WASHINGTON — Pepper spray could become permanently legal to buy and use in D.C. under a new crime bill.
Introduced by DC Councilmember Brooke Pinto on Wednesday, the Secure Omnibus includes provisions from more than a dozen crime bills. This includes making permanent some measures passed in the emergency crime bills in 2023, including legalizing the sale and use of pepper spray and pepper guns for self-defense.
In November 2023, the DC Council passed emergency legislation that allowed the sale and use of pepper spray and pepper guns for self-defense in response to rising crime. City officials say they saw a large increase in homicides and robberies.
Before this legislation passed, only those with a dealer's license could sell pepper spray. Now, with this new legislation, the D.C. dealer's license will be not required and D.C. residents will have greater access to self-defense items.
In 1975, the council originally passed the Firearms Control Regulations Act which established regulations against the sale of "destructive devices," including devices containing tear gas like pepper spray.
How to use pepper spray (without spraying yourself):
- Keep pepper spray in an easily accessible place.
- Point the pepper spray at the attacker's face and spray from a distance of 6-8 feet.
- Check your surroundings to not accidentally spray anyone nearby.
- If you are sprayed with pepper spray, flush your eyes with COLD water for 15 minutes.
Pepper spray can be bought from a variety of retailers. It is described as a non-lethal self-defense tool that contains a chemical called capsaicin. Capsaicin is an irritant that causes a burning sensation on the skin, eyes, and lungs. Pepper spray is typically effective in incapacitating an attacker for several minutes.
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