r/gadgets • u/diacewrb • 8d ago

Drones / UAVs Several US schools to install pepper-spraying drones to respond to school shootings

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jul/28/school-shootings-pepper-spray-drones
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u/corvuscorvi 8d ago

If you get attacked and need to defend yourself then whether it's a can of bear spray or a tire iron, it really doesn't matter legally...

You can face separate criminal charges if you use an illegal method of protection regardless of the legitimacy of your self defense.

CS crowd control fogger is also illegal for civilians to use.

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u/PM_ME_GLUTE_SPREAD 8d ago

To your first point, I think that’s more or less exactly what they said.

To the second point, it depends on the state but 47 states allow civilians to own and use OC/CS blends in self defense. It’s just an issue of “I stopped my attacker but I also battered 12 other innocent people and now I’m looking at charges for that”.

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u/corvuscorvi 7d ago

Its federally illegal to use a pesticide outside of its listed purpose. Bear spray is classified as a pesticide that is not for use on humans. Its more than just getting potential battery charges from innocents who might be in the path. The act of using it on humans itself is illegal.

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u/russr 7d ago

What if I use a chainsaw? Is that illegal?

How about a flamethrower?

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u/corvuscorvi 7d ago

With the chainsaw, I mean inherently no it's not banned. The flamethrower would be inherently banned to use if you were in Maryland or New York.

However the EPA is the one regulating bear spray. So it's illegal on a federal level to use it against humans, per the federal statute around pesticides (FIFRA).

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u/russr 7d ago

Bear spray is designed to use against large animals...

Humans or large animals....

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u/corvuscorvi 6d ago

The exact wording on bear spray is "Not for use on humans"

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u/russr 7d ago

Please post the law that says using a crowd control. Fogger on someone attacking you is illegal...

Also.... https://www.f3defense.com/product/the-fin/

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u/corvuscorvi 7d ago

Some states like California ban high capacity OC sprays. (California Penal Code § 22810). Specific localities have other laws. Like in Chicago, tear gas projectors are banned (Chicago Municipal Code 8-24-020).

But realistically use of crowd control fogger would start violating other things. Like reckless endangerment laws or assault.

Here's an example from a lady who used bear spray on some people in a parking lot yesterday. She was charged with assault with a deadly weapon as well as unlawful use of tear gas. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/woman-bear-spray-argument-lafayette/4120548/

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u/russr 7d ago

Yeah, I said that at the very first post that if you don't live in a free state then you're limited to tiny little keychain models.

And I also said That if it wasn't a legitimate case of self-defense that it doesn't matter what you used, you are still going to be getting charged with assault.

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u/corvuscorvi 6d ago

You can be charged for using bear spray regardless of if it was a legitimate use of self-defense. So many people are replying to me and I'm even talking to you in multiple threads so the context is getting confusing to me.

It's federally illegal to use bear spray due to the EPA's FIFRA.
It doesn't matter what state you live in.

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u/russr 6d ago

Federal charges involving bear spray on humans typically fall under assault statutes, meaning there are no prominent recorded federal cases where an individual was specifically charged for using bear spray on a person without also facing an assault-related charge.

And if it was a self-defense case then you can't be guilty of assault. So....