| There are several different pepper spray types | | | | targets. Carrying your mace spray protection is one |
| available today for your self-defense protection: a | | | | thing, being able to use it on time and on target must |
| stream pattern, a cone-mist, and a fog. And, when it | | | | be your primary objective. |
| comes to non-lethal self-defense weapons, pepper | | | | The best advice when using a pepper or mace spray |
| spray or mace spray are right up there at the top of | | | | in any situation is to be careful. Spraying upwind |
| popularity for two main reasons: ease of use and | | | | means you receive the full force of the spray leaving |
| effectiveness. | | | | your attacker in an even better position to do you |
| Mace spray (mace is a brand name) and pepper | | | | harm. Think before you spray! |
| sprays are extremely effective at impairing vision and | | | | If you're wondering if pepper or mace sprays are |
| breathing. In addition to the type of spray, they both | | | | legal in your state, the best advise is to check your |
| come in a broad range of sizes, styles, and | | | | state's requirements and restrictions. Learn before |
| concentrations | | | | you purchase. Mace is the product most law |
| Pepper spray, and to some degree its counterpart | | | | enforcement agencies use, and while many civilians |
| mace spray, is a very simple irritant that causes the | | | | can carry mace, your state may require that you |
| eyes to tear and temporarily distorts vision. One | | | | pass a written test and demonstrate proof that you |
| thing to consider is how "hot" is the pepper spray | | | | can "hit what you're aiming for." The legal limitations |
| when it disables your attacker? Not all brands are | | | | on pepper spray are typically less restrictive. Still, to |
| created equal. Concentration does not necessarily | | | | be sure, find out what your local laws are - to |
| indicate "hot," nor does it infer that the higher the | | | | protect yourself. |
| percentage or concentration the more effective it will | | | | In the hands of reasonable people, pepper or mace |
| be. The most effective use of either mace spray or | | | | spray can be a valuable self defense tool. However, it |
| pepper spray relies on one primary objective: can | | | | is so important to remember at all times that they |
| you hit your attacker? | | | | are also weapons, and must be handled with a high |
| Whenever you are on foot, walking to your car, | | | | degree of skill and confidence. Always follow basic |
| leaving a restaurant, or shopping (to name but a few | | | | safety precautions and rules for pepper and/or mace |
| possibilities), you should have your pepper spray in | | | | spray use. |
| your hand and ready to use instantly. The idea is to | | | | Remember, there is no quick antidote for pepper or |
| put up what has been called a "brick wall in between | | | | mace spray. Defend yourself if necessary, but learn |
| the assailant and the sprayer." A good analogy. | | | | about your weapon of personal self-defense choice |
| For successful self defense use of either pepper or | | | | first. |
| mace spray it is important to practice on non-organic | | | | |