Quote:
I might start carrying some kind of pepper spray, the retired officer that instructed my conceal carry class daily carries a small can of bear spray. He made a great point, he said that if you ever got into a shooting, and killed someone like a robber or someone that was inflicting grievous harm on someone, it looks good to the jury and prosecutors that you carried a less-lethal form of self defense.
Here in Arizona you don't need a conceal carry, but I got it anyway for two reasons, reciprocity plus another form of ID that let's the officer know "hey I'm carrying" in a subtle way if pulled over.
My primary issue with pepper spray is that you have to be well within stabbing distance to use it in most cases. I don't know if bear spray has more range or not, but I want to be a reasonable distance from an attacking threat.
Second issue is I already carry a lot of stuff. My work day carry is my 1911 with 7+1, two additional 7 round magazines, my pocket knife clipped to my hip pocket, three sets of keys (My car+ housekey on a vintage ZZTop chrome keychain, work van key on a carabiner, work keys on a different carabiner (office key, main door key, outside door key, server room key, key to the lock I use on the ladder rack, key to a wiring cabinet for the ISP I host, spare house key, and a couple of others I should ID sooner than later), business card holder, wallet, pen, three thumbdrives with various utilities on them, glucose tablets, personal cell phone and work cell phone. I literally have 10lbs of stuff either strapped to my waist or in my pockets. Where the hell am I supposed to put bear mace?
My off work carry is much less. Gun/mags, knife, personal phone, car+house key, glucose tabs, wallet.
Still not a lot of room for a can of mace.
Also, I'm of the inclination that if I have the time/need to mace someone, I have no business drawing my gun in the first place. Depending on how aggressive your DA is, you could get hit with an assault/battery charge for macing someone if they take you to court, as well as have to pay their medical bills. Also, if they're high/have some training the mace may not be effective, and will give them opportunity to get closer to you.
I am also suspicious of it "looking nicer" to a jury, as they generally stack the jury full of housewives who think that calling 911 magically stops all threats and if you have a gun AND mace, you're just out to hurt someone.