Are there Limits to Pepper Spray/Balls, Tear Gas, and Tasers?

Dave Rubin has a new ad here.

If you listen to conservative radio and podcast hosts such as Megyn Kelly, Dave Rubin, Ben Shapiro, Dana Loesch, Mike Gallagher, Dan Bongino, Sean Hannity, and others, you’ve likely repeatedly heard many advertisements promoting less-lethal alternatives to firearms from Byrna. The Shapiro ad was from March 28th, 2025. The Rubin ad is from February 18th, 2025. A further discussion of the ads is provided at the end of this post.

“If you carry a gun, the problem with it is if you take somebody’s life and you’re wrong,” Glenn Beck, who had a 52-week advertising campaign during 2024 with Byrna, warned his listeners. Beck promotes Byrna pepper and tear gas projectiles, saying, “If you don’t know anything about [pepper gas], it is quite effective…. It burns, and it gets inside of your lungs, making you feel like you just can’t breathe.” Many other hosts echo Beck’s comments.

“Imagine a terrible senario where you or your loved ones face a threat, now your first instinct might be to resort to lethal force, but it is crucial to consider a safer less lethal alternative first to avoid legal complications associated with firearms in a lot of states these days, introducing Byrna,” Shapiro notes in the above video on March 28th, 2025. “Byrna’s less lethal pistol launcher is equipped with tear gas and kinetic ammunition designed to incapacitate an attacker for up to 40 minutes. Providing a critical window for you to escape or get help while minimizing the risk of permanent harm. Here is a real-life example of a Byrna customer named Adam. . . .” Shapiro’s ad then has a story where it wasn’t necessary to fire the Byrna pistol, but that brandishing of a weapon would have also been true for a real firearm.

The use of kinetic impact projectiles and other less-lethal weapons has been associated with reduced injury rates for criminal suspects versus when guns are fired at a person. But guns are rarely fired by civilians who use guns defensively. About 95% of the time, simply brandishing a gun is sufficient to stop an attack. Just a tiny fraction of one percent of the time do defensive gun uses result in the death of the attacker. News media are overwhelmingly more likely to cover DGUs when the attacker is killed, so it gives people the false impression that using a gun frequently results in death or at least wounding.

The bottom line is that there is a reason why police have their guns as a backup, because pepper gas, tasers, or kinetic rounds don’t always work. Pepper and tear gas are less reliable than tasers, but there are problems with both. The effectiveness of pepper spray/balls and tear gas depends on whether it is raining or the wind is blowing strongly. There are also issues if you are using them in an enclosed space. In addition, not everyone is affected by these products, even under ideal conditions. A comparison of pepper balls to a spray is provided at the end. Kinetic rounds also have real limitations. They don’t always stop an attacker; weather also affects the accuracy and speed of kinetic rounds more than bullets. Unfortunately, Byrna doesn’t recommend that people also consider carrying a gun with them.

Pepper Spray:

• Effectiveness: A study by the National Institute of Justice found that pepper spray was reported by arresting officers to be effective in only 20% of the cases studied. 

• Individual Variability: Factors such as pain tolerance, substance use, or mental state can influence an individual’s reaction to pepper spray. For instance, Virginia Commonwealth University Police notes that pepper spray may not be as effective on intoxicated individuals or those with a high pain threshold. 
• Tolerance and Desensitization: People who are frequently exposed to pepper spray (e.g., law enforcement or military personnel during training) may develop a tolerance.

• Individual Variability: Genetic differences can affect sensitivity to capsaicin, the active ingredient in pepper spray.

• Health Conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as nasal congestion or reduced tear production, may lessen the impact of capsaicin.

• Mental State and Adrenaline: High adrenaline or altered mental states (e.g., under the influence of drugs or alcohol) can reduce the perception of pain and discomfort.

• Protective Measures: Individuals wearing protective gear (e.g., goggles, masks) or having clothing that covers exposed skin can mitigate the effects.

Tear Gas:

• General Sensitivity: Most people experience immediate irritation from tear gas exposure, including eye tearing, respiratory discomfort, and skin irritation. However, specific data quantifying the percentage of individuals unaffected is scarce.

• Anecdotal Evidence: There are anecdotal reports, such as military personnel exhibiting reduced sensitivity to tear gas after repeated exposure, but these cases are not well-documented in scientific literature.

• Adaptation and Resilience: Communities worldwide have developed techniques to build resilience against tear gas, suggesting that repeated exposure and adaptive strategies can reduce its impact.

In summary, while most individuals are affected by pepper spray and tear gas, a subset may exhibit reduced sensitivity or resistance due to various factors. Precise percentages are not well-established in current research.

Comparing Pepper Spray v Pepper Ball

The effectiveness of pepper spray versus pepper balls varies based on factors such as range, delivery method, and intended use. Here’s a comparative overview:

Pepper Spray

• Delivery Method: Handheld canisters that emit a liquid stream or aerosol mist.

• Range: Typically effective up to 10–15 feet.

• Effectiveness:

• Causes immediate irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory system.

• Requires close proximity to the target.

• Wind conditions can affect accuracy and may cause blowback to the user.

• Use Case: Ideal for personal self-defense in close encounters.

Pepper Balls

• Delivery Method: Projectiles fired from a specialized launcher, similar to a paintball gun.

• Range: Effective up to 150 feet.

• Effectiveness:

• Upon impact, projectiles burst, releasing a cloud of irritant powder.

• Can disperse irritant over a wider area, affecting multiple individuals.

• Less dependent on precise aiming; hitting a surface near the target can still be effective.

• Use Case: Suited for crowd control and situations requiring engagement from a distance.

Key Differences

• Range: Pepper balls offer a significantly greater range, allowing users to maintain distance from potential threats.

• Area Coverage: The dispersal effect of pepper balls can impact multiple targets, whereas pepper spray is more focused.

• Deployment: Pepper spray is portable and easy to deploy quickly; pepper ball launchers are bulkier and may require more time to ready.

Considerations

• Environmental Factors: Wind can affect both methods but poses a greater challenge for pepper spray due to its shorter range.

• Training: Effective use of pepper ball launchers may require more training compared to handheld pepper spray canisters.

• Legal Restrictions: Regulations regarding possession and use may vary; it’s essential to be aware of local laws.

In summary, pepper spray is practical for close-range personal defense, while pepper balls provide advantages in range and area coverage, making them more suitable for law enforcement and crowd management scenarios.

Tasers

• An NYPD report from 2022, the last year the data’s publicly available, shows Tasers are ineffective in 34% of cases. Police Executive Research Forum finds that nationwide Tasers are ineffective about 40% of the time.

• In 2018, NYPD officers discharged their Tasers 995 times, with 224 of those incidents (approximately 25%) being unintentional. Such accidental discharges highlight challenges in handling and the potential for unintended harm.

• An investigation by Reuters identified over 1,000 cases in the United States where individuals died following encounters involving Taser deployments, often in combination with other forms of force, so the exact cause of death is often difficult to determine.

Here is something from ChatGPT.

1. Wind Impact on Kinetic Projectiles vs. Bullets

• Kinetic Projectiles:
  • Travel at lower speeds (300-325 FPS) compared to bullets (1,000+ FPS).
  • Are lighter and have less momentum, making them more susceptible to wind drift.
  • Have a larger surface area relative to their weight, increasing the effect of crosswinds.
  • Can veer off target at greater distances, making long-range accuracy highly unreliable in windy conditions.
• Bullets:
  • Travel much faster (typically 1,000-3,000 FPS), giving them more inertia to resist wind.
  • Are denser and more streamlined, minimizing the impact of wind resistance.
  • Experience some wind drift, but ballistic corrections can compensate for long-range shooting.

Example:

• A Byrna kinetic projectile fired at 60 feet in a 15-mph crosswind can drift several inches off target.
• A 9mm bullet fired at the same range in similar wind conditions would have almost no measurable drift.

---

2. Rain Impact on Kinetic Projectiles vs. Bullets

• Kinetic Projectiles:
  • Are slower and lighter, meaning raindrops have a proportionally greater impact on their trajectory.
  • If a raindrop collides with a kinetic projectile mid-flight, it can slow it down significantly or alter its path.
  • Water accumulation on the surface of the projectile (before firing) can increase drag, further reducing accuracy.
• Bullets:
  • Move so fast that raindrops barely affect their trajectory (bullets shatter raindrops upon impact).
  • High velocity and kinetic energy allow bullets to pass through rain with minimal deflection.
  • Any loss of velocity or impact force is negligible, even in heavy rain.

Example:

• A Byrna kinetic round loses velocity and may veer off course if it encounters raindrops mid-flight.
• A 9mm or .223 bullet continues almost unaffected, as its speed ensures it reaches its target accurately.

Unfortunately, Byrna doesn’t advertise that people should consider also carrying a gun.