From: [etg 002] at [comm.mot.com] (Tim Grothause)
Newsgroups: info.firearms
Subject: Re: FL CCW Factoid & Spray Report
Date: 12 Nov 93 17:43:43 GMT

FL CCW Factoid & Spray Report, PART 2 (as promised). Pardon my spellin'.

Miami/Ft. Lauderdale TV station WTVJ (Ch. 4) air'ed a 2-part report on 
`self-defense sprays' on its 6 PM segment. Reporter Kimberly Drake.
WTVJ Phones: Office 305-379-4444, Newsroom 305-379-6397. Copyrighted.

Summary, Part 1: MACE & 5% cayene pepper (`PepperGuard' by MACE company) 
had only mild impact on volunteer. Volunteer approached *after* reporter 
started spraying...stream hit `attacker' every step of the way, too; 
interview after `attack' was unimpeded, volunteer had some tears, no 
difficulty breathing, some stinging noted. Clearly neither spray was 
anything that would effectively stop an attack.

Part 2: 10% cayene pepper. Volunteer was able to get to, and grab, 
reporter, but jumped back after effects of 10% spray kicked-in. He was 
*very* miserable, but he could still stand, move, and converese, but he 
didn't want to open eyes much. `Failure Analysis' compared `heat' of 
solutions...5% pepper spray rated at 500,000 SHU's, whereas 10% 
soultion was rated at 1,900,000 SHU's. 
(SHU is I-can't-remember-the-name-right-now-but-it-starts-with-S Heat 
Units...a measure of `pepper potency'.) 10% soultion was a thick spray, 
compared to the others which were a small stream. Reporter's summary: 
"Nothing stopped him from getting to me" even though the 10% spray caused 
dramatically more pain.

*MY* opinion? Using "Chemical Defense Sprays" as `protection' proves 
that you really aren't *too* concerned about your own safety:
"I chose a non-lethal spray instead of a gun because an attacker probably
just wants to f**k me and maybe give me a fatal disease, or beat me up 
until I die or I'm nearly dead, or rob or shoot me, but, hey, that's *no* 
reason to *shoot* him. If the spray works, fine...if not, oh well, I 
don't mind being a victim, as long as I don't hurt *him*. My life and 
safety isn't worth *killing* for...it's not like I have much value."

5:30 segment of the news, the same night that the first half of the report 
was run, contained a live report about people, stopped at random on the 
street, and questioned about carrying a gun. They found *most* of the 
people that they stopped, carried. They *didn't* ask to see permits, 
though! Comments ranged from "the tourists are targeted 'cuz they're the 
only ones unarmed" to "the cops can't/won't protect you...it's up to *you* 
to protect *yourself*".

===============================================================================
Tim Grothause, ASEE, N4GIJ, EMT-Paramedic	| [etg 002] at [email.mot.com]
Sys Admin, Motorola, Applied Research Lab	| 8000 W Sunrise Blvd.
Rescue Director, Motorola Fire/Rescue Team	| Room 2128
"My opinions only, not Motorola's"		| Plantation, FL 33322
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I support car ownership although cars can be used to drive drunk.
I support pharmaceutical manufacture although drugs can be abused.
I support swimming pool ownership although kids can drown in them.
I support steak-knife ownership although they can be used in stabbings.
I support free speech although people say things I don't like to hear.
I support freedom of religion although cults do the damnedest things.
I support parenthood although parents can abuse their children.
I support pregnancy although abortion couldn't happen without it.
I support penis ownership although they are used in rapes.
I support gun ownership although guns can be used in crime.
I support open elections although a moron became President.
	BAN CLINTON, CONGRESS & THE BRADY BILL , NOT GUNS!
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"Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't"