range of up to 25 |
| newsreels of police using it against protesters from | | | | feet. |
| the 60s and 70s. CN was the first tear gas chemical; | | | | When used properly and in the appropriate situation, |
| it was used by civilian and military forces in the early | | | | pepper spray can indeed be a life saving device. It is |
| 20th century. Its effects were similar to pepper | | | | considered a non-lethal defense weapon and has a |
| spray although there were concerns about its | | | | high dgree of effectiveness. Pepper spray containers |
| potency and stability. It is still used in many parts of | | | | are small and inconspicuous. Some comes in various |
| the world and was the active ingredient in the original | | | | disguises such as a pepper pager. Although you hope |
| Mace. | | | | to never use it, it's better to have it and not need it, |
| CS was developed in the 1950s. This chemical is | | | | than to need it and not have it. |
| typically dispersed in a cloud or fog and causes | | | | |