Pepper Spray Has Been Used on Rioters for Forty Years

Pepper spray as a riot control method debuted in Seattle about forty years ago. Since that time law enforcement officers have developed more and more sophisticated methods of dealing with unruly citizens who have congregated in large groups. Pepper spray, often with the addition of tear gas, has enabled the police to manage situations previously handled with billy clubs, ax handles, baseball bats, and lethal weapons.

As uncomfortable as pepper spray is for the targets, it still beats broken bones and deadly force. That’s part of what is driving non lethal weapon developers to continue their quest for delivery methods that stop short of firearm-level lethality.

A new development in the field is the pepper spray launcher. Based on technology pioneered by paintball gamers, the launchers propel fragile balls usually containing a mix of pepper spray and tear gas into the midst of a crowd. In a very short time rioters disperse.

No shots fired. No bones broken.

The intervention worked.