pietta kid said:
Is pepper spray better than a gun for anti-thug work?
Are you going to have the "thug" fill out a questionnaire before he attacks you on whether or not he intends to harm you?
Youtube has plenty of videos of police going through pepper spray training (required before you're allowed to carry it in every department I know of). It won't stop a determined individual from getting to you or shooting at you.
I've been through the training. Police OC spray in the eyes. Your eyes burn bad, but you can force them open momentarily. Your face and nose burn, and it's hard to breath.
We had to do 3 stations after being sprayed: After being sprayed in the eyes, run to station 1 about 10 yards away and do hand strikes until the trainer is satisfied, then run to station 2 about 10 yards away and do foot strikes until that trainer is satisfied, then run to station 3 about 10 yards away and do baton strikes. While doing baton strikes another trainer in full padding comes up behind you and tries to take your duty firearm out of your holster, at which time you have to perform weapon retention techniques and prevent him from getting your firearm.
All 20 people in my class completed all stations successfully.
It wasn't much fun, but it demonstrated to everyone that pepper spray couldn't stop a determined attacker. Out of about 20 people in the class, 5 were significantly affected (I was the worst, couldn't see to drive for 2 hours afterward), 10 were moderately affected, and on a couple of them it had no effect at all, you might as well have splashed a little water in their eyes.
pietta kid said:
OK - and one round of 45 +P indoors will cause significant damage to your ears.
There are lots of us still running around here who have experienced sustained M16, M60, and M240 fire indoors. Makes a 45 +P sound like a mouse fart.
I lost a little of my hearing in the high frequency ranges, but given the choice between sacrificing a little hearing or being dead, I think I'll stick with sacrificing the hearing.