Mace: is it legal in Calgary, where can I get some?
Hello friends,
I need some help. I work late night in a really bad part of town. My work has provided us with personal alarms but I'm not sure how much good that will do. Lately, I have had more than my share of incidents ( nothing major, just enough to scare me). I was wondering where I can buy a can of mace, is it even legal in Calgary?
Spy store in Macleod/58th? I'm not a LEO but they may have personal defence armaments there. I remember browsing the old one that use to be in Penny Lane, and you could get sap gloves there.
Although really, a personal weapon is no use against multiple attackers, unless you are able to maim somebody in under a second so you can move onto the next.
Did I mention that swarming is also a popular tactic nowadays? 2 or 3 some guys will be ok, but I've heard stories of 5 or more going after a victim and them suffering.
Really, the important part is paying attention to your surroundings and looking for the look out's, leaving at either odd or regular intervals (keep a schedule where someone knows how long it takes for your route) and keeping space.
The other bit if it does come down to a physical interaction is Making Mayhem, which is usually a crippling attack followed up by fleeing.
Of course, unless you're Baz Rutten, then have at them.
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Tacitus: Rara temporum felicitate, ubi sentire quae velis, et quae sentias dicere licet.
"Cal Ripken Jr.? What has he ever done that's so great except show up for games? I'd pay a million dollars to spray him in the face with a full can of mace!"
I need some help. I work late night in a really bad part of town. My work has provided us with personal alarms but I'm not sure how much good that will do. Lately, I have had more than my share of incidents ( nothing major, just enough to scare me). I was wondering where I can buy a can of mace, is it even legal in Calgary?
Quit your job, i doubt you'll have a problem finding a job equally as good without having to worry about stuff like that.
bear spray should be able to find some at a hunting store
Are you allowed to use that on people (even in defense) ? I remember I had to sign some sort of contract when I signed it about the dangerous of it and such.
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"With a coach and a player, sometimes there's just so much respect there that it's boils over"
-Taylor Hall
Authorization to Carry would be nice, but the government doesn't want you defending yourself. You're supposed to call the police when you're in a life or death situation, doncha know?
Mace is not legal in Canada. If it is to be used against another person, it is a weapon. You can only buy spray that is for defense against animals. But if you were caught carrying bear spray around the city, you'd be in trouble because it would be clear that you are carrying it as a weapon.
You cannot carry anything for "self defense" in Canada. Anything that can be labeled for "self defense" is a weapon. You can not carry a knife for defense. You can carry a knife if you say it is a tool.
I'm not advocating the right to carry arms as a part of the constitution, but the idea that I could carry SOMETHING to save my life in the event of needs to be seriously considered.
Gov't issue potato gun? At least it doesnt break when I smash it against someone's head. Maybe I could set my cellphone to record the video (after calling the precious, ever-so-dilligent and completely non-wasteful police) of me being robbed and murdered so the government could have a non-sensical debate about it.
It's not really well known, but there is the ability to carry a concealed firearm in Canada. It's called an ATC3 and there are only about 50 permits issued in the entire country.
You have to prove that your life is in immediate danger and that the police cannot protect you. If you can prove this, and you can prove that you are capable of handling a firearm, you too can get an ATC3 which would allow you carry a firearm.
Permits have gone to high profile lawyers who have death threats against them. But generally speaking, the general citizen isn't going to get one. People have applied after being robbed, assaulted threatened etc, but I have never heard of a regular person getting one.
Click the link for an interesting article that shows gun crime actually decreased in Michigan over a 6 year period after permits to carry increased six-fold:
People who legally own weapons are not the ones to be frightened of. Criminals don't follow laws. If you ban mace, knives, guns then the only people left with these weapons are criminals. The criminals know you are defenseless because if you are a good citizen, you obey the law and know it is illegal to carry a weapon to defend yourself. Easy prey. You put more people out there who are trained and can defend themselves, criminals may think twice about committing a crime. That's my opinion anyway.
People who legally own weapons are not the ones to be frightened of. Criminals don't follow laws. If you ban mace, knives, guns then the only people left with these weapons are criminals. The criminals know you are defenseless because if you are a good citizen, you obey the law and know it is illegal to carry a weapon to defend yourself. Easy prey. You put more people out there who are trained and can defend themselves, criminals may think twice about committing a crime. That's my opinion anyway.
I agree with you. I've always believed that people are more brazen to commit random acts of violence/crime when there is no fear of reprisal. There will always be the people motivated by drugs/mental illness/passion and they are more complicated and require different solutions to actually deter. However, having weapons in the hands of responsible, trained, law abiding citizens is not a bad thing, and even if it only deters a couple dozen people, that's a couple dozen less victims.
I'm sure a flood of posts will come declaring us wrong though.
Both my sisters carry mace. They ordered it online from the US. Apparently it made it through Customs without incident.
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"Next time you come to Edmonton in June, July, or August, check out the colour of the grass in Calgary before you leave. It's brown and yellow....i.e lack of precipitation," - Sundeep, Feb. 6, 2005
They should be aware that if they use it against someone, they could be in a sticky situation.
I quoted this in another thread, but people need to be aware of the laws:
Quote:
Criminal Code, Sections 34
34. (1) Every one who is unlawfully assaulted without having provoked the assault is justified in repelling force by force if the force he uses is not intended to cause death or grievous bodily harm and is no more than is necessary to enable him to defend himself.
(2) Every one who is unlawfully assaulted and who causes death or grievous bodily harm in repelling the assault is justified if
(a) he causes it under reasonable apprehension of death or grievous bodily harm from the violence with which the assault was originally made or with which the assailant pursues his purposes; and
(b) he believes, on reasonable grounds, that he cannot otherwise preserve himself from death or grievous bodily harm.
I know mace isn't going to cause death, but I think one of the main points is the criminal code pretty much says you need to be assaulted first in order to defend yourself. I'm not sure how maceing someone who hasn't yet attacked you, but looks like they probably will attack you will hold up in court. Maybe someone with a law background can explain further?
They should be aware that if they use it against someone, they could be in a sticky situation.
I quoted this in another thread, but people need to be aware of the laws:
one of the main points is the criminal code pretty much says you need to be assaulted first in order to defend yourself. I'm not sure how maceing someone who hasn't yet attacked you, but looks like they probably will attack you will hold up in court. Maybe someone with a law background can explain further?
Using a prohibited weapon will always land you in trouble. However, using REASONABLE force to prevent what you believe is an imminent threat/assault, might be considered when investigating the alleged offense.
But you might get a bylaw ticket for fighting in public.
I've never been a fan of solving a weapon problem with more weapons. Too much slippery slope potential I think. Criminals can get away with no weapons right now robbing someone, just surprise and intimidation or maybe blunt object. Civilians start carrying mace or pepper spray and the criminals start carry knives. Civilians start carrying knives, criminals start carrying guns. etc. I would assume criminals would always want the upper hand on their victims.
Besides Canada doesn't have a large crime where civilians carrying weapons would be necessary. I can only see it creating more problems. Why fight a problem that doesn't really exist. Cue the anecdotal evidence.
well I work at the donor clinic downtown and it is a long walk to the train station, and that station is not that safe either. I really love my job, and I don't want to quit
well I work at the donor clinic downtown and it is a long walk to the train station, and that station is not that safe either. I really love my job, and I don't want to quit
That is a sketchy walk. My buddies wife has had nothing but problems, especially when going under the train bridges and that was going to work for a normal 8-5 shift. Is there no way you can get a co-worker to drop you off at a train stop? That's my only advice, mace combined with those agressive pan handlers could put you in trouble.
Mace: is it legal in Calgary, where can I get some?
