# OTC Self-defense Sprays Don't Work! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 13, 2022, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967 "2022-03-13T02:38:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/61 "2022-03-14T20:39:51Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > Thoughts? Questions? My thought is this is a blatantly false memory you have. I think the title of this OP should be changed to reflect as much. I’m going to flag the thread for a title change. Hopefully it will happen. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/62 "2022-03-14T20:44:22Z")
I think yelling FIRE is only good at getting a building emptied. Yelling HELP when attacked would be much more effective. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/63 "2022-03-14T20:47:16Z")
It happened last week, there was some discussion about it in the MMP thread which I’m not figuring out how to link to. So, totally good mood until I asked hubs to stop at a convenience store so I could grab something to pay for using the restroom. While standing in line, someone ran in and grabbed the woman in front of me and back handed her hard. I didn’t even think before giving him a rage filled two-handed hit with my cane. There was blood on his part from me hitting him and him falling and splitting his head open on the floor. She had blood on her face from her nose and lips. From what I understand the lady who got attacked had a restraining order against the man I hit and he just happened to see her car as he was driving by. Let’s not hijack this thread any further with this, I was just replying to the OP when he mentioned walking sticks. Canes are not weapons, they are durable medical equipment. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/64 "2022-03-14T20:53:03Z")
Most excellent! Well done! The world needs people like you! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/65 "2022-03-14T21:14:14Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > me hitting him and him falling and splitting his head open on the floor. I really hope you delivered the ‘two hits’ line before you did that. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/66 "2022-03-14T21:14:40Z")
To avoid a hijack, posted this as its own thread FYI… > [@Origin of "don't yell 'help!', yell 'fire!'"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-dont-yell-help-yell-fire/961051): > > To avoid hijacking another [thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/55) thought I’d ask this. This fact is pretty much ubiquitous, I’ve heard it both as a real life advice and heard it movies. The idea (as its usually relayed) that in a crime-ridden big city no one is going to rush to help someone in trouble yelling “help!” or “rape!”, but a fire threatens them directly so they will come running if you yell “fire!” Is there any actual evidence this is true? Where did this “fact” come from? I realize there may be some less jaded … ---
**Author:** ![EDOK9Trainer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/838e76/32.png) [@EDOK9Trainer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EDOK9Trainer)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/67 "2022-03-14T21:35:56Z")
OP. You are so incorrect that I will not waste time explaining as I assume others have shown how incorrect you are with this. ---
**Author:** ![EDOK9Trainer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/838e76/32.png) [@EDOK9Trainer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EDOK9Trainer)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/68 "2022-03-14T21:39:08Z")
Milk does little when the OC gets into your eyes or mucous membranes. The wet/cold will feel temporarily help but it does not remove the oil. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/69 "2022-03-15T05:45:08Z")
There will be 50 different answers as to what is allowed by the public in the US. As was stated upthread in my state of NJ which is pretty wacky at times with weapons laws has no SHU limit on pepper spray just a canister size limit. One thing to remember is it doesn’t effect everyone the same way and it’s possible to fight through it. In fact fighting through it is part of the training for law enforcement and the military. I’m sure you can find lots of videos on YouTube of people running through the gauntlet. The get sprayed (with the good stuff) and then have to fight a series of people holding various pads. OC is something you can tough out. You might not see too good but you don’t have to be totally incapacitated. I’ve also been made to do calisthenics in a room filled with CS gas in the Army. It’s amazing what you can do when properly motivated. > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > It happened last week, there was some discussion about it in the MMP thread which I’m not figuring out how to link to. > > So, totally good mood until I asked hubs to stop at a convenience store so I could grab something to pay for using the restroom. While standing in line, someone ran in and grabbed the woman in front of me and back handed her hard. I didn’t even think before giving him a rage filled two-handed hit with my cane. There was blood on his part from me hitting him and him falling and splitting his head open on the floor. She had blood on her face from her nose and lips. > > From what I understand the lady who got attacked had a restraining order against the man I hit and he just happened to see her car as he was driving by. > > Let’s not hijack this thread any further with this, I was just replying to the OP when he mentioned walking sticks. Canes are not weapons, they are durable medical equipment. But canes are weapons when they are used as weapons. Still doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. Each state is different but most will have statutes or portions of statutes similar to my state. There is one statute covering illegal possession of a weapon. That covers any specific type of prohibited weapon or ones that need a permit. There is another statute for possession of a weapon of unlawful purposes. That could be a knife, gun or rocket launcher or it could be “other.” Anything that would not necessarily be considered a weapon at all times but was used that way. Could be a rock, a cane or a frozen leg of lamb. It would be pretty silly to not call a baseball bat a weapon when it’s used to bash someone’s head in. But even using your cane as a weapon doesn’t mean it was used for unlawful purposes. Defending others is lawful. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/70 "2022-03-15T05:54:45Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Anything that would not necessarily be considered a weapon at all times but was used that way. Back to the OP, I would submit that the object in the hand is the best self defense weapon available. I carry mace on my key ring. My key ring lives on a pant hook. My hand knows where it is because my keys are there every day. When the attack happened, I didn’t have time to think, I only had time to react. My cane was in my hand, so that’s what I used. Hence, my cane was more effective than the mace on my hip. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/71 "2022-03-15T06:13:01Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > One thing to remember is it doesn’t effect everyone the same way and it’s possible to fight through it. In fact fighting through it is part of the training for law enforcement and the military. I’m sure you can find lots of videos on YouTube of people running through the gauntlet. The get sprayed (with the good stuff) and then have to fight a series of people holding various pads. OC is something you can tough out. You might not see too good but you don’t have to be totally incapacitated. I’ve been sprayed in training a zillion times. I hate the shit but I can fight through it. One training I attended we had to get sprayed and then shoot 2 rounds from our firearm into a target and hit center mass at 5 yards. This was a very controlled training atmosphere as I assume you can imagine. Ever since more and more officers carry Tasers the instances of OC discharge has dropped significantly. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/72 "2022-03-15T14:12:39Z")
I assume bear spray is considered “OTC”. It is definitely self-defense…and it works. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/73 "2022-03-15T18:59:55Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > One thing to remember is it doesn’t effect everyone the same way and it’s possible to fight through it. In fact fighting through it is part of the training for law enforcement and the military. I’m sure you can find lots of videos on YouTube of people running through the gauntlet. The get sprayed (with the good stuff) and then have to fight a series of people holding various pads. OC is something you can tough out. You might not see too good but you don’t have to be totally incapacitated. > > I’ve been sprayed in training a zillion times. I hate the shit but I can fight through it. > One training I attended we had to get sprayed and then shoot 2 rounds from our firearm into a target and hit center mass at 5 yards. This was a very controlled training atmosphere as I assume you can imagine. > > Ever since more and more officers carry Tasers the instances of OC discharge has dropped significantly. In my career I’ve used it three times. Twice it worked extremely well. Once it didn’t work at all. He fought straight through it like it was water. And he wasn’t under the influence of anything. If you have the will to do it you can fight through anything. I still wouldn’t want to try and hit a target after getting sprayed. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/74 "2022-03-15T23:12:48Z")
IIRC, isn’t yelling fire in a building when there isn’t one a crime? Or was that over ruled? THat’s not to say there aren’t other methods… [![](https://i.imgur.com/uUoXQsD.gif) ](https://i.imgur.com/uUoXQsD.gif) ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/75 "2022-03-16T02:20:47Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > IIRC, isn’t yelling fire in a building when there isn’t one a crime? Someone is trying to rape/batter/murder you and this is what you’re worried about? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967/76 "2022-03-17T01:42:27Z")
Yeah, that’s exactly my concern. 🙄 Dude, all I did was ask a question. Chill. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otc-self-defense-sprays-dont-work/960967.md?page=3)