| What is Pepper Spray? | | | | 1960's wherein it was sold under the name Halt Animal |
| Though the modern use of pepper spray as we know | | | | Repellent. It was mainly used for animals especially |
| it today has only been around for the past 25 years, it | | | | dogs and bears and was later on used by the United |
| has been used as a self-defense deterrent since | | | | States Postal Service as a dog repellent. It continued |
| ancient times. The active ingredient in pepper spray is | | | | this way until the early 1990's when the Federal Bureau |
| oleoresin capsicum, usually abbreviated as OC and | | | | of Investigation (FBI) used it as a crowd deterrent. It |
| commonly referred to as OC spray. It is non-lethal, | | | | then became more prevalent in police departments, |
| severely irritates the eyes, causing pain, tear | | | | military agencies and correctional facilities in the |
| production, and occasional temporary blindness. | | | | mid-1990's. It is estimated today that over 70% of |
| Use in Ancient Times | | | | police departments in the United States distribute OC |
| The use of pepper as a self-defense actually dates | | | | spray to their officers. |
| back to hundreds of years ago. The Indians and the | | | | Initially, chilies which were used as weapons came in |
| Chinese have noted that the chili pepper can actually | | | | powder form, unlike the ones that we have today. |
| leave a person incapacitated. The Chinese used this | | | | These were usually placed in boxes, with the chili |
| for defense by wrapping ground chili and then throwing | | | | size depending on what was needed by the user. It |
| it into the face of their opponents. This was very | | | | was only during in the last 20 years that modern |
| effective, since the chili pepper can really leave a | | | | pepper sprays were introduced in canister form. |
| person writhing in pain when the chili reaches their | | | | During the following years, OC spray began being |
| eyes. | | | | marketed in various forms such as lipstick, pens, and |
| If one hears the word Ninja, one may think of | | | | keychains, now the most popular form today. |
| Japanese people with long black robes and covered | | | | The ingredients that are included in pepper spray have |
| faces, which are very good with martial arts and | | | | changed as well over time. For the Chinese and |
| weaponry. These Ninjas were also among the | | | | Japanese, they used ground cayenne chili powder and |
| pioneer users of chili powder during their fights. They | | | | Mitsubishi, respectively. Now, the main ingredient of |
| used this substance to disable their opponents, allowing | | | | OC spray is oleoresin capsicum, which is more |
| them to go on with their missions. In Japan during the | | | | effective and longer lasting, while still remaining |
| Tukagawa Empire era, police used the Mitsubishi | | | | non-lethal. |
| especially for criminals who were found guilty. This | | | | The use of pepper spray indeed originates from |
| Mitsubishi is actually a box that contains chili pepper. | | | | hundreds of years ago and its use now has the same |
| Modern Use | | | | objectives as it did then - stop attackers in their tracks |
| The first pepper spray was developed during the | | | | using non-lethal means. |