> pedwards@wingnut.foxnet.net (Philip Edwards) writes:
>> In Canada they use a substance called oleoresin capsicum in "pepper
>> spray".
>> It has been called a non-lethal use-of-force alternative
> (questions about potential problems follows...)
In Alaska, there is a system of native village safety officers (VSOs) who
for liability reasons are not allowed to carry guns (of course, they,
like other types of police, are supposed to resolve disputes without
lethal force if possible). They carry pepper spray and it appears to
work. The officers themselves have to sprayed at close range in the face
as part of their training. Of course, anyone could be allergic to almost
anything and could die. I, however, have never heard of a person being
allergic to chile peppers. Certainly the natives down here in New Mexico
are not allergic to capsaicin.
Jack
former chile researcher for Texas Ag Experiment Station, former Alaska
resident and current New Mexican
You would perhaps like to learn about how we used to test chile peppers for
potency. Samples were ground up and dissolved in 100% ethanol at different
concentrations. A group of three to five of us would then taste the various
dilutions. We rated each dilution based on how many people could taste it
from the panel. Drinking chile in ethanol is not very pleasant; one doesn't
get drunk, just a little sick. But this is a true story.
Pepper spray is also used against grizzly bears in Canada and Alaska. I
heard an Alaska Fish and Game guy say it is effective about 70% of the time
in his experience. However, he said research was scarce; it was hard to
recruit volunteers to stand in front of charging grizzly bears with nothing
but a can of pepper spray.
The biggest problem with pepper spray that I can see is that the cans are
under pressure and can discharge slowly without the carrier knowing it. The
cans are only made to discharge a few times, thus, it's not a good idea to
check the pressure by discharging it. If I were really going to depend on
it, I'd carry two cans, perhaps from different brands or batches.