Pepper Spray -- The Most Effective Self-defense Weapon

By Author: Ivan Cuxeva
Total Articles: 782
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When it comes to self-defense there are mixed feelings as to which is the best way to protect ourselves from any possible danger, a person or place which might get robbed will need a completely different method of self-defense in case of an attack, a person who goes out to the woods in order to get some timber or to go hunting might be faced with a dangerous animal such as a bear. As you see there are different cases and scenarios which require different methods of self-defense, let's go ahead and discuss some of them.

It is a very natural feeling to want to defend our things, our loved ones and ourselves when a dangerous situation arises for instance, when a woman is attacked during the night while walking back home from the gym or any other place for that matter, what most people would immediately recommend is to change the schedule and avoid going to such place during the night. Changing schedules might be in for some people however, for others it isn't, some people will obviously want to protect themselves and overcome their fears instead of living with a constant preoccupation of the many dangers of the world.

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... people take action to protect themselves against other humans it is very common to hear that an individual who wants to protect himself/herself will end up signing up to attend personal defense classes, this is always great knowledge to have but, others would prefer not to get physical and avoid any type of violence which obviously rules out the possibility of acquiring a weapon such as a gun or any other fire arm. The best possible solution in this case is to use what is popularly referred to as pepper spray.

Pepper spray is a common substance which is used for self-defense purposes, it can be used against animals and humans if they become violent, aggressive or become a threat. The main active ingredient found in pepper spray is called "oleoresin capsicum" -- this chemical is often linked to chile peppers, chile is not to be confused with chili peppers which are a mixture of spices, meat, tomatoes, beans, etc.

Pepper spray comes in the form of aerosol and in very few and rare instances it has turned lethal, for the most part though pepper spray is a very effective self-defense tool which can deter attackers and keep a person safe. According to the Scoville scale which rates capsaicin heat in peppers, the hottest type of Chile is the habanero and it is rated at 300,000 units, a pepper spray on the other hand is rated between 2-5,000,000 units which is the reason why it is so effective. Once it is used against a person or an animal it acts as an inflammatory agent that when he comes in contact with the nose, eyes, lungs and other parts of the persons body it causes immediate capillary dilation. In most states pepper spray is not considered a lethal weapon however, in other parts of the US such as Massachusetts you do need a fire arms ID card if you want to have this personal protection item. Pepper spray is mostly used by women because it is a very convenient object to carry inside a purse and can effectively stop an attacker in his tracks.