Differences between Mace and Pepper Spray versus Tear Gas

If you're not sure about the differences between Mace, tear gas and pepper spray, you're not alone. They are both used in warfare, police activities and individual self defense strategies. They both temporarily incapacitate those who encounter them. They are both, depending on where you live, restricted substances. But there are several differences you need to be aware of before making a purchase.

What is pepper spray? What does it do?


A 1-Second blast of Pepper Spray will render an individual incapacitated for 15 minutes to over an hour. Pepper Spray is an inflammatory agent it will IMMEDIATELY: induce coughing, choking, nausea, it will dilates the capillaries of the eyes causing temporary blindness, the mucous membranes will swell to the point of cutting off all but life support breathing, causes intense burning and an assailant to be temporarily incapacitated. Remember that Mace is also a brand of pepper spray in today's self defense products market.



Mace is a type of Tear Gas


There are three major types of tear gas, all of which are chemicals, and one of which is not used in civilian life. Mace is a well-known brand name for orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile, abbreviated as CN, which became available for sale in 1962. Since that time, tear gas has been restricted in many states: the Mace brand is now actually pepper spray, although sprays composed of various types of tear gas or tear gas combined with pepper spray are being sold under various brand names.




Tear gas vs. pepper spray

Tear gas operates differently from pepper spray. It is composed of a white crystal suspended in a delivery medium such as sec-butanol, along with various other chemicals. The effects of tear gas are immediate and usually extremely painful: the eyes shut, water and burn; the nose and mouth feel like they're afire; the Mace one coughs and chokes as his airways attempt to close against the chemical.

Under the influence Mace and tear gas do not affect individuals, Pepper spray DOES
Although the original (CN) formula Mace is highly effective against most people, when PCP became a serious problem on the streets, law enforcement personnel discovered that someone who's out of his mind on drugs may not feel the effect of Mace enough to be incapacitated. Similarly, people who are violent and insane may not be stopped by tear gas. Police found that people who were enraged to the point of insanity or people whose bodies had ceased to comprehend pain, such as those on PCP, weren't adequately affected by tear gas. Pepper spray, however, has proven effective against people on drugs, insanely violent or seemingly impervious to other types of pain. Pepper spray wears off slower than tear gas; its oily effects create long lasting discomfort, and it's difficult to wash away.



Tear gas is regulated by countries, by states and by individual cities. Some countries allow no tear gas, others only allow police or military use, and some allow civilian use for self-defense. In the U.S., regulations vary widely by state, and within the state, there may be different regulations concerning use by county or city. In some places, tear gas is not allowed, but pepper spray is. Some states will not allow combined pepper and tear gas sprays. Before buying either tear gas or pepper spray, it's the individual's responsibility to learn the state and city ordinances about their sale, possession and use.

Pepper Spray products, using them


It's also important to learn the right way to use any spray. Personal safety is one reason: the most effective self defense spray in the world can't do you any good if you don't have it when you need it, don't aim it properly, or use it incorrectly. Not only is it unheard of for a would-be criminal to attempt to sue the would-be victim over the use of self-defense spray. If you have obeyed the laws of your local, county, state governments you cannot be sued if you used your defense spray for self-defense. Get the training and education you need to make your spray work for you.