PEPPER SPRAY, TO USE OR NOT TO USE??

Snoochiboochies

Hey ladies,

I have a pretty interesting problem....I have a man looking to hurt me and my family, yes we have taken legal action...

My question is: Should I carry pepper spray?

If I happen to bump into this guy again, do I have the confidence to approach him and spray it at him and would it take him down?? or would he simply get even more angry and attack me with force?

I know its not the most common thing for a person to experience, but I would greatly appreciate it if someone out there has used the stuff and would you recommend it??

Thanks,

Snoochiboochies xxxx

Pepper spray isnt legal in Ireland is it? I know they have sent people to jail for using it in the UK.
Assaulting him first is not the way handle the situation.
Give him a wide berth, if he takes it upon himself to furthur harrass you and your family.
Then that will be his and the laws problem.

Nevyn

Pepper spray is illegal there for people to carry and you can get done for having it on your person and for importing it illegally into the country.

Homer

Yes absolutely it is illegal and you could get in serious trouble for using it on somebody. I can understand your fear and the reason why you want to carry it for your own protection. It certainly would take a potential attacker down, but used correctly so would a small can of hairspray that most women carry in their handbag?

Best of luck.

biko

A can of spray paint will also serve the additional purpose to "mark" him if you want to notify the Gardai.

g'em

Going to move this (from tLL) to try and get clarification on the legality of pepper spray - is it legal to carry/ use it?

Thanks.

Victor

g'em wrote: »

pepper spray - is it legal to carry/ use it?

It is illegal to have pepper spray - it is an offensive weapon. While some offensive weapons (knife) might have legitimate uses, pepper spray isn't one. Carrying an offensive weapon can get you into serious trouble.

Anything you plan to use on an attacker can also be used on you.

If you want to stay safe, the take a self defence class with a reputable trainer. Its not about fighting back - its about avoiding the situation in the first place.

And importantly, stay sober enough to know when something bad is about to happen and keep a mobile phone on your person (not in a bag that you might lose).

Latchy

Pepper spray may be illigal but in a matter of life and death I would use it just as I would use any wepon / substance to defend myself or family and worry about the legalities of it later . You cant debate about it in a court of law if your dead .

It wasn't me!

latchyco wrote: »

Pepper spray may be illigal but in a matter of life and death I would use it just as I would use any wepon / substance to defend myself or family and worry about the legalities of it later . You cant debate about it in a court of law if your dead .

The problem is you get charged with possession of a prohibited weapon under the firearms acts and that doesn't look particularly well, to say nothing of the impossibility of justification of its possession, unlike say a big ring of keys. There are alternatives. In fact, there are few things that aren't an alternative.

seamus

As pointed out, if you were stopped/caught with it by the Gardai you would be charged with possession of an offensive weapon.

If you use it to defend youself, you would need to justify that defence and show that using the pepper spray was a proportionate response to the threat posed by this guy. In other words, you need to show that he had a weapon of sorts and that you were cornered, i.e. you couldn't flee.

Otherwise you could be convicted for assault with an offensive weapon and/or the guy could sue you for damages.

It wasn't me!

seamus wrote: »

As pointed out, if you were stopped/caught with it by the Gardai you would be charged with possession of an offensive weapon.

If you use it to defend youself, you would need to justify that defence and show that using the pepper spray was a proportionate response to the threat posed by this guy.

The problem - and this is my own reading, and not necessarily legally perfect - is that you not only have to justify its use, but you have to justify the defiance of the various acts in relation to its very possession. The circumstances are the same as trying to justify owning an illegal pistol and using it in self-defence. So above and beyond justifying its use as being proportional and necessary, you have to explain violating several criminal laws just to possess it.

deadwood

Legalities aside, what training would you receive in this? None, I suspect. As with all weapons, you need to know how to use it properly.

Are you confident that a potential assailant wouldn't disarm you and turn the weapon on you?

I would say avoid such a tactic like the plague if not for legal reasons, for your own safety. Best of luck.

Hooch

deadwood wrote: »

Legalities aside, what training would you receive in this? None, I suspect. As with all weapons, you need to know how to use it properly.

Are you confident that a potential assailant wouldn't disarm you and turn the weapon on you?

I would say avoid such a tactic like the plague if not for legal reasons, for your own safety. Best of luck.

+1

Duffman

Also, while it might seem unlikely, you would be rightly screwed if something happened to the attacker as a result of being sprayed. He might have a particularly bad reaction to it, stumble out in front of a car etc. The illegality element could land you with a conviction for manslaughter.

dermot_sheehan

Pepper spray is actually classified as a firearm (its a prohibited weapon under the Firearms Acts as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2006).

Possession without a cert is punishable by 5 years

Possession with criminal intent is punishable by 14 years

with intent to endanger life is punishable by life. (mandatory minimum of 10 years if prosecuted on indictment)



You can not use an illegal weapon is self defence.

GalwayKiefer

As has been pointed out already, its illegal - possession, use, everything. Putting that aspect to one side, its not very good for self-defense as too many things can go wrong with it. While in the States myself and one of my friends decided one VERY slow day to mess around with it. He sprayed me as I ran at him but the stuff takes 5/6 seconds to kick in and I had managed to get to him and slap him quite a few times before my eyes began to burn like crazy. The harsh effects lasted 20min and another 30min after that until I felt ok again.

Take up some self-defense training, be aware of your surroundings and if a situation starts to or looks like it might go bad then run.

If you're trapped and in trouble though....its better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6...

dwarren

Pepper spray or mace is classed as a firearm, with a maximum sentence of 7 years for possession. The only legal alternative are dye sprays, such as FARB. They don't look as effective as Pepper spray, but a lot better than nothing, plus they also dye the attacker with the same stuff they put the in cash transit boxes. You can get it on ebay

coylemj

So the best you can do for your first post is to resurrect a forum that hasn't been touched since March 2009? Go and contribute to active threads.

pirelli

dwarren wrote: »

Pepper spray or mace is classed as a firearm, with a maximum sentence of 7 years for possession. The only legal alternative are dye sprays, such as FARB. They don't look as effective as Pepper spray, but a lot better than nothing, plus they also dye the attacker with the same stuff they put the in cash transit boxes. You can get it on ebay

coylemj wrote: »

So the best you can do for your first post is to resurrect a forum that hasn't been touched since March 2009? Go and contribute to active threads.

Interesting read all the same. There is no law that says (new poster) can't post anew on an old forum if it's a contribution. They dye sounds like a good alternative but would it blind them as mace does. Also there have been other threads on this subject and i think it was propositioned that one could make their own mace from pepper's etc..

Is that true could one make their own mace like ingredient and use it legally ?

Sell it in the headshop or something. Headshop pepper killer.....