Province of Ontario urges Federal Government to allow pepper spray weapons.

J

jimintoronto

Well-known Member
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has spoken to the Federal Attorney General to change the Canadian Criminal Code to allow persons over the age of 19 to buy and carry pepper spray devices as a self defense item. At the present time, Canadian law prohibits a number of "restricted weapons " such as switchblade knives, brass knuckles, tasers, pepper spray, throwing stars, and expandable batons. The chemical materials in the spray would be prescribed, and the range of the spray would also be limited. Access to these irritant spray weapons would be restricted to persons who have no previous criminal convictions in Canada.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
This is good news. People need to defend themselves somehow.
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A long time ago, when I was an Auxiliary Constable with the Metropolitan Toronto Police Force, we all went through a training class where each member of the class was pepper sprayed so we understood how it felt, and that the after effects are not ever lasting. In Canada Auxiliary Police are not armed, but they do carry expandable batons, handcuffs and pepper spray in a hand held device, and they patrol with armed officers in pairs.
 
jimintoronto said:
A long time ago, when I was an Auxiliary Constable with the Metropolitan Toronto Police Force, we all went through a training class where each member of the class was pepper sprayed so we understood how it felt, and that the after effects are not ever lasting. In Canada Auxiliary Police are not armed, but they do carry expandable batons, handcuffs and pepper spray in a hand held device, and they patrol with armed officers in pairs.
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So what did it feel like getting pepper sprayed in the face? How long did it hurt for?
 
RambleTamble said:
Great! That will mean criminals will be able to incapacitate their victims with pepper spray before robbing them!

I think Doug Ford has taken up crack use like his late brother, Rob. :rolleyes:
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Obviously you didn't READ the last line in my post.........Sales will be restricted to Canadians who do NOT have a criminal record. The suggestion is that the sales will be conducted at Police stations, where the applicant will be required to submit to a CPIC computer check, before the sale is completed.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
So what did it feel like getting pepper sprayed in the face? How long did it hurt for?
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Immediate burning and tears and a lot of mucus coming out of your nose. Your eyesight is effected, and so is your ability to make decisions. The effect lasts for at least 30 minutes, and the treatment is a lot of clean water used to flush the face and eyes. The use of pepper spray has some downfalls, such as wind direction, distance to the target person , the use of drugs by the attacker, and the proper application of the spray.
 
Follow the money. See who stands to profit from it.

Ford has a long history of doing things that are corrupt or downright illegal.

Here are the arguments against legalizing pepper spray...

Public Safety & Potential for Misuse
  • Offensive Weaponry: Critics argue that if legalized for self-defense, pepper spray can easily be repurposed as an offensive weapon by criminals to incapacitate victims.
  • Escalation of Violence: There is concern that widespread carry could lead to a "blurred line" regarding what constitutes self-defense, potentially increasing overall street violence.
  • Abuse in Non-Threatening Situations: Skeptics point to the risk of misuse in everyday disputes, such as arguments over parking spots or minor social altercations, where its use would be disproportionate.
  • Targeting Vulnerable Groups: Inappropriate use against minors, the elderly, or peaceful protesters can lead to excessive force and civil rights violations.
Physical & Health Risks
  • Respiratory Hazards: Pepper spray is an inhalation hazard that can cause severe respiratory injury, including airway inflammation and reduced lung function.
  • Vulnerable Populations: It poses significant risks to individuals with underlying conditions like asthma or COPD, and in rare cases, exposure has been linked to death.
  • Indiscriminate Effects: The airborne nature of the spray means it cannot be precisely contained; it often affects innocent bystanders, children, and even the person deploying it.
  • Contamination of Spaces: Use in enclosed areas (like vehicles or small rooms) makes them unusable for long periods and can cross-contaminate medical personnel or first responders.
User Effectiveness Concerns
  • Self-Contamination (Blowback): In windy conditions or close-quarters struggles, the user is highly likely to be affected by their own spray, potentially leaving them more vulnerable to an attacker.
  • False Sense of Security: Carrying pepper spray may lead individuals to take greater risks or lower their environmental awareness, despite the fact that the spray may fail to work on motivated or drug-fueled attackers.
  • Training Requirements: Effective use requires precise aiming under extreme stress; without proper training, users often miss or fail to deploy the device correctly.
 
Pepper spray is legal to carry in Texas for self-defense, provided you are 18 or older. It is considered a self-defense tool, not a weapon, and can be carried openly or concealed without a license.

I do not personally carry pepper spray, but a few years ago, I did, as protection against the pit bull dog next door, known for suddenly appearing (on the loose) when I went out to get into my car. The day indeed came that I needed it for that purpose, and it worked.

I own a gun for protection, but I do not carry it when leaving home, even though I can do so legally in my state.
 
I think that it could be a good option but Iā€™m a bit concerned that many well meaning people will end up panicking, not take the wind into account, and end up spraying themselves along with other innocent bystanders, family members, etcā€¦

IMO all defensive items should come with a few hours of mandatory training.

Nothing fancy for something like pepper spray but a couple hours in a church basement with a certified instructor or member of law enforcement would go along way towards making it a more effective choice for the average person.
 
If somebody attacks you and you spray him with pepper spray, you better be damn sure you temporarily blind him in both eyes with it. Otherwise, it might just piss him off and what might have been intended to be just a robbery could turn into a murder -- your murder.
 
The only thing pepper spray is good for is a vicious dog & then I would want the foam spray. It's not something I would ever rely on for self defense.

You need to remember that not everyone will be affected by it even if you get a good hit on an individual. Mental subjects don't feel pain the way a normal person does. Others who have been sprayed before (repeatedly because of their bad choices with LE) learn to fight through it.

If you spray someone & they still come at you, then you better have plan B ready to protect yourself.

My husband was an instructor at our department's training center & at the local police academy. Everyone was sprayed & was taught how to fight through it. That training worked.

One deputy at my department told a subject he was under arrest. This guy decided it wasn't going to happen & used 2 cans of pepper spray on him. Bad plan ... the deputy fought through the spray while he grabbed & cuffed the guy.
 
In Pennsylvania, itā€™s legal to carry pepper spray, tasers and knives and switch blades as long as they are used in a defensive manner.
Brass knuckles and throwing stars, which are used in martial arts are illegal and classified as a first class misdemeanor, which is punishable by receiving a sentence of up to 5 years in prison and up to a $5000 fine. If switch blades are used while committing a crime, then it would be illegal.

We have a whole list of illegal weapons that are prohibited from carrying. They are listed under ā€œProhibited Offensive Weapons.ā€
 
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