Is pepper spray legal in NYC is a question that got asked by anyone looks for a self-defense tool in New York, The good news is you can carry a pepper spray but with some legal restrictions.
Key Takeaways:
- Pepper Spray Legal In NYC but not available to buy it through online retailers.
- Buyers must meet the legal requirements according to the law, to buy a pepper spray in NYC from the licensed pharmacists.
- You should NOT use the excessive force to avoid any legal troubles.
- There are other alternatives to pepper spray and it is legal in NYC such as Tactical pen & online self-defense classes.
Is Pepper Spray Legal In NYC?
Legally YES to purchase a pepper spray in NYC through licensed stores only, beside meeting the following legal terms:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- The pepper spray canister can not be shipped online but you can buy it from specific stores.
- You must have a clean criminal record “no previous felony”.
The Legality of Pepper Spray in New York State
To begin with, pepper spray is legal in New York State, including New York City. Yes, you heard that right! However, the law states that the pepper spray must only be used for self-defense purposes and not for any other nefarious objectives.
But keep in mind my friend that there are some limitations to possessing and using pepper spray in New York State. The law decrees that the maximum capacity of the pepper spray canister shall not exceed 7 ounces, and it must contain solely pepper spray or a combination of pepper spray and an inert gas.
Furthermore, one can purchase pepper spray only from licensed firearms dealers or pharmacists, and the buyer must be above 18 years as we mentioned before.
Carrying Pepper Spray in NYC:
If you plan to carry pepper spray in NYC, you should be aware of the regulations surrounding its use and possession. As mentioned earlier, it is legal to carry pepper spray for self-defense purposes, as long as it contains no more than 0.67% capsaicinoids and the canister has 7 ounces maximum.
Then, you should use the pepper spray in self-protection situations only as misusing it for a non-security reasons will put you in legal problems or may be in jail because of the pepper spray effects & damage you caused to the victim.
![Pepper spray](https://selfdefenseme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/93B7C643-B183-438D-BA76-65BAC7D08E1F-250x300.jpeg)
What Are the Penalties for Illegally Using Pepper Spray in NYC?
The penalties or violating the rules of using pepper spray in NYC can vary based on the situation itself:
- Using pepper spray in a way that is not considered to related to personal protection can lead you to face criminal charges.
- Based on how much damage you caused, and the overall health of the victim after being exposed to the spray can determine to be charged with a felony or put you in jail.
- At least, you will have to face a civil lawsuit as the victim will claim the damages of medical bills, lost wages and every spent cent related to the incident you caused.
So, Please use the pepper spray as a last resort only in case you felt a real threat, hence using it for self-defense should have no legal problem.
Where to Buy Pepper Spray in NYC?
Pepper spray can be purchased in New York City from licensed firearms dealers or licensed pharmacists. There are also some specialty stores that sell self-defense products, including pepper spray.
You can NOT buy the pepper spray from online stores like amazon, as they can not ship a spray or a stun gun to any postal code related to NYC, so you can buy the pepper spray from licensed pharmacists & licensed firearms dealers.
The buyer must meet all the legal requirements that will let the pharmacist sell him the pepper spray at the end, such as being above 18 years old & has no criminal record.
Alternatives to Pepper Spray for Self-Defense in NYC
There are several alternatives to pepper spray for self-defense in NYC that can be just as effective in incapacitating an attacker such as:
- A personal alarm, which is a small device that makes a loud noise when you pressed on the trigger, that way you can alert the others in the area that you are in a dangerous situation and need help.
- A [eafl id=”2052″ name=”Tactical Flashlight” text=”tactical flashlight”] is a high-powered flashlight that can be used to temporarily blind an attacker, as it has an L2 LED bulb which has a maximum output of 1000 lumens and the Light beam can reach over 1,197 feet away (365 meters) nevertheless, this bulb can last up to 100,000 hours.
- [eafl id=”2051″ name=”Tactical Pen” text=”Tactical Pen”], which is a glass-breaker and it Can cause temporary paralysis and/or extreme pain when delivered to nerve points and soft tissue.
- Self-defense classes: Learning self-defense techniques through a class or workshop & nothing can be better than Secret Death Touches to teach you the best moves that can help you survive against any attacker.
![](https://selfdefenseme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/training-300x203.jpg)
The Bottom Line:
- After you have known the answer of “Is pepper spray legal in NYC”, Wanted to confirm that generally Self-defense is legal in New York City but you will have to use the force to defend yourself when needed only, also excessive force can be considered as a crime.
- You have the right to defend yourself in a manner & way that can be matching to laws of NYC as violating theses rules can cause a lot of legal problems.
If you reached till the that end of my article to check Is Pepper Spray Legal In NYC or not, then you should have a look on the best pepper spray alternatives in NYC:
- [eafl id=”2050″ name=”Personal Alarm” text=”Personal Alarm”].
- [eafl id=”2051″ name=”Tactical Pen” text=”Tactical Pen”].
- [eafl id=”2052″ name=”Tactical Flashlight” text=”Tactical Flashlight”].