The History of Pepper Spray - A Real Tear Jerker!

Who could have thought half a century back that theensures that the main ingredients, which cause irritation
pepper we use so extensively for seasoning and forin the eyes is gained from the chili. OC or oleoresin
making our food taste spicier and hot could one daycapsicum is insoluble in water and is normally dispersed
be used as a weapon for self defense? Yet, here weusing aerosol cans. The spray was actually imported
are with an innovative self defense spray known asfrom Canada to the US and it was being used in
the pepper spray and it's a real tear jerker! Pepper asCanada by civilians as a bear repellent spray and not
we all know, can make our eyes tear due to the spicyagainst human intruders. The modern day civilian
quality. So when this very quality of the spice waspepper sprays are safe as well as legal weapons for
harnessed by modern day scientists to create aself defense. Considered to be extremely effective, it
product that could potentially halt the stride of thehas become quite handy for women the world over
miscreant, it was hailed as a very big achievement.and they can use it to repel the actions of single or
Over a period of time, scientists further worked tomultiple attackers. It has worked wonders for civilians
capture this quality of pepper in a marketable formbecause when sprayed on the face of the attacker/s,
that was easy to use and store. Thus was born theit can cause intense pain for as long as 45 minutes
pepper spray. In the modern times pepper spray is notincluding swelling and burning in the eyes.
just used by women world over for the purpose ofFor civilians, pepper spray is restricted in a few states
self defense but, also for riot control, crowd control,in the US and they are:
and for providing defense against animals like dogs* New York: Civilians in New York can purchase
and bears. With so many varied and interesting uses,defense sprays other than pepper sprays only from a
the history of pepper spray also makes for anlicensed Firearms Dealers or any other licensed
interesting read. So if you want to known when thePharmacist within the state.
pepper spray actually came into existence, read on...* Massachusetts: In Massachusetts, civilians can only
The History: Although the use of pepper spray can'tpurchase certain types of defense sprays from a
be dated back too long ago, but history reveals thatlicensed Firearms Dealer within the state.
red chili pepper was being used for self defense in* Michigan: Partial ban on pepper spray. Civilians in this
ancient India and China. In ancient India, it was not asstate can only use an OC spray that is not more than
popular as it was in China. Chinese people and even2% concentrate.
warriors had their own innovative method of using this* Wisconsin: use by civilians should not be any stronger
spice; and it included wrapping grounded cayenne inthan 10% and the weight should not be more than
rice papers so that they could throw it at the faces of15-60 grams.
their enemies, opponents, or intruders. It was accepted* California: In California, civilians need to ensure that
as a weapon of choice for self defense because ofpepper spray canisters are less than 2.5 ounces.
its ability to incapacitate a person temporarily. A secret* Washington D.C.: Civilians in this state have to first
martial art society of people in ancient Japan called theregister possession of pepper spray with their local
Ninjas has been using grounded pepper for disablinglaw enforcement agencies before they can use them.
their opponents for a long time. Historical evidenceLaw Enforcement Use: Pepper has been used by law
reveals that in the Tukagawa Empire era in Japan, theenforcement officials from a long time but pepper
police used a weapon called the "metsubishi."sprays came into existence only in the 20th century.
Metsubishi was, basically, a box consisting of chiliThe FBI was one of the first law enforcement
pepper and the police used to use this box for blowingagencies to use the pepper spray in the 1991 followed
hot pepper into the eyes of people who were foundby NYPD. In NYPD (New York Police Department), the
guilty of some crime. There is even historical evidenceuse of pepper spray was restricted to their
of the use of chilies in Mexico that dates back to 7000emergency services unit only. The pepper spray was
BC. According to the evidence collected, Mexicanreplaced by mace in October 1994. Today 97% of the
Indians were cultivating peppers in 5500 BC. Some oflaw enforcement officials including the police use
the types of pepper grown during that time includepepper spray as a non-lethal weapon for tackling
chiltecpin, jalapeño, ancho, paprika, serrano, cayenneattackers, mobs, and other unsocial elements. In 1973,
pepper, as well as bell pepper in different colors. TheOleoresin Capsicum was developed as an aerosol
fact about whether they used these different peppersspray and used by FBI (Federal Bureau of
for self defense or as weapons of defense duringInvestigation) for incapacitating animals as well as
those times is unknown. Some of the more recenthumans for temporary duration. Since then the US
examples of the use of pepper as a weapon can bedepartment of Justice has been successfully using
dated back to the 14th and 15th century when slaverypepper sprays. When pepper spray was introduced
was rampant.for the first time in the US, law enforcement agencies
Chili pepper was used not only as a weapon of selflike NYPD purchased a specific brand of pepper spray
defense but also for treating wounds and duringcanisters that was made by DTA or Defense
torture. As a matter of fact, pepper became a popularTechnology of America. Each of these canisters
method for torturing people, criminals, and slaves. Itcontained around 0.63 ounce of a specific solution that
was only in the 1980's that pepper began being usedincluded 10% oleoresin capsicum (OC).
as pepper spray and became a legalized non-lethalIt was in January 1997 that NYPD switched from this
weapon. Law enforcement agencies also recognizedbrand to a new brand. This new brand also consists of
pepper spray as a non-lethal weapon capable of10% solution of oleoresin capsicum but the solution
incapacitating just about anyone. This was also theused in this comprised of primarily water, denatured
time when the postal workers started using repellentalcohol, and antifreeze. The canisters for this new type
sprays against dogs and other pets.of pepper spray were larger than their DTA cousins
Civilian Use: Pepper spray is also known as oleoresinand could hold at least three times more of the solution
of capsicum (OC) spray and it was actually introducedand were capable of being effective within a range of
not by the lawmakers but by the US Postal service in3-15 feet. In fact, pepper spray was not only being
the 1980's. The FBI was able to endorse it as anused by the law enforcement agencies in the United
official chemical agent only in 1987 and it took anotherStates but also across the world. In 2003, police
4 years before it could be legally accepted by the lawofficers in Netherlands were given the go ahead to
enforcement agency. But when it comes to civilian use,use OC Sprays. In the early part of 2001, Sussex
not all brands or types of can be used. There arePolice in the UK were armed with OC Sprays to fight
some states in the US and some countries as wellmiscreants and attackers. They trained 400 police
that forbid the use of pepper sprays by civilians. Forpersonnel for using defense sprays safely and
example: it is illegal to use pepper spray, mace or teareffectively.
gas in Canada. In the US, there are two types ofFrom law enforcement an agency to NYPD to the UK
pepper sprays that can be used by civilians and theypolice, to the common man, the natural sting action of
are CS (orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile) and CNpepper has made it a weapon of choice for many.
(chloroacetophenone). There is a third type called theThere are many wonderful plants, spices, herbs, in
CR but it has not yet been recommended for civiliannature that have some fantastic properties, which can
use. The fourth option is the standard spray that hasbe used for the benefit of mankind. If only we have
been made from an extract of chili peppers used fortime to look for them...
making oleoresin capsicum. The process basically