Pepper spray or handguns

Posted by Mostly Genius – August 1, 2009

I found Conservative Scalawag had linked to my post about pepper spray, and I think his post exemplifies what people do not understand about pepper spray and use of force in general.

While yes, pepper spray does have its place in the self-defense arena, it would not be my first choice.

Until we have a scenario we can’t make any judgements about what our choices should be. Leaving is generally my first choice, but even that isn’t always viable. There is no “pepper spray or gun” argument, because they fill different roles.

Yet, Mostly Genius believes that pepper spray can fulfill the non-deadly force niche.

There isn’t a “non-deadly force niche”, there are several. Pepper spray fills the niche right before we start striking people because if we can solve the problem at that level we will not have any need to escalate further.

Thing is, criminals are not going to tell you if their intent is deadly, or if they just want your watch. Therefor, you must treat all incidents with bad guys as possibly life-threatening to you. Sorry, but not a mind reader.

(Emphasis mine)
All incidents are potentially life threatening, but the law requires that we have an immediate and credible threat to our lives (or a third party) before we can apply deadly force. Again there is no “pepper spray or gun” argument. Deadly force is the correct response to lethal threats, but we can’t pretend that all threats are lethal or that “potential” is the same as “actual.”

However, I will admit there are times pepper spray comes with me. Those are the times when I cannot carry a gun,due to silly rules, or Byzantine rules. Otherwise, I carry a gun, and with the full intent of using it to STOP the bad guys from victimizing me or my family.

Keeping in mind that pepper spray is basically a step above strong language, it is not a suitable handgun replacement. Pepper spray fills an entirely different role than firearms do. The perfect role for pepper spray is reinforcing a verbal command. We can pepper spray belligerents for continuing to approach when told to stop, it would be very hard to justify shooting them.

For while pepper spray may work a certain percentage, guns, when used properly, work 100% of the time.

Without quibbling about proper use, guns certainly do not work 100% of the time or anything approaching it. Most criminals do quit without any shots being fired, but some require multiple good hits to be put down and those criminals sometimes inflict a lot of injury and trauma before they finally do stop. I certainly agree that handguns are better fight stoppers than pepper spray, but we can’t use handguns in the same situations where we could use pepper spray.

  • Jenny Torre
    Nice to be visiting your blog again, it has been months for me. Well this article that i’ve been waited for so long. Thanks, great share.
  • Oh I understand that this OC thing just happened. It's kinda cool tho, and hopefully spurred others to rethink OC.

    I need to get up to GT Distributors, across town: http://www.gtdist.com/ They've got all manner of OC and should have a size that will fit me well.
  • @hsoi:

    I didn't intend to evangelize OC, it's just kind of sorted out that way. The small, key chain sized OC is just fine. I don't need a 8oz duty size can of it and I have never carried it on my belt. I like the slightly larger than key chain size def-tech version for the pocket clip.
  • Boy, what a spectacular can of worms you opened. ;-)

    I had a personal experience that changed my mind on OC. It was interesting because its occurrence so happened to coincide with your previous 2 postings about OC:

    http://hsoiblog.wordpress.com/...

    We tend to view things in "worst case scenarios", but we don't often accept that there's a wide range of things that could happen between 0 and 100. So for instance, dogs... there's no way I was going to shoot one of those dogs, not unless it got VERY ugly. But like you wrote above, OC is a step above strong language. In my case, I brought my wife's OC outside with me to deal with the dogs... dogs didn't respond to verbal commands, so in my head I was prepping to use the OC if the dogs raised the bar. So there's a place for OC, and not just with humans either.

    It made me think back to my Street & Vehicle Tactics course from InSights Training. Greg was telling some sort of story... I'm foggy on the details... but something to the effect that he was sitting at a stop-light in traffic, someone was walking down the cars I think asking for money or some such, Greg pulled his OC out of his car door and kept it out of sight but ready to use coupled with a "don't mess with me" look on his face... the dude hit the car in front of Greg, walked right by Greg, hit the car behind Greg. Something like that. That sort of thing makes me think about the vagrants here in Austin, some a little too aggressive in trying to obtain money from people especially at stop lights. Verbal commands can only do so much, a gun would be wholly inappropriate, but a shot of OC in the face if they opt to stick their nose in your car or start to beat on the windshield and refuse to listen... well, OC becomes an answer.

    So, while it may seem frustrating that a lot of people aren't "getting it" regarding OC, well... I can at least say I've had a epiphany. Only trouble is, my waist is starting to look like Batman's utility belt. ;-)
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