Share this Story : The Sarnia Observer Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Opinion: Ford’s pepper-spray push raises safety concerns

The Ontario premier's suggested policy could do more harm than good, argues columnist Mike Jiggens

Ontario Premier Doug Ford recently made headlines with his notion to seek federal approval for the public’s right to carry pepper spray. The possession of pepper spray is currently illegal in Canada, but the premier argues it gives people, especially women, the means to protect themselves against would-be criminals such as muggers or those with intentions of sexual assault.

One must seriously question this idea. It could potentially open the door for more harm than good. Here, in our relatively small region where serious crimes aren’t nearly as abundant as they are in the bigger cities, the need to carry pepper spray may not seem necessary. But if the law was to change, it could open a whole new can of worms.

Opinion: Ford’s pepper-spray push raises safety concerns Back to video

This could become Ontario’s, or possibly all of Canada’s version, of the United States’ Second Amendment, albeit a less lethal variation. The right to bear arms in the U.S. allows its citizens to have lethal weaponry close at hand to protect themselves from criminal activity. Unfortunately, the amendment also makes it much easier for firearms to be possessed and misused by those with criminal intentions.

Green light pepper spray and you’re simply putting a new weapon into the hands of a would-be criminal who could legally have it on his person. There are many instances where pepper spray possession could backfire if misused. If a school-aged kid was to get his hands on pepper spray for the purpose of perhaps defending himself against a bully, chaos would ensue, especially if it was discharged inside the school.

Presumably, if the law was to change, possession of pepper spray would be restricted solely to those of legal age, but it could easily fall into the wrong hands, including the bully himself.

There are several concerns that must be addressed before pepper spray could be legalized. Would a licence be required to possess pepper spray? Would that individual be required to undergo some form of specialized training?

To simply say “yes, you may now legally carry pepper spray with you” without any checks or balances is careless. One who might be targeted with assault could discharge the spray in a panic and send its chemical composition into the faces of nearby innocent bystanders.

There are good reasons for allowing vulnerable members of the public to safely defend themselves if the moment arises, but there are an equal number of bad reasons to legalize pepper spray. There’s a valid argument to suggest the bad outweigh the good.

In theory, a physically vulnerable person could temporarily incapacitate an attacker, allowing sufficient time to escape to safety and call police. On the other hand, legalizing pepper spray could ignite a rash of robberies in which a solitary store clerk might be sprayed and blinded long enough for the culprit to empty the till and make good his getaway.

Legalizing pepper spray has all the bearings of becoming a disaster. The best idea is probably for the premier to simply forget about the thought and quit while he’s ahead.

Share this Story : The Sarnia Observer Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

© Sarnia Observer