Ask Officer Michelle – Question #550
Posted by julie
Officer Michelle,
I read that wasp or hornet spray is better than pepper spray or mace for self-defense because it sprays a lot further so you can temporarily blind an assailant without getting too close. Wondered if law enforcement has an opinion on this?
Thanks,
Julie
Dear Julie,
I wouldn’t recommend that you use anything other than pepper spray or mace as a chemical self-defense tool. This is why I say this…it depends on your intent. If you carry wasp or hornet spray around in your purse with the intent to use as a self-defense weapon, you could be opening yourself for liability. If you use hornet or wasp spray because it is the first thing you could find in order to fight off an assailant, then you would be more justified in using something that wasn’t intended to be used as a chemical deterrent. The chemicals you are referring to are poisonous to humans and some of the poison may be absorbed into the skin through the eyes and mouth if sprayed upon. Inhalation may cause permanent damage to the lungs as well. Your best option is to contact a personal injury attorney and ask him/her what the criminal/civil ramifications are for using a poison for something other than what it is intended to do.
Thanks for writing,
Officer Michelle
