While it hurts like hell to get it in your eyes, it causes no permanent harm. It beats the heel out of being knocked on the head with a baton.
Is Pepper Spray Humane In Breaking Up Protests
- Thread starter Liberalman
- Start date
I do find it ironic that use of pepper spray would on the one hand be a war crime, but on the other hand is considered totally appropriate for use on otherwise harmless people.
When the protest is peaceful, than no, it is never human to use pepper spray. As has been mentioned by several people, it is better and safer than a baton or taser, but it is not justified when the protest is peaceful and there is no threat to the police officer.
Of course, the quickest way to turn a peaceful protest violent is the use of attacks like pepper spray. Reflecting on the 'Battle of Seattle' in 1999, Norm Stamper (police chief in Seattle at the time) said that the biggest reason for the escalation of fighting between police and protesters was the use of 'chemical agents' (referring to pepper spray and tear gas) on peaceful protesters. (Comments were made on Democracy Now!, and can be found at: Paramilitary Policing of Occupy Wall Street: Excessive Use of Force amidst the New Military Urbanism)
Of course, the quickest way to turn a peaceful protest violent is the use of attacks like pepper spray. Reflecting on the 'Battle of Seattle' in 1999, Norm Stamper (police chief in Seattle at the time) said that the biggest reason for the escalation of fighting between police and protesters was the use of 'chemical agents' (referring to pepper spray and tear gas) on peaceful protesters. (Comments were made on Democracy Now!, and can be found at: Paramilitary Policing of Occupy Wall Street: Excessive Use of Force amidst the New Military Urbanism)
It is funny that those who are the most outspoken about freedom and democracy are the loudest about shutting down peaceful protest when they don't agree with the reasons for or don't understand why they are protesting.
It's one of those things that causes no permanent harm...unless it does.
Pepper Spray was the factor in at least three deaths that I'm aware of
just in the city that I live in. Death is usually pretty permanent.
From: http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/security/pepper-spray3.htm
However, some studies show that certain situations involving pepper spray can result in more severe effects. For example, if a person is allergic to any of the ingredients in the pepper spray, has asthma, or has a pre-existing heart condition, then the effects of pepper spray may be more severe and in some cases may lead to death. Part of the reason pepper spray is so controversial is that there have been a number of reported deaths where pepper spray was involved. Though the use of pepper spray has never been identified as the sole cause of death in these cases, it has been listed several times as a contributing factor.
Democracy and laws applies to all. If taxpayers can not camp out in the park then why should freeloaders be permitted to?
Instead of demanding that the so called 1% just hand over a portion of their money for nothing how about getting a job and striving to be part of that 1% and thereby making it 50%+
I never thought of it that way. We usually go camping in Banff every summer. Maybe I should just "Occupy" a camp site. It would save me a few bucks.
If you did that in a downtown park in the city or town you live in, you
could save even more bucks on gas money....& still be close to many
resteraunts and shopping outlets, etc...8O
This is the solution to pepper spray:
If Jefferson was around today he would happily endorse its use.
If Jefferson was around today he would happily endorse its use.
This is the solution to pepper spray:
If Jefferson was around today he would happily endorse its use.
How far does that one squirt?
