| Concern for one's own safety or the safety of his | | | | Parents need to understand the personality and the |
| loved ones should be a priority. With crime rates | | | | needs of their child before they are permitted to |
| escalating to new highs, and with more low-income | | | | carry defense pepper spray. If parents of a |
| families moving into your neighborhood that once | | | | 16-year-old girl feel that their daughter is mature |
| catered to the middle or upper class, one must be on | | | | enough to go on a blind date with a stranger, she's |
| guard in defense of himself or family members. | | | | probably mature enough to carry defense pepper |
| At what age should a person be allowed to carry a | | | | spray. However, she must be taught how and when |
| personal defense item such as pepper spray? Before | | | | to use it. |
| a child is allowed to carry pepper spray for his/her | | | | If parents have a wild, uncontrollable, 16-year-old child |
| own protection, parents must take into account | | | | who is more likely to show off his new "toy" to his |
| several considerations: | | | | school buddies, use it as a joke, or use it to commit |
| 1. maturity of your son/daughter, | | | | an assault on somebody else, then perhaps their child |
| 2. environment that your son/daughter is mostly | | | | is not mature enough to keep pepper spray. |
| going to be in, | | | | The key question for parents is whether or not the |
| 3. personality and needs of the child, | | | | child needs the pepper spray and whether or not |
| 4. local laws regarding a juvenile's use of pepper | | | | they have the maturity to respect and use it only for |
| spray. | | | | self defense purposes. |
| First you must consider the maturity of your son or | | | | A final consideration for parents is the local and state |
| daughter. A juvenile, or minor, must be able to | | | | laws on your area. Always check the local laws in |
| understand that pepper spray is to be used for self | | | | your home area before you buy defense pepper |
| defense only. They are not toys or something to | | | | spray for your children. Some states require that |
| show off at school to their buddies. They are not to | | | | they must be 18 years of age or older to buy or |
| be used for horseplay or practical jokes. | | | | possess pepper spray. Some states require that they |
| Second, you must consider the environment that | | | | must have a license to carry pepper spray. Many |
| your child is in. If they live, work, or attend school in | | | | states require that you do not have any felony |
| an at-risk area where their safety is a concern, that | | | | conviction or a misdemeanor conviction of moral |
| factor should be taken into consideration. | | | | turpitude. |