Mace brand pepper spray has long been synonymous with quality and reliability in law enforcement circles. What follows is a review of this family of products.
Pepper Spray, technically known as oleo resin capsicum or OC spray, is made from highly refined, organic capsicum peppers. In the civilian market the product is typically deployed using an aerosol canister. For full effectiveness the product is aimed at the suspect’s face and eyes. This causes extreme skin and eye irritation, theoretically making it difficult for an attacker to see and distracting him/her long enough for the victim to escape.
Most Pepper spray delivery systems will reach an attacker at ten feet or more. This means that a person can defend themselves without having to be within an attacker’s grasp. This is far superior to other defensive tools that require the victim be able to touch the attacker, stun guns for example.
Mace Pepper Spray offers a variety of delivery configurations. The two most prominent are “fog” and “stream.” “Fog” sprays in a cone shaped pattern much like a very high pressure hair spray can. The “stream” configuration sprays in a continuous stream much like a pump style squirt gun.
The advantage to the “fog” system is there is less aiming required when spraying a subject. Unfortunately, this configuration also allows for more problems with air currents carrying the irritant to unwanted areas. In my experience carrying “fog” style OC in law enforcement for several years, in almost every instance the officers were adversely affected by the OC. Of course, this was to a lesser extent than the suspect.
While requiring more precise “aim” than the “fog” application, the “stream” system results in far fewer cross contamination incidents. This requirement for more precision aiming is relatively easily overcome by using an “X” spray pattern at the suspect’s face. (Imagine spray painting an “X” on the suspect’s face with your pepper spray). Both configurations are effective when properly applied.
It is important to realize that pepper spray will often not completely or immediately stop a determined attacker in his/her tracks. Human beings are remarkably good at closing their eyes when something is coming at their faces. Rest assured, the spray will work, but it may take a few seconds for the full effects to set in. It is strongly recommended that you keep your intention to spray a suspect a surprise until you are actually spraying him/her to maximize your chances of securing a direct hit in the suspect’s eyes.
The effects of pepper spray usually last 45 minutes to an hour. They include redness of the skin and eyes, an intense burning sensation, and inability to open the eyes. Coughing and a choking sensation are also common.
Pepper spray applicators come in a wide variety of sizes and configurations. Prices vary depending on a number of factors.
