Self Defense And Weapons
Should I get a weapon for self-defense?
I don't believe that the average person should go out of the house armed with a weapon. I think pepper spray can be carried if it's legal and if you have the appropriate training. The irony is, people who are in the state-of-mind to use pepper spray and have the confidence to have it ready probably aren't going to need it, they are already very aware of any danger that may be on its way. If you are the type of person where your job requires you to go to a place that you don't feel safe then, by all means, carry something like pepper spray. Pepper spray is non-lethal, effective and buys you time to escape from a predator.
How do I choose the best pepper spray?
Shopping for pepper spray is like everything else. If you went to a pepper spray superstore, there would be 30 different brands; all different sizes, all different names. You should approach buying pepper spray with a focus on practicality. The pepper spray you buy should have at least "15% active ingredients" and should contain at least two million "Scoville Heat Units". "Scoville Heat Units" are what makes your eyes dilate and what makes your face feel like it's on fire. If you're going spray someone with pepper spray you want to make sure it sends the message - "Don't Mess With Me", whilst also giving you time to get out of there. Pepper spray comes in a variety of "styles". There is pepper spray that sends out a long stream, like a squirt gun; pepper spray that sends out a fog, like a mist for close range and there is even a foam that goes on like toothpaste, for real close range. For the average person, the best choices are probably a mist because it means that you don't have to rely on accuracy in an emergency.
How does pepper spray work?
Pepper spray works because it contains Oleoresin, which forces people to immediately start rubbing their eyes, which makes it worse. The mist is another important component too, if you spray mist at someone and you are down wind, it blows back on you. This could force you to end up on your knees screaming and rubbing your eyes. You have to be careful with pepper spray. People have had pepper spray shoot off in their car by mistake. They might spray the dog. If a child gets hold of pepper spray, God knows what they're going to spray.
