State Laws and Restrictions

New York: New York residents may only purchase defense sprays from licensed Firearms Dealers or licensed Pharmacists in that state.

Massachusetts: Massachusetts residents may only purchase defense sprays from licensed Firearms Dealers in that state.

Michigan: Pepper spray must not be more than 10% and can be used for self defense. "The reasonable use of a self-defense spray or foam device containing not more than 10% oleoresin capsicum by a person in the protection of a person or property under circumstances that would justify the person's use of physical force. The Canister size is restricted to 35grams approx. 1.2oz.

Wisconsin: Tear gas is not permissible. By regulation, OC products with a maximum OC concentration of 10% and weight range of oleoresin of capsicum and inert ingredients of 15-60 grams are authorized. This is 1/2 oz. and 2 oz. spray. Further, the product cannot be camouflaged, and must have a safety feature designed to prevent accidental discharge. The units may not have an effective range of over 20 feet and must have an effective range of six feet. In addition there are certain labeling and packaging requirements: must state cannot sell to anyone under 18 and the phone number of the manufacturer has to be on the label. The units must also be sold in sealed tamper-proof packages.

NOTE: Pepper Spray is legal in all 50 states, however a number of cities and states have restrictions on sizes, strengths, etc.. If you have a question, it is wise to check with you local city or state attorneys office. Defense sprays should only be purchased by those 18 years of age or older. The above list may not be totally accurate or complete and we accept no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.

• We DO NOT sell or ship to countries outside of the United States.  
  We DO NOT sell to minors (under the age of 18).

Of all the non-lethal self defense products, the pepper spray is probably the most popular.

Here's a little history of the pepper spray.

Even though using pepper spray didn't start to be popular as a self defense product until the 1980's, history discloses that red chili pepper was in use for personal protection in ancient India and China. There are quite a few historical documents showing it's use in China thousands of years ago. Chinese people and even warriors had a innovative technique of making use of this spice; and it included wrapping grounded cayenne in rice papers making it easy to throw in the faces of people and break.

It was favored as a weapon of choice for self defense because it would incapacitate a person momentarily. The secret martial art society in ancient Japan called the Ninjas has been using grounded pepper for disabling their adversaries for hundreds of years. Historical data reveals that in the Tokagawa Empire era in Japan, starting in the early 1600's, the police used a weapon called the Metsubishi. It was a Japanese weapon created to blind an enemy, used by ninja and law officers who might prefer to take someone alive, the Metsubishi was a little square or round box that was hollow and could be opened and loaded with different powders from pepper to ground glass depending on what they were trying to accomplish. A mouthpiece was then installed to the box and a short tube to make it easy for the powders to be blown into the face of the target. It was a very small and easily concealed weapon.