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Pepper Spray Information
Pepper
spray (also known as OC spray from "Oleoresin
Capsicum", OC gas, or capsicum spray) is a lachrymatory agent (a
chemical compound that irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, and
even temporary blindness) that is used in riot control, crowd control
and personal self-defense, including defense against dogs. The active
ingredient in pepper spray is capsaicin, which is a chemical derived
from the fruit of plants in the Capsicum genus, including
chillis.
The
HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography) method is used to measure
the amount of capsaicin within pepper sprays. Scoville Heat Unit (SHU)
testing is also used to measure the hotness of pepper spray, but this
is a subjective test which changes from person to person and does not
measure the actual chemical percentage within the product.
Pepper
spray typically comes in canisters, which are
often small enough to be carried or concealed in a pocket or purse.
Pepper spray can also be bought concealed in items such as rings.
Pepper spray is an inflammatory agent, not an irritant like Mace. It
causes immediate closing of the eyes and coughing. The length of the
effects depend on the strength of the spray but the average full effect
lasts around thirty to forty-five minutes, with mitigated effects
lasting for hours.
Bruising
Around the Block
Albert
is a 21 year old party goer. He loves to attend parties and meet new
people. The parties he attends range from simple house parties to large
holiday parties. This weekend he is planning on attending a celebration
of a famous Spanish holiday. He cannot stop thinking about all the fun
he is going to have. He is especially thinking about all the girls he
is going to meet.
The weekend finally came. Albert got a good nights sleep and headed for
the party location on Saturday morning. When he arrived, the party was
in full swing. It was a block party. A whole section of the
neighborhood was closed off for the activities. There was a live band,
plenty of places to get food, and even a place to buy beer.
Albert decided not to drink alcohol, since he would have to drive back.
He thought, man this is going to be great. He strolled around and said
hello to a few people. He looked around for some people his own age to
spend the evening with. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath. At
that moment, a beautiful young lady walked toward him. She seemed to be
alone. Albert said hello.
They started talking and before he knew it, they were walking through
the party together. They stopped at different places and took part in
some of the activities. Things were going great. Albert was having a
fantastic time. The young lady was from the nearby town, so she showed
him some of the local customs. One custom involved holding hands. It
was a way of showing divine friendship.
The couple held hands and continued walking on the grounds. After
walking for a while, they stopped to get a soda. Out of the corner of
his eye, Albert saw a big guy moving through the crowd annoying
everyone. He seemed to be speaking Spanish.
Albert heard him in the distance. It sounded like he was looking for
someone. He came closer to them. Then he stopped. He looked at the girl
with Albert and started yelling at her. He grabbed her by the arm and
tried to pull her away.
Albert saw all this and tried to help the girl. The guy turned around
and punched Albert in the stomach. He went to his knees. The girl
rushed over to see if Albert was all right. The guy kept yelling
something in Spanish. While the girl was helping Albert, he told her to
call the police. She said I cannot. Albert said why?
She said, because this is my father. He is extremely protective of me.
He must have saw us holding hands and thought you were trying to take
advantage of me. The girl explained everything to her father in
Spanish. He was still upset, but he moved on through the crowd. Albert
rose to his feet. He could not continue at the party because he felt a
sharp pain in his side.
He decided to go to the local hospital and get it checked. It turns out
that his ribs were bruised. You could find yourself in a volatile
situation at anytime. You must be prepared to defend yourself if
attacked. Things that are innocent, may appear otherwise to protective
guardians.
They may not always take the time to get the facts. They may become
aggressive. If things get out of control notify the authorities. Also,
you can counter their attack with a good defensive strategy.
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