Are any of you packing Spray?
 

Having migrated from a state the makes it difficult to obtain a concealed carry weapon permit to a state that hands them out to anyone with a pulse, I gave the gun permit thing some thought. However, guns and alcohol are a deadly combination not to mention the possibility of it accidentally discharging on me and becoming a charter member of the Vienna Boys Choir.

So I gave up the idea of a firearm and continue to enjoy my happy hours. However I decided to hedge my bet and went on-line to http://www.redhotpepperspray.com/fox...r-spray-1.html and ordered three pepper spray dispensers. One each for the car and cart and one for the nightstand. Their videos a quite impressive.

I’m not naïve enough to think that these would provide protection from someone pointing a gun at me but at least in other situations like a mugger with a knife or bat, I could be spraying it behind me while fleeing the attacker and chanting “feet don’t fail me now”.

Understand that the area in and around TV is the safest that I have lived in, but I do occasionally travel around the state and other parts of the country and it’s nice to know that I do have a little extra protection if I need it.

Do any of you carry these and have you or friends actually had an occasion to use them? If so, I’d like to hear.

You could also just put a can of Wasp Spray under your car seat and you'd be able to get them 20 feet away and be able to easily aim it to the eyes. By the smell of it you may even be able to put a match to it to make sure the culprit was totally immobilized. The Wasp Spray is also recommended for hikers to carry in bear country.

Oh yeah - aim it away from your face!

Xavier (packing WS)

No.

So far I have never been in a situation that I would need it. EVER.

I try to hang out in places where trouble doesn't start. And I watch around me. Plus I live in two pretty dang safe places.

No. I don't have a sign in my yard about that either.

I pack pepper every once in a while. We were gifted a dispenser for the car and one to carry. When hubby and I are out of the area, we carry the one for the car. I used to keep the small dispenser in my purse, but, I noticed the button was moved over to "Spray" more than not so I only carry it when we are on the road. Always worried that I'd somehow hit the button and discharge spray all over my purse, my hands, eyes.

With my luck, I'd spray myself. I have been sprayed at a "riot" (LA police think anything where 10 people are gathered as a riot, it seems) and, quite sadly, I found it irritating but most definitely not disabling. If someone is bound and determined to get at you, I doubt pepper spray would stop them. However, I do agree that as a surprise factor, which would give you a few extra seconds to get away, it might well work (and another one who has wasp spray on her cart).

as a New Yorker, this made me giggle...
 

In order to purchase pepper spray in New York you must be at least 18 years of age and have no record of felony or assault convictions either in New York, or another state. You may only buy pepper spray in New York from a fully licensed firearms dealer or from a pharmacist who has a permit to sell it. Before finalizing a purchase of pepper spray, you must fill out a form indicating that you are of legal age and are free of felony convictions. The total number of pepper spray canisters that can be sold to one person at one time is two.

My dog was severely injured by a pitbull. I had a stick with me but a Pitbull when they go into kill mode cannot be stopped with a stick or spray. My dog had two expensive operations and recovered.
I bought dog repellant and pepper spray. There are many loose dogs in this neighborhood and unfortunately I have had more dog attacks.
I used the dog repellant and it had very little effect. It was not a a pitbull. Yelling and waiving stick worked barely.
Another time I used the pepper spray and it again barely worked on a non pitbull. The dog blinked, retreated, attacked again, I shot it again with the pepper spray, it stopped and blinked some more, and I then scared it with the stick.
I now care a weed fork.. a wood pole with a sharp weed fork on the end.
It works also very good as a walking stick that I use to help myself go up and down the steep hills in the woods in the park near my house. I have had two attacks since then and both times the weed fork was enough to scare them off.
I will use it to kill any dog that attacks close enough to my dog to harm her. She is a very friendly little beagle that for some reason agressive dogs want to kill.
When she was injured I made the mistake of waiting too long to defend her. I will not make that mistake again.
The police know me well since I was the chief law enforcement officer in this county and first assistant for over 13 years and practiced law here for 31 years. They advised me to get a gun for my own protection when we are attacked. They have had to kill pitbulls with their weapons.. for some reason pitbulls have become very popular in this town.
I decided not to carry a gun for the same reasons given in this thread. The walking stick / weed fork may catch some eyes, but it will do the job and I will use it.

JimJoe.

I just want to clarify for people who will read this that have not been to The Villages yet..The loose dogs in the neighborhood of which you spoke? I am guessing it is NOT in The Villages. I have NEVER, EVER seen a loose dog here.

I am very sorry to hear about your injuries. I love dogs but would be afraid of a Pit Bull.

You are correct gracie.. I am referring to my hometown here in Iowa. I have walked near and far in the villages and never saw one loose dog and never felt unsafe. Clearly TV is a safe beautiful place. My question in another post about living in the center of TV was me being me thinking through all possibilities pros and cons in the future. My post in this thread was to let readers know that in my opinion and experience dog sprays and pepper sprays will not stop a determined attacking dog unfortunately.
In TV would go unarmed or maybe take a cane only because I think it is Very unlikely anyone would have a problem. I must say that around the more public areas like the squares in the darker parking lot type areas at night I think as time goes on the outside criminal element will start to try to take advantage of the older and perceived wealthier population in TV. I was in law enforcement for 31 years and I could be paranoid or just learned how criminals think and crime spreads.

Question
 

"I do agree that as a surprise factor, which would give you a few extra seconds to get away, it might well work (and another one who has wasp spray on her cart). "
Got anything that would give you a few more "minutes" to get away? I would need them.:boxing2:

As a New Yorker I'm with ya. In NY is very hard to get guns or pepper spray.

Whether pepper spray, wasp spray or one of us referred to as
 

having a pulse and carry a concealed weapon.....is it not the same as have insurance on your house? On your car? Your life?

You hope to have to never use any of the above. And even if in the newest neighborhoods with the latest technology in house or automobile construction...one "carries" insurance non-the less.

Carrying for protection is no different.

Also as most newsworthy content focuses on the minority (not race)....remember that 98% plus who own guns, use guns do so without incident.

Guns are as responsible for violence as much as erasers on pencils are responsible for mistakes!!

btk

Years ago I went with pepper spray. If you read the directions it says to test it now and then. What do you have left after testing to see if it sprays? It also had a good to date when you need to replace it. I didn't have confidence in it. I've had my concealed weapons permit for over 12 years now.

Never thought to carry it
 

ah... ah.... ah... ah... ahchew!

Surprise, Surprise!

According to the "Daily Beast" Deadliest gun States:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2504/1/

Florida gun laws are 41st restrictive out of 50. Arizona has the most permissive gun laws.

Mass is 48th out of 50. Cal is 50th out of 50!

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