Choosing The Best Pepper Spray

Here is a very informative article on choosing your self defense weapons wisely for your information.
Choosing The Best Pepper Spray
By Irv Gelbart

Over the years, law enforcement agencies and military personnel worked towards the development of non lethal self defense products. This was done, ostensibly, for crowd control and to temporarily incapacitate attackers.

It can be very confusing to choose the proper chemical agent that best suits your situation. As with the purchase of any other product such as a car or stereo, it is highly recommended that you conduct research on the various types of pepper spray offered to civilians.

The beauty of non lethal pepper spray is that it is inexpensive, easy to deploy, and can be carried in different dispersing containers. For example, pepper spray can be carried on a key chain. This may be a great choice for people who walk, jog, run, or individuals who traverse parking lots and college campuses.

When presented with a dangerous situation, self defense products are designed to allow you sufficient time to leave the scene and seek help. Although pepper sprays may deliver a painful experience to an attacker, it is non lethal; therefore, it will not kill them. The effects will incapacitate an assailant for nearly 45 minutes, thus allowing you to flee the scene.

Oleoresin capsicum (OC) is the primary ingredient in pepper sprays. It causes the eyes to tear excessively, thus causing the eyes to slam shut. It also causes pain, choking and shortness of breath and disorientation. If an attacker can't see you, you can run away without being seen.

There are various kinds of pepper spray that utilize different delivery systems. As mentioned previously, for crowd control, the popular sport of paintball uses paintball markers to shoot "pepper balls" at instigators, to disperse a crowd.

Typically, for civilian use, you can choose between a gel, foam or spray. The delivery system can also deliver the contents in a stream, cone or fog.

Pepper spray which is suspended in a gel instead of a liquid stream, is referred to as Pepper Gel. This formulation results in longer distance with a range of 18 feet as the particles of OC are less apt to be atomized. It contains a stronger pepper, it is non-flammable and it sticks like glue.

Pepper Foam contains 10% pepper and foam and produces a powerful deterrent. The thick foam covers an attacker's face making it difficult to see. When they try to wipe away the foam, the pepper is ground into their face and eyes.

The classic defense spray is delivered by way of a stream, for longer distance, a cone for a wider area, or a fogger designed for use in home or automobile.

With respect to the containers used to deliver the chemical spray, they are usually an aerosol canister with some form of safety to prevent accidental discharge. The containers can be cleverly disguised as a pen, a key chain model, a decorative ring or even in a seemingly innocent lipstick.

When choosing the model that suits your needs, make your choice wisely. If you need discretion, a disguised model may be best. If you are a bounty hunter, a large container that can be attached to a "thigh holster" may be best for you.

With the high level of unemployment that exists today, crime has increased. People, who would normally be law abiding citizens have, on occasion, resorted to "purse snatches" or other means to unlawfully get money. Self defense products are so named as they are designed to protect you from crime. Don't think that crime only happens to other people.

"Choose your weapon wisely" In today's society you must protect yourself, your family, you're your home and your business! Lastly, check with the local laws in your area with respect to the possession and use of pepper spray. In many cities and states it is perfectly legal. In others, it may be against the law.

Yours In Safety
Irv Gelbart.
During my thirty year career with the Miami-Dade Police Department, I served as a Robbery Detective as well as the Commander of the Intracoastal District's Crime Prevention and Crime Suppression Unit. Since retiring as a Police Lieutenant in 2006, I continue to provide crime prevention articles to help keep people safe from crime. As the founder of Pentagon Defense Products, Your Protection is our Mission! To this end, we strive to provide affordable and effective self defense products.
Visit us at http://www.pentagondefense.com/catalog/macetrade-defensive-sprays-c-240_72.html or http://www.pentagondefense.com/catalog/pepper-sprays-c-240_77.html For further crime prevention recommendations, feel free to call us toll free 1-866-490-1825 or e-mail to: irv@pentagondefense.com

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Irv Gelbart make a great point on how to choose your self defense sprays.