How effective is pepper spray

Pepper sprays have a reaction time of one to three seconds, and have been touted as a safe, effective response to attackers. One article in security magazine stated: "One blast of pepper spray will cause respiratory spasms, choking, and temporary closure of the eyes, preventing any further aggressive behavior. It will work against persons under the influence of narcotics and alcohol." But as we shall see, some of these claims are apparently exaggerated.

Pepper sprays vary considerably in the amount of oleoresin they contain. Manufacturers tout the percentage of oleoresin in their products and make claims that theirs is best because it contains ten percent oleoresin. But, what is the strength of the oleoresin? One manufacturer,pepper shot, states: "Remember, a spray containing ten percent of 500,000 Scoville Heat Unit oleoresin capsicum is not as effective as a spray containing five percent of 2,000,000 Scoville Heat Unit oleoresin. The more capsaicinoid content the oleoresin has, the hotter and more effective the spray will be."

Pepper sprays quickly became popular with law enforcement agencies after first being introduced in 1977. By 1990, Time magazine reported that the FBI and more than 1000 agencies were using one spray called CapStun. Generally speaking, the sprays used by law enforcement personnel are five times more powerful than those sold to the general public.

The sprays are quite popular with the public, as evidenced by steadily growing sales. But there has been some backlash. The sprays are now forbidden to be carried about aircraft, and they were banned for personal defense in California until a law permitting their use was passed in 1994. Before then, the only pepper spray permitted in that state was a diluted anti-animal spray called Dog Shield; however, many different sprays were sold illegally in California and are commonly available.

In 1994, the American Civil Liberties Union in Los Angeles claimed to have documented fourteen fatalities involving people who had been sprayed. Alan Parachini, director of public affairs, stated that even if the spray itself was not the cause death, autopsy results showed that it was a factor. He urged the Los Angeles Police Department to curtail its use of pepper spray until more research was done.

The study also brought up questions of the effectiveness of the pepper spray in subduing violent and irrational people. The FBI report, "Chemical Agent Research, Oleoresin Capsicum" concluded that pepper sprays were effective against intoxicated people, and told the story of a large, intoxicated biker who was successfully disabled. "Two agencies reported oleoresin capsicum is frequently used to subdue inmates who were violent and uncontrollable."

However, the report "Pepper Spray and In-Custody Deaths" referred to by the International Association of Chiefs of Police stated: "In the majority of cases, oleoresin capsicum spray was either ineffective or less than totally effective." Since drugs or alcohol were involved in most of these cases, the conclusion to be reached is that the pepper spray was unable to subdue the suspects effectively, so the police resorted to forceful procedures that caused the deaths. In addition to "positional asphyxia" other factors in the deaths were cocaine intoxication and excited delirium from the cocaine.

Article Source: http://www.self-defensebuzz.com/articles

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