Pepper-spray projectile

Description

A pepper-spray projectile may be a sphere, hence the name pepper-ball, but it may also come in other shapes. The irritant payload may differ from product to product but is usually a powder, less frequently a liquid, gas or aerosol. Some companies offer different substances as payload for their projectiles and launcher systems, so potential sellers can choose a substance that is certified for use in their country. Also, projectiles with an inert dummy payload are often offered, for training and testing purposes.

A powder called PAVA (capsaicin II) pepper is often used. PAVA is a capsaicinoid that can be synthesized more cheaply than natural capsaicin from peppers, although PAVA is also found in nature.

Pepper-spray weapons systems are used by law enforcement, military and other organizations, and individuals. They are generally used as stand-off weapons, where physical proximity to a suspect is deemed dangerous but deadly force is not warranted. The systems are not limited to classic standoff situations and allow agents to apply as many rounds as required to cause individual suspects, multiple suspects, or crowds sufficient pain to subdue them.

Other uses

The projectile is usually sold paired with the launcher or gun by the manufacturer. These companies usually also sell other types of projectiles for non-lethal uses, including:

• break glass and disperse barricades
• mark suspects for later round-ups
• force-of-impact effect

Lethality

Although generally considered less-than-lethal when properly used (targets should exclude the face, eyes, throat or spine), one death has occurred when they have been fired at inappropriate areas. In one well-publicized incident in 2004, the Boston Police Department's use of an FN 303 during a crowd control situation resulted in the fatal shooting of Victoria Snelgrove when the projectile struck her in the eye. Also in 2004, University of California, Davis (UC Davis) police who wanted to break up a block party shot a pepperball at an unarmed student and damaged his eye—the student subsequently lost his athletic scholarship and dropped out of college. In 2012, a federal appeals court ruled that the police could be sued over the incident. In 2013, the student was awarded $774,000.

References

References

1. [http://www.pepperball.com/faq.html FAQ Page of Vendor PepperBall Technology - Retrieved October 7, 2011] {{webarchive. link. (September 8, 2011)
2. "PepperBall Technologies Incorporated | Products".
3. [https://www.fnhusa.com/ FN 303 projectiles Product Page - Retrieved October 7, 2011]
4. "Product sell sheet from vendor".
5. (May 25, 2005). "Commission Investigating the Death of Victoria Snelgrove".
6. (July 11, 2012). "UC Davis student can sue over pepper spray, court rules".
7. "$774,000 Settlement For Former Student Injured In Pepper Ball Shooting".
8. Clift, Theresa. (5 March 2016). "Parents of young man killed by Citrus Heights officer seek answers".