Know the Laws:
UPDATED July 13, 2009
As a victim of domestic violence, there are many steps you can take to protect yourself from physical harm. As part of your safety plan, you may decide to get a protection order, change the locks on your house, or move to a confidential location, to name a few examples. For those of you considering carrying pepper spray or Mace as an additional security measure, we've included the following information to help you make your decision.
Basic info and definitions
back to topWhat is pepper spray?
Pepper spray is made from hot peppers (called oleoresin capsicum or “OC”) and it comes in an aerosol spray can. It is commonly used as means of non-lethal (non-deadly) personal self-defense. The ingredients in pepper spray cause temporary blindness, nausea, a burning sensation on the surface of the skin, and temporarily limits the person’s ability to breathe (but will not kill the person) when sprayed into the eyes, nose or mouth. The effects of pepper spray should last from 15 to 60 minutes.*
Note: Pepper spray comes with an expiration date and is usually good for between 2-4 years. Check the date on the can to make sure your spray is still effective. *
* "Frequently Asked Questions About Pepper Spray," Pepper Spray Inc. http://www.peppersprayinc.com/faq_about_pepper_spray.htm
back to topWhat is Mace?
Mace is a tear gas that causes the eyes to tear up and creates a stinging sensation on the surface of the skin. “Mace” is actually a brand name that is commonly used to refer to tear gas (like "Kleenex" is used to refer to tissues) and so some pepper spray products may be labeled "Mace” even though they are actually pepper spray, not tear gas.*
* "Mace vs. Pepper Spray," Pepper Spray Inc. http://www.peppersprayinc.com/mace_vs_pepper_spray.htm
back to topWhat is the difference between pepper spray and Mace?
There are only slight differences between pepper spray and Mace. Mace is a tear gas that causes the eyes to tear up and creates a stinging sensation on the surface of the skin. Pepper spray causes temporary blindness and difficulty breathing (although the effects are not permanent or life-threatening). If the person that you are defending yourself against is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, pepper spray will still have an effect on him, but Mace may not.*
Note: “Mace” is actually a brand name and so some pepper spray products may still be labeled "Mace” even though they are actually pepper spray.**
* "Frequently Asked Questions About Pepper Spray," Pepper Spray Inc. http://www.peppersprayinc.com/faq_about_pepper_spray.htm; "Mace vs. Pepper Spray," Pepper Spray Inc. http://www.peppersprayinc.com/mace_vs_pepper_spray.htm; "Mace and Pepper Spray are NOT the same thing. How to pick a defensive spray." http://hubpages.com/hub/Mace-and-Pepper-Spray-are-NOT-the-same-thing
** "Mace vs. Pepper Spray," Pepper Spray Inc. http://www.peppersprayinc.com/mace_vs_pepper_spray.htm