Pepper spray is a safe, non-lethal weapon for police to use against criminals, rioters and the occasional sporting event streaker, right? Maybe not. It seems this non-deadly weapon has caused its share of deaths since 1990, and according to info gathered by OnlineCriminalJusticeDegree.com, it is classified as a chemical weapon worldwide and is banned from being used in war. The US Army has also been quoted as saying pepper spray can cause “possible human fatalities.”
They’re not talking about the pepper spray your mom carries around in her purse in case some shady character follows her to her car in a dark mall parking lot. That’s the civilian grade stuff. And while it packs some stopping power, the police-grade version is nearly 3 times as powerful. Equal to getting sprayed in the eyes, nose and mouth with over 1,000 jalapeno peppers.
Here’s the lowdown on the damage police pepper spray can do to the human body, and what to do should you find yourself on the wrong end of that peppery stream.
