Pepper spray is an irritant that acts from an aerosol can and can be used against humans and mammals. The active ingredient capsaicin is extracted from plants of the genus Capsicum, it is also found in chili, Spanish pepper, hot peppers, chili peppers or pepperoni, which explains the name.
From this follows the effect of pepper spray:
Eyes: violent burning pain and swelling of the mucous membranes causes the immediate closing of the eyelids for about five to ten minutes.
Respiratory: inhalation of pepper spray causes coughing and shortness of breath, rarely suffocation.
Skin: The sprayed areas "burn" and show itching for 15 to 40 minutes. However, depending on the dosage, it may take 48 hours for the effects to wear off.
All these effects occur immediately or within a few seconds.
Pepper spray can be used for self-defense against domestic dogs, wild animals or humans (emergency or self-defense) as a repellent or ranged weapon. In order to circumvent the legal classification as a weapon and thus testing and regulations according to the Weapons Act (such as range limitation to 2 m) in Germany, many defense sprays have the notice "Only for animal defense" (or comparable) printed on them. Use against humans is only permitted as self-defense in the event of an emergency and an unlawful attack. Use by law enforcement forces, in particular the police and military police, is subject to exceptional approval by the relevant ministries.
Due to the increased need for security among the population, the demand for pepper spray increased significantly in 2015 and 2016 and can now also be purchased in drugstores and supermarkets. Previously, the purchase was only possible in specialized stores.
The spray pattern of pepper spray can correspond to a conical mist or a jet. The range of commercially available devices is 1.5 to 5 m. The advantage of the mist cloud is that the probability of hitting sensitive areas of the attacking assailant or attacking animal is higher, but the range is much shorter than with a liquid jet.
In contrast, irritant sprays carried for use against humans may only be possessed by those over the age of 14. The irritant contained must also have been approved as harmless to health. In addition, the range and spray duration of irritant sprays must not exceed certain limits. To prove these properties, a corresponding test mark of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt must be attached to them. Animal repellent sprays are not subject to any comparable restrictions. However, they too may not be carried at demonstrations or on the way there.
Animal repellent sprays usually contain the active ingredient oleoresin capsicum. This is not approved for irritant sprays. The testing procedure required for approval would require animal testing, which may not be carried out under current animal protection legislation. Other active ingredients, such as 2-chlorobenzylidenemalonic acid dinitrile or omega-chloroacetophen, were approved before the stricter animal protection law came into force. Possession of irritant spray with an unapproved active ingredient is a violation of the Firearms Act.
If pepper spray is used against a human being, this generally constitutes an offense of dangerous bodily injury. However, this is not a punishable offense if there is a justification such as self-defense. An act of self-defense is permissible with an irritant spray as well as with an animal defense spray.
Law enforcement officers such as police officers may also use pepper spray for direct coercion against humans.
Those looking for pepper spray for animal defense can also find it through Gunfinder, as most online portals and platforms such as EGun, Auctronia, or Auctronia, as well as numerous shooting and hunting stores, have pepper spray integrated into their offerings.
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