Why Pepper Spray Is an Effective Self-Defense Weapon

Simply put, pepper spray makes sense as a self-defense weapon. The prevalence of crime is on the increase throughout the United States. In the five minutes or so it takes you to read this article 3 women will fall victim to sexual assault! We are all vulnerable. How will you protect yourself? Pepper spray is an effective self-defense weapon that is both legal and non-lethal. Many of us are not comfortable carrying a handgun and even if you are, the legal liabilities can be life changing. In every self-defense scenario you will be better off with pepper spray than without. Pepper spray acts as the "great equalizer" as it provides a smaller, physically weaker person the ability to defend themselves against a larger, stronger attacker. Pepper spray provides the ability to stop an attacker from a distance of 8-12 feet. In a self-defense situation, distance equals safety, so the ability to neutralize a potential attack is priceless. The effects of pepper spray go to work almost immediately. The most aggressive attacker will feel the effects within seconds. Even individuals under the influence of pain masking drugs are affected. Spraying someone in the face with pepper spray causes the eyes to involuntarily close shut and the capillaries to swell causing temporary blindness. Even if an attacker can't feel pain, they are much less dangerous if they can't see. Pepper spray goes to work on the respiratory system and wreaks havoc on breathing. The active ingredients cause inflammation within the respiratory system which makes breathing difficult. If you can't breathe you can't fight. Pepper spray is extremely painful when sprayed into the eyes, nose and mouth. The pain has been compared to having shards of glass in the eyes. With any self-defense weapon, it's important to practice and become familiar with your device. Pepper spray is available in different spray patterns and formulas, each with its own set of pro's and con's. If you opt for non-lethal self-defense you'll be much better off in every scenario with pepper spray than without.