Non-Lethal Defence

Less-lethal options exist for the large space between doing nothing and using a firearm. Pepper spray, launchers firing chemical or kinetic projectiles, and personal alarms all occupy that ground, and they travel places a firearm legally cannot.

Two practical points get overlooked. Chemical agents have an expiry — propellant pressure drops over a few years and an expired canister may not spray at all, so replace on schedule and test the old one outdoors. And effectiveness is not universal: a meaningful share of people are minimally affected by OC spray, which is an argument for having a plan rather than a single tool.