Police Style Weapons

Disclaimer
This material has been made available for research and reference purposes only. Readers are strongly advised against obtaining or manufacturing any of the weapons referred to herein, as the majority are unlawful to possess. It is not our intent that anyone break the law or wrongfully harm others. Be aware that the majority of the weapons referred to are currently available from numerous sources, and may very well be encountered in the hands of criminals. We feel that it is important to know what one might be facing when confronted by criminals on the street.

Police Style Weapons

Non-lethal weapons favored by law enforcement personnel are commonly relied upon by honest citizens to defend themselves against predatory criminals. However, due to their availability, many criminals have obtained them for more nefarious purposes.

Criminals have often been on the receiving end of these weapons, and know from experience the extent of their capabilities. Pepper spray, especially, has been found in the possession of criminals, who use it to “teach a lesson” to persons who are rude to them, or to incapacitate someone prior to a “beatdown.”

“Badge freaks” and other pseudo-cops (police impersonators) usually acquire police paraphernalia as part of their “identity.” Rapists and serial killers (who often pretend to be plain- clothed officers) have sometimes used pepper spray or a stun gun to incapacitate their victims prior to snatching them.

PEPPER SPRAY

Pepper spray is available in several concentrations and can be fired from a wide variety of aerosol canisters. These vary greatly in quality and reliability, and care must be taken in selecting one that will work when needed with a minimum of fumbling. Poorly designed canisters have buttons that jam. Typically, the higher the concentration the more effective the agent, but I have heard arguments disputing this. Most sprays are 10% oleoresin capsicum (cayenne pepper). Formulas containing CN or CS “tear gas” are seldom seen outside of the military, widely being considered obsolete and inappropriate for either police or civilian use. In the rare instances that CN is encountered, it is usually encapsulated within a bursting projectile, such as 40 mm grenade launcher rounds (which can generate enough heat to inadvertently start a fire). Most experts feel OC pepper spray is far more effective than either CN or CS.

Spray canisters usually fire either a thin stream of liquid (sometimes called a “shotgun stream”) or a fine misting, at a variety of ranges. The average range is about 7 feet. “Foggers” fire a thick cloud over 15 feet away, and often appear like miniature fire extinguishers. Spray canisters can be fired in a series of short or long bursts, or can be emptied by keeping the activator button depressed (probably not a good idea). After several bursts, both volume and pressure will be significantly reduced, and you are strongly urged to replace the unit at your earliest convenience rather than continue to rely upon it. Units should also be replaced after their stamped expiration date.

Pepper spray can be squirted out of pens, flashlights, and wrist mounted devices, as well as fired from starter pistols or derringer-like flare projectors. I have seen one device which resembled a large plastic pistol with a wide cylindrical body, which was capable of firing a high- pressure stream at extended ranges (though, due to its considerable profile, it would be difficult to conceal under one’s jacket). Pepper spray can also be fired from concealed vehicle- mounted nozzles (usually mounted above the driver’s side window). ASP makes a yawara-style key ring which fires a high-pressure, cone-shaped blast from the base. The ASP “key defender” comes with one HEAT cartridge and one inert TEST cartridge for training, and extra dual cartridge packs are available. As the entire canister is emptied at once, no second shot is available. A wide variety of hidden spray projectors exist, as well as grenades, booby traps, and generators (large devices which produce massive volumes for crowd control), but these are not widely available.

Better, in many ways, than pepper spray is Mace Pepper foam, which squirts out in a thick stream, sticks to its objective, and will not produce residual misting. The foam resembles shaving cream, is easily aimed, and you will actually see the agent contacting your target. Not only does the OC impregnated foam obscure vision, but it affects only the target, preventing the room from becoming temporarily uninhabitable. Pepper foam can actually be sprayed into the backseat of an automobile by the driver without affecting any of the other passengers. Furthermore, this product utilizes a top quality canister which features a “flip-top” safety cap and thumb actuator button. Mace Pepper foam should be your spray weapon of choice, unless your needs include filling a corridor with gas or dispersing large groups, in which case a fogger should be utilized.

Pepper spray is fired into the attacker’s face, aiming for the mouth, nose, and eyes. If you extend your arm, the canister can be grabbed or knocked aside, so be sure to keep it close to your body. Keep the stream firing steadily into the attacker’s face (unless there are multiple attackers, in which case you’d attempt to hose them all down before fleeing), following him around as he turns his head. An inaccurate or partial application will not be as effective. Residual misting will effect an entire room for an extended period of time, depending on quality of ventilation (if you need to cross a contaminated area, keep one eye shut and do not breathe). It should not be sprayed into the wind (duh). Effects of pepper spray include impaired vision, choking, nausea, and general incapacitation.

It is a safe and effective non-lethal weapon, provided one has practiced enough to gain familiarity with it. Be warned that while OC pepper spray has the power to incapacitate most assailants if used correctly, it is not guaranteed to stop them. A determined assailant, or one under the influence of drugs, may continue to attack even after being sprayed in the face repeatedly. It works best against vicious dogs (who have a plethora of nerve endings on the mucous membranes of their wet noses) and cowardly punks.

CAUTION: Pepper spray is contained within a pressurized canister, so it must not be exposed to the heat of direct sunlight (left in one’s car) nor packed in one’s checked luggage when flying (cargo holds are not pressurized). Exposure to heat or fluctuations in barometric pressure can cause your spray canister to burst or leak.

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