| Do you know your rights when it comes to self | | | | reasonable person would use, given the situation. You |
| defense? There are many misconceptions about the | | | | are allowed to physically defend yourself during an |
| concept of self defense. One of the most prevalent of | | | | attack as long as your defense does not go beyond |
| these is that if you fight back against an attacker, you | | | | reasonable force. As soon as your attacker is down, |
| will be charged with a crime. In actuality, as long as you | | | | get away from the situation. If you continue to use |
| use a legal self defense method and do not use | | | | force once it's no longer perceived as necessary, this |
| excessive force, it is perfectly legal to defend yourself. | | | | is when you could be held liable. |
| If you are faced with a confrontation, your best course | | | | When buying pepper spray or any other self defense |
| of action is to avoid physical confrontations, if possible. | | | | device, be sure that you know the applicable laws in |
| Do not use your pepper spray for self defense unless | | | | your area. While pepper spray is legal across the |
| you don't feel comfortable running away from the | | | | country, some states or cities place restrictions on |
| situation or otherwise removing yourself from it. | | | | purchasing or carrying such devices. For example, |
| Mitigate the situation, and do not respond to verbal | | | | some areas only allow pepper spray sales through |
| assaults unless you feel they're likely to turn physical. It | | | | licensed firearms dealers or online. In addition, a few |
| is always better to avoid an attack than to have to | | | | areas require a permit or having to take a class |
| fight back. Plus, the courts will consider whether you | | | | before owning pepper spray. In nearly every case, |
| were a willing participant, or whether you were | | | | carrying pepper spray comes under fewer restrictions |
| attacked. Do not start the violence out of choice. If you | | | | than carrying a taser device, a gun, or any other |
| do need to use physical force, avoid lethal injuries. | | | | weapon to protect yourself. Once you own the self |
| If you do need to fight back using your self defense | | | | defense device, never use it unless there is an |
| device, do not worry about ending up in jail for | | | | immediate threat. |
| protecting yourself. Pepper spray makes a great | | | | To determine the rules regarding self defense |
| choice as a personal protection product because it | | | | products where you live, call your local police station. |
| causes no lasting harm, so you need not worry about | | | | When considering your methods and strategies for |
| an injured assailant trying to get you in trouble. The | | | | self defense, be sure that you find out the exact laws |
| courts have repeatedly found pepper spray to be | | | | in your state; so that you know what you can legally |
| "reasonable force" when being attacked. Reasonable | | | | do while still remaining on the right side of the law. |
| force is usually defined as the amount of force a | | | | |