2 quick questions for yall

[bballwizard05]

Ok first: My mom lately has been thinking that she should get pepper spray to keep with her (purse/car or whatever). I was wondering don't police carry this? Or just tasers? Also, what is the technique for using it? Finally based on what you guys have seen in the field, would she be better off just getting a taser, despite the higher cost?


Second (I know my first post was like 5 alone): This is totally un-related. Lately I have found myself sticking up for (CHP) to other people in the car. When we are on any freeway, often enough a CHP comes flying up the freeway prolly going around 80. Or just 5-7 MPH faster than flow of traffic. People in my car always say "why do they get to go so fast there abusing their power!!" and I have replied with, "well if they go our speed, no one will pass them and traffic will clog". It is logical to me but is this even the reason the CHP go so fast? And I'm talking about when no lights are on btw, and just to clarify. Yes everytime I see CHP on the freeway they are always going 5-7 MPH faster than traffic. Again it's fine with me, but I was wondering if the reason I came up with is actually correct? Just curious, thanks!


DONT BASH LEO'S!!!

(sorry i lied about the QUICK question part)

[retired]

Yes, I see no problem with your mom having pepper spray in her purse. My daughter and wife have one, plus they also have a small flashlight to not only help them see in the dark, but to also possibly blind anyone intent on bothering them. It may give them an extra second or two to get away.

Rather than a spray tho, you might consider a stream or jet OC. Depending on the wind condition, the spray may blow back onto her and disable her due to the pain. You have to be more accurate with the jet type, but it is not that hard to hit the target with it. Buy her one of the real small OC to practice with since they are cheaper, then once she feels confident with it, buy her the larger one to carry. A taser is pretty expensive from what I've read here.

As far as the CHP: There can be many reasons why they are going faster, but not something that requires code. They could be responding to a non injury accident they want to get cleared up quickly before the fwy becomes backed up.

They may also be trying to get to an area of the fwy where there is something in the road in order to do a traffic break to slow up traffic until the object (stalled car, debri, etc.) is removed. That wouldn't require a code run, but still a need to get to a location fast.

[alex00]

I am not the biggest fan of pepper spray. Not that it's a scientific answer, but the times I have used it, the person wasn't too incapacitated to fight. It ends up contaminating everyone around, too. Not to mention the person sprayed continues to feel the effects for up to an hour. The Taser on the otherhand, seems to take the fight out of everyone I've seen it properly used on. I have yet to see a person continue to fight after the Taser hits them with a good spread, and both darts contact the person. Couple that with the immediate relief from pain when the device is deactivated. The drawback to the Taser is it is one shot. You miss, and you are left with a contact stun gun. If you have more than one attacker, you have problems as well. It's an effective tool to compliment other tools carried.

Both have pros and cons that must be weighed if they are going to be carried as the only self defense tool. I've taken enough blasts with pepper spray to know that I can continue doing whatever it was I planned to do before getting sprayed. I also know that there are different motivating factors for people that fight and resist police versus victimizing innocents. Pepper spray may be adequate to dissuade most people from taking a purse or wallet.

There are so many calls that can benefit from a rapid response that don't allow for a lights and siren response. I generally can't respond lights and siren to fights, domestic violence and non-weapon type calls. If me going a few over the speed limit keep someone from getting punched a few more times, then I'm going to do it. I know there is an assumption that police driving without lights and sirens must not be going to a hot call, but the law and agency policy is usually pretty narrow on what we are allowed to actually light up and go to. Not to mention, it's really hard to catch a speeder when you turn on all your lights.

I used to ride a marked motorcycle to work, and had about a 20 mile stretch of freeway. The few times I actually rode at 65 I would have a backup of cars four lanes wide and miles long. I'm sure there were several people late for work those days. I saw it as a courtesy to ride a little faster than the flow of traffic. It kept people from stacking up behind me. I know it peeved some people, but I can't make everyone happy. I'd rather have the occasional motorist think I was a jerk for riding fast than an angry mob behind me wondering when that jerk was going to get off the freeway.

[Spanky8601]

A tazer is a great way to get away from the bad guy. There is a civilian version that stays on for 30 seconds. try www.Readyaim.com Not sure of the price.

As far as pepper spray, get it in the eyes, nose or mouth.