Capsicum/Pepper Spray

[fireheart17]

Just a quick background: in most parts of Australia, Capsicum/Pepper spray is illegal. Use of it constitutes assault.

My question is...do you think that it should be made legal or should it be banned? I'm aware that most of you are from the US/UK, which is the reason why I posted it up, as spray is legal I think....?

[Greenday]

Honestly, this is the first I've ever heard of it being illegal. I didn't know it was illegal anywhere. Honestly, I never hear of any pepper spray being used for assault. Just self-protection and friends doing it to each other for fun.

[Flyndaran]

Any weapon can and will be used illegally.
As long as improper uses are fully investigated and prosecuted, then I don't see any problem with licensed use by civilians.

[fireheart17]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepper_spray

More information on the legalities. And a vague description as far as self-defense items go, as far as the law states is roughly this...

If an item is carried ONLY for self-defence, it is considered a weapon. (obviously things like knives, knuckle dusters etc.)
If an item is carried for purposes other than self-defence, then it's fine.

Honestly? I'd rather stick with something like hairspray or spray deodorant, but I'm a bit curious on this front. I think someone mentioned in a CS.com thread about keeping a cigarette lighter AND hairspray on them aka a flamethrower...I'd consider it, but only as a purely last resort. Problem is though, because I don't smoke, it's pretty hard to explain why I'd have a lighter in my bag. (Tallyho papers are more easily explainable I use them to clean any gunk out of my keys on my flute)

[DrFaroohk]

Is there any means left by which people can legally defend themselves from threat?

[Nyoibo]

Weapon laws in Australia are a bit strange, especially South Australia, I've had a fair bit to do with them over the years and the basic idea behind the laws on capsicum spray are to try and keep as big a gap in the offensive capabilities of civilians and police.

As to legally defending from a threat, fists are about the only safe bet nowadays, and even then it's iffy.

[DesignFox]

Is there any means left by which people can legally defend themselves from threat?

It would seem not.

[Slytovhand]

Australia used to be a very peaceful and placcid place.

Unfortunately, over the last few decades, things have changed a fair bit

It used to be, you could literally leave your front door wide open when you went out. You could walk quite safely down the street and into town. And only occasionally, if you felt 'threatened', it was because that other person was fairly intoxicated anyway.

So, because the violence that has crept into our society is fairly recent, the call for self-defense items hasn't been as pronounced as in other countries, where that has always been an option in the first place (and is an issue in taking them away).

(to an extent, it's still true. I don't fear for my safety when I'm walking along the beach near home at nights, and I often leave my side door wide open when I'm out...). Also, if violence does occur, it is still 'novel' enough for it to make the papers... most of society hasn't gotten immune to it, yet (thankfully).

[blas87]

Since we don't have conceal and carry in Wisconsin, I'm carrying pepperspray and a hunting knife in my car, and I'm keeping a small knife on my person whenever I go out alone at night.

And if you wanna ticket me, you go right ahead. All I can do is stab someone or give them a facial rash if they try to jump me or rape me. You won't let me blow their heads off. So fine, I'll do what I can.

Do it, fine me. I'll just go buy more, and you'll have to catch me with it again.

No way in Hell am I not carrying at least something on me to protect myself. What am I supposed to do, try to get the guy off of me with my brute force of my whole entire 120some pounds, most likely failing at that, so just go ahead, let him beat me or rape me or both, then call the police and let them handle it? As if they'd ever find him. And if they did, he'd probably not get the punishment he deserved.

Better off letting me stab him or hurt him, then call the cops and deal with it.

[DrFaroohk]

Hell, I'm a big 300 pound dude, living in a small rural area, but when I had my job at the gas station i always carried around a can of police issue pepper spray. You wouldn't believe how friggin upset a dude gets on friday night when you tell him he's too drunk to buy any more beer.

[Tanasi]

To the OP: I'm currious how exactly are you susposed to defend yourself??? Now personally if you can't carry a handgun then you certainly should be able to tote either pepper-spray or a Tazer.
A local police supply keeps bear-strength pepper spray and I keep a can of it my truck, car and on each tractor. We have bears around here but I mostly keep it for dogs. All that being typed I also keep a handgun of some sort on my person when I'm out and about.

I truly wonder about folks that elect governments that tells you can't carry anything to protect yourself. Is not your life precious to them more than a means of income via taxes?

[Nyoibo]

As was pointed out, violent crime is no where near as prevalent in Australia as in the US, especially South Australia, in fact the only violent crime I've ever been a witness to has been in the US.

[Rapscallion]

I truly wonder about folks that elect governments that tells you can't carry anything to protect yourself. Is not your life precious to them more than a means of income via taxes?

Interestingly enough, from the perspective of the gubmint, that's all we are. We're just numbers on a page, each of whom is expected to produce a certain amount of financial contribution to assist with their maintenance. There are far too many of us for them to think of us in any other way.

Rapscallion

[daleduke17]

Is there any means left by which people can legally defend themselves from threat?

Yeah, the only idea is don't get involved in a situation where you'll have to defend yourself. That, or run away.

[DesignFox]

Yeah, the only idea is don't get involved in a situation where you'll have to defend yourself. That, or run away.

Or just let someone kill or maim you. apparently.