Differnce in pepper spray available to public and LEO's?

**Offtrac** · 01-26-09 03:47 PM

Good Afternoon!

1st off let me express my gratitude, appreciation and utmost respect to all of you former, and current LEO's. There are not enough thanks for the services you provide, and sacrifices you take.

Now....

When I was on active duty (USAF, 8 year vet) we had a briefing from a former police officer that travels the country giving anti terrorism training. At the end of the briefing, we were allowed to purchase a "police grade" mace, which he said we were allowed to purchase because we all had been sprayed before.

Is there a difference in the % of active ingredients from what civilians can buy and what LEO's use?

I remember him saying that the mace died yellow, and was an eye and lung irritant.

The reason for the question is I will be taking several cross country trips to move myself and family to take a new position with the Mass. Air Force Reserves. Obviously my handgun is not a good option to carry in the car, and there are too many other laws to be potentially broken with an asp, knife, baton, etc....

Thank you for your time.

**Joeyd6** · 01-26-09 04:19 PM

OC does not last forever. It expires so if it is old, it may not work as well. The main difference is % of OC. Some places limit it. MACE is a chemical, OC is from peppers. One is part natural and the other is all chemical in nature.

**Offtrac** · 01-26-09 04:24 PM

Thanks Joey!

I dont have the other one anymore, it expried and I dispoed of it.

I guess that opens more questions. What is OC? Which do LEO carry, Mace or pepper spray?

edit: sorry, OC is pepper spray right?

**Legoate** · 01-26-09 07:07 PM

All officers that I know of use OC (Pepper spray).

As far as percentages- I think it is more of a marketing gimmick than anything else. Who knows, I've gotten more than my fair share of OC over the years and it all sucks. I'm personally not interested in doing a side by side comparison...but If you'd like to buy multiple formulations and spray yourself, I'd be happy to read your results.

We use one of the lower percentage OC's available. From my experience it either works well, or doesn't work at all. My last use was on two large fighting drunks...and both of them fell to the ground covering their eyes and crying like babies after I sprayed them...so I guess it works just fine.

**phantasm** · 01-26-09 08:49 PM

A certain % of people and animals are immune to mace. A lesser % of people and animals are immune to OC spray.

Also OC is natural, and mace is chemical.

Thats why most, if not all, departments use OC now.

**Offtrac** · 01-26-09 10:05 PM

Thanks for your replies guys! I appreciate it.

I do remember the presenter saying that the active ingredient in what he sold to us was the active ingredient in bear repellent, but what he was selling us had more of it "because bears don't do LSD" in his words.

I just want to make sure I replace mine with the most effective. In the event I have to use it I want it to work!