Under the Criminal Code of Canada, carrying pepper spray is a criminal offence punishable by up to ten years in prison; but a quick Google search performed in Canada for “pepper spray” brings up Walmart and Canadian Tire storefronts offering versions sold within walking distance..Pepper spray, a well-known aerosol derived from cayenne pepper to momentarily incapacitate the target, was classified as a prohibited weapon in 1995 under the Firearms Act, despite not being a firearm. It is a small, non-lethal, simple to use tool able to be dispensed at a relatively large, and safe, distance..Unlike a knife or a gun – which can leave permanent damage with little to no effort on the criminal/target – pepper spray’s effects are usually exclusive to a short window of pain..This week, I had an experience with a belligerent and hostile man in downtown Calgary – in which I may or may not have carried a small bottle of “dog-spray” on my keychain. Someone in my position carrying said hypothetical illegal spray might feel a lot safer..On the day in question, I visited a drug store on the main level of the downtown building that houses the Western Standard’s main office. A man — potentially under the influence of one or more substances — began following me down the aisle. I thought he was trying to get past me at first, so I tried to move out of his way and resume my shopping. He then entered my personal space and asked if he could speak with me. He was slurring his speech and appeared to be well less than sober..As a rule, I’m friendly with strangers, but I’m not in the habit of speaking with intoxicated men that I don’t know downtown. After politely declining his query, he began to scream “fucking c—!” and continued slurring together a number of other aggressive, indiscernible insults. If you’ve spent any time around the addicted population of downtown Calgary, you know that once aggravated, they can quickly become violent. What is a woman half the size of this man to do?.I alerted the cashier I needed help, as the man following me, continuing his scream-therapy. The cashier initially didn’t seem fazed and told me the man is a regular..I was now too afraid to walk out of the store and back to my office out of fear that the man would be waiting to retaliate in a more private setting. Finally, the cashier rung through the man’s purchase to get him out of the store and called security to escort me back to my office..I was ‘lucky’ enough to have this happen in the Calgary Police Service’s most ideally described environment: a well-lit, well-populated public area, with a security guard nearby. But the CPS’s recommendations are often of little help. He could have just as easily cornered me when I leave the office during a later hour..The police cannot be everywhere all the time — this isn’t a negative judgement simply an objective statement of reality. Ergo, defenseless women deserve the right to defend themselves..I may or may not have been carrying a hypothetical bottle of SABRE spray, which may or may not have made me feel safer, knowing that I could use it if the man turned from belligerent, to violent. Having something small which can be used in case of emergency doesn’t do much; it simply eases one’s mind in case of the worst-case scenario..I’m confident enough to say I speak for many women that many of us wish to have at least some small means of defending ourselves. We are tired of being told to take precautions in order to not be attacked, and the demonization of any preventative measures to not become a victim in the first place..Alberta Justice Minister Kaycee Madu issued a formal request to the federal government asking the Liberals to legalize the personal carrying of pepper spray for defensive purposes. In his request, he cited the rise in gender and racialized attacks..Unsurprisingly, the federal Liberal government rejected the proposal out of hand. It was a rich move for a government and prime minister that never cease to remind everyone about their feminist credentials. Most Liberal cabinet ministers never have to worry about defending themselves; they have full-time armed bodyguards around them, carrying handguns that are illegal for anyone else to carry..It’s doubtful that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has faced being groped inappropriately, but if he had, he probably would have experienced it differently..Large numbers of women have already become fed up enough to begin taking matters into their own hands. Though “weapons” against two-legged attackers are illegal, many women have found a way around by exploring options meant for attackers on four legs..The federal government’s decision to shoot down Madu’s plea to legalize pepper spray for individual use not only shows how disconnected Ottawa is from reality but also illuminates the federal government’s willingness to leave Alberta out in the cold. It would be interesting to see if a similar plea from Ontario or Quebec might have been taken more seriously..Carrying pepper spray allows people in vulnerable populations to interact with the world without fear. It lets people feel safe, and helps them to engage more fully with the community — instead of abiding by CPS’s guidelines and basing what one does or where one goes off of where one is least likely to be physically assaulted..Vulnerable people have the right to not live in fear, even if the federal government doesn’t agree..Jackie Conroy is a reporter for the Western Standard.jconroy@westernstandardonline.com
