PDA

View Full Version : Pepper spray and the law



Kevin Geaslin
3rd February 2008, 20:46
I was thinking of buying some pepper spray to deal with some wild and potentially violent dogs where I go jogging, but don't know where to get info about the legalities of carrying it within the state of Texas. Since you can legally carry around a 9mm (with a concealment license), I'd think that in the great state of Texas you can also carry a small canister of Mace/OC. They also make a canine pepper spray, but I don't know how it's classified. Any websites or links that address this?

Neil Yamamoto
3rd February 2008, 21:13
TEXAS: Legal.

It is permissible to possess a "small chemical dispenser sold commercially for personal protection".

See Texas Penal Code Section 46.01 (14)

http://www.bakers-legal-pages.com/fastlaws/pc2004/pc_s_toc.htm

Kevin Geaslin
4th February 2008, 04:46
Thanks for the link!

m harper
4th February 2008, 13:47
Buy the 15% if you can find it. Most stores sell 10%.

Jason Chambers
18th March 2008, 19:53
Both Freeze +P and Capstun are very good... on people and dogs. :D

Kevin Geaslin
18th March 2008, 22:16
I bought some Muzzle brand canine pepperspray. Works pretty good but you can only get a few seconds of continuous fire before the cartridge is drained. Did come in handy, though.

m harper
18th March 2008, 22:36
Most small, keychain size give 5 seconds or multiple short bursts, the bigger ones give 10 to 30 seconds depending on size.
You can also get bear spray but it is a bigger can and hard to conceal.

Juan Perez
18th March 2008, 23:12
Back in Afghanistan we had come up with the idea that we needed flashbang grenades and pepper spray as less-than-lethal means to stun an adversary so that we could capture as oppose to killing him. Flashbangs, of course, demanded a very specific use based on certain techniques and procedures. The pepper spray, however, was something that we thought might be of use in case we were in close proximity to someone unwilling to comply. Well, according to what we were told regarding the rules of engagement, pepper spray - and other like devices - fell in the same category as other "chemical weapons" and mandated a general officer approval on a case-by-case basis. So, in other words, we couldn't get the pepper spray, so, we went with the M9 pistol instead. Unfortunately, compliance in that case came with a price... total and unending compliance. I found that sometimes, the system should be more flexible than it is now. Honestly, there were times when we really didn't want to end up grappling with some guy hell bent on possibly killing any of us. In some cases, we didn't want to break anything on him either. But, since we were left with few less-than-lethal options, oftentimes, the option left was potentially extremely lethal.

strephon
19th March 2008, 00:10
Back in Afghanistan we had come up with the idea that we needed flashbang grenades and pepper spray as less-than-lethal means to stun an adversary so that we could capture as oppose to killing him. Well, according to what we were told regarding the rules of engagement, pepper spray - and other like devices - fell in the same category as other "chemical weapons" and mandated a general officer approval on a case-by-case basis. So, in other words, we couldn't get the pepper spray, so, we went with the M9 pistol instead. But, since we were left with few less-than-lethal options, oftentimes, the option left was potentially extremely lethal.

This is honest and I like it for its reality function. Better to tell what's real, the better to deal with it.

The martial arts principles I see in your experience from the way you tell it involve maybe any of the following:

-If you put yourself in a battle situation, or are put into it, use what means possible to be effective in it.

-solve the problem. Always solve the problem if you have the power to do so.

-find a positive value in what you are doing, even if your actions are destructive.

-battle any opposition to a positive outcome with whatever means possible, not to always win but to stand for a value.

Thus I wonder if you could have battled more against the army regulations by taking into your own hands getting and using a debilitating spray?

-we must make our own decisions in life for the values we want to stand for, must we not?

I'm old now. Went to military school but never into the military. Chose alternative service working in a mental hospital instead of killing people. Later I loved the controlled fighting of an Aikido dojo.

I don't think military killing works, but I am concerned that soldiers put in such situation heal from the trauma they go through.

Thus as a retired psychologist I have worked with all sorts of war trauma. Thus I recognize your honesty here. Being realistic about ones real behavior anywhere in life will help one live a good life despite what one has been through.

I may be way off regarding you and your experience, but I'll take a chance on it. You opened the door. I won't necessarily go through it, but I will stand at the door!

Thanks for sharing. You represent for me an unlived side of my own life. Since I didn't live what you have, I didn't have to face the moral issues there.

Mitch Saret
19th March 2008, 18:22
In Illinois pepper spray is considered a food product and therefore perfectly legal to carry and use.

Kevin Geaslin
19th March 2008, 21:47
Maybe they spray some on their jumbalaya in Louisiana?

Jason Couch
20th March 2008, 03:02
Don't forget that your local government or municipality may have tighter restrictions than the state laws.

Jason Chambers
20th March 2008, 07:40
Maybe they spray some on their jumbalaya in Louisiana?

That would be Swamp Dust... =)

Try here: http://www.aerko.com

Brian Owens
21st March 2008, 06:29
Here are two interesting twists on the pepper-spray paradigm; both presented by Kimber America:

http://www.life-act.com/guardianangel.php

http://www.life-act.com/jpx.php

Because the OC agent is propelled by a pyrotechnic charge, they may be considered "firearms" in some jurisdictions.

knghtazrael
23rd March 2008, 11:52
Here are two interesting twists on the pepper-spray paradigm; both presented by Kimber America:

http://www.life-act.com/guardianangel.php

http://www.life-act.com/jpx.php

Because the OC agent is propelled by a pyrotechnic charge, they may be considered "firearms" in some jurisdictions.

I know that in Massachusettes which is right near me, Pepper Spray is Illegal unless you have an FID (Firearms Identification) card. Then again Mass seems to ban anything that can be used for self-defence purposes or even opening a box. Whenever we go into Mass we have to make sure we have nothing on us or in the car. You know it's bad when a friend of mine was threatened with arrest for possesion of a concealed weapon because he had a swiss army knife in his pocket and one cop pointed out a friends walking stick could be considered a cudgel under law and therefore be illegal *L*