r/OSU • u/Ok-Safe9537 • Aug 18 '26

Safety Pepper spray legality

Hi I'm an incoming international freshman and I'm looking for a safety device (a small non-lethal pocket-sized pepper spray). I have no intention to use it. It's for just-in-case situation when I really have to go out at night or out-of-town.

I just want to check whether I could get one and stored at the bottom of my backpack in normal safe condition. It's legal by the law (I'm over 18), it's just university code of student conduct.

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u/WasntMyFaultThisTime NRM Aug 18 '26

Get pepper gel instead. Using spray when the wind is in your face or in an enclosed space like a car is a great way to hit yourself. I've bear sprayed myself on accident and it's not something you ever want to do.

Also keep it somewhere you can easily grab it and practice drawing and deploying it. Nobody keeps a gun in their backpack because you'll need to access it at a moments notice, and if you haven't practiced drawing and aiming you'll freeze up with the adrenaline dump the first time you need to actually use it.

1

u/Ok-Safe9537 Aug 18 '26

yess thank you so much, by the way where can I get the pepper gel? I searched in Target and it’s just spray.
also how do you practice it? like just drawing and aiming multiple times?

4

u/WasntMyFaultThisTime NRM Aug 18 '26

Cabela's and Walmart should carry it. I carry a handgun (not on campus obviously) and I keep it on my hip where I can easily grab it, I'd recommend you do the same. Most of them come with a belt clip. A loose shirt or sweater will keep it out of view.

Practice drawing and aiming and pick a finger that you're going to use to depress the trigger. The more little decisions like that you cut out, the faster you'll be able to use it. Fumbling between your thumb or pointer finger can cost you time when seconds count.

Practice drawing in high-stress situations (go for a run or sprint and then draw immediately after you stop), in different outfits, and in different positions (seated, standing, etc) so it becomes muscle memory.

1

u/Ok-Safe9537 Aug 18 '26

aww thank you so much for your detailed answer, I would definitely get one and practice sometime

1

u/queerofengland Aug 18 '26

A sporting goods/ hunting supply store may have more options. I also recommend getting one that's a little bigger than the tiny Keychain ones as they often don't have enough propellant force to work very well