Pepper Spray/MACE - Pros/Cons

[MarkF48]

Any thoughts on Pepper Spray as a deterrent either at home or out and about? The wife isn't licensed for a firearm and while I am, I don't feel the need to carry (yet), but am thinking some means of deterring a threat wouldn't be a bad idea at times I might be in a remote location fishing or similar. Spray, retreat, and report. Perhaps also keeping one near at hand at home for an unwelcome visitor, either answering the door or otherwise.
Any potential legal implications, even if it can be shown you were threatened?

I'm not too far behind in years of the gentleman that was accosted in this incident linked below. I can sort of think a shot of pepper spray may have helped avoid the injuries that were sustained and given time to retreat and call law enforcement
Man arrested after allegedly beating 71-year-old during road rage attack | FOX25

 

[TripleR]

Personally, I don't trust it, I've seen it work and fail, better than nothing, but certainly not something I'll use.

 

[SARG]

For the home near the doors ... ponder a large can of wasp spray .... the nasty stuff that sprays 20 feet or so. An excellent deterrent & cheap.

I've used pepper spray a few times on both canines & humans and can say it's much better than the mace of the eighties.

 

[azranger]

I will give you my 2cents and thats about what it is worth. As TripleR stated, it works on most people, but then you have the ones strung out on drugs it may not have the desired effect you are looking for, but anything is better than nothing. Have you looked into a taser? (Taser brand) They are a little pricey, but if Im not mistaken that if you have to use your taser in a self defense situation get a police report and taser will send you a new one. The civilian version was designed once deployed into the subject, to give you time to drop it and get away. There really is not one toll that is 100% affective against everything out there today....well there is one that comes very close and it has a universal language that everyone speaks, its called k9 :thumbsup:

Hope this helps

 

[cqaigy2]

For the home near the doors ... ponder a large can of wasp spray .... the nasty stuff that sprays 20 feet or so. An excellent deterrent & cheap.

I've used pepper spray a few times on both canines & humans and can say it's much better than the mace of the eighties.

+1 on the wasp spray.

 

[Bocephous]

My comments are based on use against human attackers, not animal. We have and use it where I work on a fairly frequent basis.

Pro's:
1. The right product used effectively is devastating. Can't see, snot running everywhere, breathing feels difficult, takes the fight right out of you.

Con's:
1. As mentioned, it does not work on everyone. If I remember correctly it is not effective on 10-15% of the population.
2. Chances are you will be affected when you spray it, unless the conditions are just right. And that may make matters worse for you. A lot worse.

 

[davesl708]

Keep in mind there maybe more than one threat. Limited range of spray especially on windy days. Also you get one or two sprays. Spraying in confined areas can expose you to the spray as well.

 

[k0ua]

Pretty much what everyone else has said, the the pepper spray is a poor substitute for a firearm. Also you need to keep buying new canisters and rotating out the old ones yearly. But it is better than nothing, as it works most of the time, but there are many downsides to it. I have never tried the wasp spray on anything but wasps, but it sure works on them!

 

[EddieWalker]

Add me to the wasp spray club. There was a show on TV about how effective it is, but also how you can use it and then claim it was never intended to hurt anybody, it was just the closest thing you had around. Apparently, pepper spray is something that you can be sued for using because it's intended use is to hurt somebody. Lawyers have had some success suing the user of pepper spray.

 

[MarkF48]

Not sure I'd join the wasp spray club after reading a couple articles....
6 Reasons Why Wasp Spray is Not a Substitute for Pepper Spray - eXtension
Wasp Spray for Self-Defense? : snopes.com