pokoko said:
sc94597 said:
Has it been shown rather than just "believed"? And in what proportion of cases? Usually the deaths by pepper spray are due to individual complications (like a heart condition, asthma, or an allergy.) That is why deaths by pepper spray just aren't that common other than when the police use it on groups of people, which is reasonable to argue against. If somebody wants to kill another person, pepper spray is a crappy option. Which brings me to my next point.
Why don't these things which you imagine can happen (other than the odd occurence ) - happen often in countries in which pepper spray is legal and very easy to get? (Note you used the phrase " the potential for abuse is pretty damn high". How many people die of pepper spray a year? How many by civilians and not police/military? How many people prevent harm to themselves by using (or threatening to use) pepper spray a year? If I were to rob somebody, kill somebody, etc a knife (or in countries which allow them - gun) is a better bet, and the first is much more easily available.
Furthermore, if the concern is that people die from its use, why does Denmark allow police to carry pepper spray? Why especially when most pepper spray deaths are by police hands?
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http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/18/us/21-die-in-stampede-of-1500-at-chicago-nightclub.html?pagewanted=all
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Yeah, those deaths would have also occurred if somebody had simply pulled a firealarm (or shouted the word fire) because if you read the article you would have noticed that the club was over double the legal occupancy and several exits had been barred / locked. Sorry but that is a pathetic attempt to justify nanny-state laws that prohibit a defensive tool that could be used to prevent rape (or worse). Sure, pepper spray / mace can be used offensively but so can just about anything I put my hands on. I can use a can of aerosol deodorant and a lighter to quickly and efficiently burn most buildings to the ground for example.
