http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/gues......r-spray/

Presumably the above was in response to this?

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/255676/2......ving.htm

"[Pepper spray is] like a derivative of real pepper. It's a food product essentially" - Megyn Kelly (Fox News)

I'm shocked the ACLU does not like any method more useful than saying "stop it". (And it can't be yelled either.)

Ever been sprayed with the stuff? I have. It was part of crowd control training. It causes an instant opening of your mucus membranes in your eyes, nose, and mouth. The idea is to take away the 3 senses.

Of course forgotten in the equasion is that people are not just randomly sprayed, or the fact that the alternative is to use clubs.

This is a tad off the topic.
My son goes for rides with a local Railroad. The employees were told not to carry guns or pepper spray or they could run the risk of being fired. A while back one of the Engineers was shot and killed in the middle of the night. So now the guys that work at night, carry a can of Bee spray with them. The stuff shoots out 25 feet. I imagine it might blind someone, but you've got to protect yourself somehow.
Bob.

Or protect the public.

...from people sitting quietly in protest.

It is a tool.

Used to protect, good.

Used to assault, bad.

Used as a condiment, stupid.

I thought it was a desperate measure for bear attacks.

Bear spray is more potent. If a grizzly came at me I'd rather have a .357, and I ain't talkin' 'bout Heinz.

I don't trust pepper spray. When I sprayed my Mom's ex-boyfriend he was so drunk and high that he didn't even notice it until we were both out of the house and down the street. That's why I got the shotgun.
If you have to use pepper anything for self-defense then I say go with the foam because if they don't feel it right away then at least it still sticks to their eyes and blocks their vision.
My philosophy is to never rely on a pain response alone to subdue an attacker, because not all of them feel it.