Mace Defensive Spray

Though Mace defensive spray has been responsible for saving many lives, it can hardly be called a panacea. For one thing, nobody knows for sure what the long term consequences of exposure--especially repeated exposure--to Mace may be. While doctors, scientists, and product manufacturers all claim that no long term effects have been reported, this cannot be taken as gospel truth.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, carriers of Mace, pepper spray, tear gas, and other such compounds are faced with all sorts of restrictions. Sprays may not be used in an attempt to protect your property if no direct threat exists to you (i.e. your person). Quite a few defendants, however, have successfully shown that intruders who have caused property damage have done so in an attempt to inflict bodily harm, a defense that has held up in courts of law.

Further Restrictions on Mace

If you've ever been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors, you are forbidden from carrying Mace. Similarly, minors are barred from carrying canisters, which could easily end up in schools, where their damage is limitless. Anyone who's been booked on illegal use of such chemical compounds in the past is also ineligible to carry Mace, though there's no way to prevent these individuals from acquiring it.

Lastly, Mace is strictly forbidden on airlines and is even more likely to rouse suspicion in the current climate at most airports. While self-defense devices may be transported in cargo, this sanction does not include contents under pressure, such as aerosol cans. Failure to remove your Mace before entering an airport metal detector can earn you more than just a steep fine--it can land you in jail as well.