Homicide rates in hit historic highs in 2020 and 2021.
That’s got some people scared.
Sales of pepper spray are up 30% year over year for the past two years as avenues of self-defense are expanded.
Ray Hunt, Executive Director of the Houston Police Officers Union says pepper spray is a tool that people can use and is recommended but advises that if used against someone with a weapon they may begin firing indiscriminately and many could get injured. If an attacker is grabbing you with no weapon, it’s good.
Hunt says if you utilize pepper spray defensively expect to be affected yourself. In the past when police carried pepper spray they were sprayed themselves to better understand how to handle it.
It is deployed aiming at the center of the face of the attacker, near the mouth area. It affects the eyes.
Pepper spray is mostly carried by women, who are easier targets when distracted. “Your punks out there are looking for vulnerable people,” Hunt tells KTRH News. “Anything to prevent someone from attacking you or give you a few more seconds to get away or run back into the business you came from.”
Hunt says his number one piece of advice for anyone is to be aware of your surroundings when you leave a business. The sight of someone walking out of a store looking at the phone is common, and renders the individual marked as a potential target for crime. “Be aware of your surroundings.” You want to be the least vulnerable person in the parking lot.
photo: Getty Images