subject: What You Don't Know About Pepper Spray [print this page] Individuals looking for some peace of mind often choose pepper spray. It's inexpensive, easy to operate, extremely effective and doesn't require a permit to use. Despite it's ease of use and purchase, there are probably a number of things you (probably) don't know about pepper spray:
Pepper spray will stop animals in their tracks! While the spray was designed to stop a human attacker from harming another person, it is just as effective against bears, dogs, and other animals who may decide to attack. Just spray them like you would a person before they get you, and they'll drop to the ground to give you a chance to get away.
The idea for pepper spray originated from the ancient practice of throwing ground peppers in the eyes of criminals in Japan for punishment, and the ancient Asia practice of throwing pepper and spice filled bags at enemies.
The spray comes in a variety of shapes and sizes - so people (including your attacker) are not likely to know that's what you're carrying. Pepper spray comes in items that look like cell phones, flashlights, pens, lipsticks and even rings!
You can purchase pepper spray that literally "marks" the attacker! If you purchase a particular type of spray, it will include an invisible dye. The attacker will not know he or she has been marked until the police find them and check them with a blacklight. It will glow under the light. No more can an attacker get away with lying or claiming to be someplace else during the attack.
Pepper spray will take your attacker down; but it can also affect you if the wind blows it back toward you. Take care when using pepper spray that you don't get in the way of the mist or spray that comes out of your spray or you'll find yourself side by side with your attacker on the ground.
Despite the name, pepper spray is well beyond the hotness of any hot pepper, including habanero and jalapeno peppers. The effects of pepper spray last about 30 minutes too, giving the victim plenty of time to get to safety before the attacker recovers from the spray.
Mace is the brand name for some varieties of pepper spray. While Mace included similar chemicals as tear gas years ago and meant to control a crowd, pepper spray is meant to stop one or two people from attacking and is made from different ingredients.
