| Pepper Spray - A Personal Safety Product | | | | We can not assume that we are always safe. Crime |
| In January,President George W. Bush signed the | | | | can happen to anyone at anytime. |
| reauthorization of the "Violence Against Women Act" | | | | Is there a way you can safeguard yourself and |
| without public debate . More than two out of five | | | | protect your freedom? |
| women have experienced sexual abuse in their | | | | Yes! You Can Stop It! |
| lifetimes as per the study by American Journal of | | | | Personal safety products like pepper spraysare most |
| Preventive Medicine. Law enforcement is very much | | | | powerful when you believe in yourself. When you |
| aware of this situation and they are doing their part | | | | believe in yourself, you are far more likely to:Trust |
| diligently to curb it, but there is only so much they | | | | your sense of what's going on.Pay attention to the |
| can do. In addition to relying on the law enforcement, | | | | warnings your awareness and intuition can give |
| you can take initiative to protect your invaluable | | | | you.Believe in your ability to verbally or physically |
| freedom. | | | | defend yourself.Give yourself the caring, safety and |
| You might be thinking that it can be dangerous to | | | | security you deserve.When you believe in yourself, |
| even think about self defense when faced with | | | | most people looking to cause a problem will leave |
| violent crime. An attempt at self defense can turn a | | | | you alone. |
| robbery into a murder--your own. So it's better to be | | | | Personal safety grows from the power, energy, and |
| equipped with safety products like a pepper spray, | | | | passion you want in every part of life. Personal |
| which help us to defend on sudden attacks in parking | | | | safety became a national priority and Personal safety |
| lots, ATM centers and other secluded places. A | | | | products like Pepper Spraysare the best protection |
| majority of law enforcement personnel carry a | | | | available. Pepper Sprays stop human attacks quickly, |
| pepper spray for protection against assaults from | | | | safely, and effectively. Pepper spray, used in self |
| criminals. | | | | defense against dogs, human attackers, comes in an |
| The truth is that in this uncertain world the truest | | | | aerosol form and its active ingredient is OC (oleoresin |
| safety we have is the safety we create within | | | | capsicum) - a term used in reference to Chile |
| ourselves. Being terrified in the face of crime only | | | | peppers. What does a pepper spray contain and how |
| makes us miserable and accomplishes the goal of | | | | does it work?Pepper spray products contain the |
| crime, which is to create widespread fear and | | | | ingredient called Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) . They |
| instability. | | | | come in either 10% or 15% (the highest percentage |
| Let us educate ourselves with the crime facts: | | | | allowed by law), and have a 2 million Scoville heat |
| Crime Statistics: | | | | rating. OC is a directive of hot Cayenne Peppers. It is |
| 82% of society will be a victim of a violent crime | | | | pure, non-toxic and nonflammable. OC is not an |
| during their lifetimes.3 out of 4 women will be victims | | | | irritant like tear gas but an inflammatory agent. |
| of at least one Sexual Abuse. | | | | Contact with mucous membranes (eyes, nose, throat |
| Every hour, 16 women confront rapists.Every two | | | | and lungs) causes an immediate dilation of the |
| minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually | | | | capillaries of the eyes, resulting in temporary blindness |
| assaulted. | | | | and constricted breathing. It does not interfere with |
| In 2002, there were a total of 4,854 cases of | | | | necessary breathing to sustain life. Effects last 30 to |
| aggravated assault in Washington DC.On a daily basis, | | | | 45 minutes. So victim can have enough time to |
| this computes to 13.2 aggravated assaults a day | | | | escape and call for help. |
| In Maryland, there were 3,228 cases of larceny and | | | | Is the usage of a Pepper Spray legal? |
| thefts per 100,000 people in 2002.This is one-third | | | | Yes, but you may not carry it on an airplane and |
| higher than the national average rate of 2,445.8 | | | | some US states have pepper spray restrictions and |
| cases per 100,000. | | | | formulation rules as mentioned below:Massachusetts - |
| In Detroit, there were 41.79 murders per 100,000 | | | | you must have a Firearms Identification Card (FID) to |
| people in 2002.This is alarmingly way above the | | | | possess and/or use pepper spray Michigan - specific |
| national average rate of 5.6 for the same year.In | | | | pepper or tear gas formulations are requiredNew |
| 2002, with the exception of burglaries | | | | York - pepper spray must be purchased from a New |
| Philadelphia led all crime levels which were above the | | | | York state licensed firearm dealer or |
| national average rates for murder, forcible rape, | | | | pharmacistWisconsin - state formulations do not allow |
| robbery, aggravated assaults, larceny/theft and | | | | UV dye in pepper spray NOTE: It is best to contact |
| motor vehicle theft. | | | | your state or local law enforcement department to |
| Violent Crime (Murder, Rape, Robbery, Assault) | | | | know whether the usage of pepper spray is legal or |
| Year-------------Total Cases | | | | not. |
| 2000-------------1,425,486 | | | | Pepper Spray is a valuable self defense tool, but |
| 2001-------------1,439,480 | | | | could be a weapon if not used properlyFollow the |
| 2002-------------1,423,677 | | | | basic safety precautions and rules. Enjoy the feeling |
| 2003-------------1,381,259 | | | | of security, confidence it offers. |
| 2004-------------Not Available | | | | For more information on personal safety products |
| 2005-------------Not Available | | | | and their legal restrictions on their usage please visit |
| Property Crime (Burglary, Larceny, Vehicle Theft) | | | | Pepper Spray |
| Year------------Total Cases | | | | ___________________________________ |
| 2000------------10,182,584 | | | | Andy Jones -Media Relations, |
| 2001------------10,437,189 | | | | Namebrands Retail LLC |
| 2002------------10,455,277 | | | | Pepper Sprays |
| 2003------------10,435,523 | | | | Ezine articles expert author |
| 2004------------Not Available | | | | Copyright ©2006 Namebrands Retail LLC, All |
| 2005------------Not Available | | | | rights reserved. Free reprint rights with proper credit |
| Source: Sourcebook of Bureau of Justice Statistics - | | | | to the author. |
| 31st Edition | | | | |