Just when I’m about to give up on the youth of America, my faith in their ability to use the materials at hand to impress their peers is renewed:
Billings, Mont. (AP) — Billings police evacuated a mall after dozens of people were sickened by bear spray used during a confrontation between two teenagers over a girl.
Battalion Chief Terry Larson of the Billings Fire Department told the Billings Gazette 40 people had to be treated Friday evening for irritation to the eyes, throat, skin and lungs.
But I wonder: did both of the teens have bear spray? Was this a call out? “Meet me at the mall, and you’d better be packin’ the hard stuff.” Did they face off in the hallway at ten paces? Or have punk kids in Montana just gotten into the habit of carrying bear spray into the mall? After all, you never know when you might meet a Grizzly….
louise wagenknecht
Louise Wagenknecht worked for the Forest Service for 31 years and has written two books about her life in the Klamath Mountains of northern California. She writes from the wilds of eastern Idaho.
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I was never aware that you needed medical treatment for pepper spray. . I got kinds used to it when one of the big cans exploded in my car on a hot day. It does wear off with a little time.
imagine what these youths can do when they get to use a gun in the woods!
As uncomfortable as bear spray, I would rather them face off with bear spray than guns, medical treatment is not normally needed for bear spray exposure, but there are certain groups of people that will be affected that makes it wise to see a doctor.
Linda, bear spray and pepper spray are two entirely different products, pepper spray exposure is different than bear spray exposure, due to the solvents and propellents that are used.
Linda,
It is very important to make the distinction between bear spray and pepper spray, people hear “pepper spray” and think what they see at the local check out at the grocery store is ok to use on bears. It is not, pepper spray is a non-regulated product, the companies can say what ever they want to about pepper spray. On the other hand, bear spray is a regulated product, they have to list the ingredients on the label per EPA so that the consumer knows what they are buying.
We really need to make a concentrated effort to call it bear spray to differentiate from pepper spray.
Sb I have never had any pepper spray..I always carry bear spray and I forgot there was a difference. thanks for pointing that out.
The is a difference, a very big difference to the Canadian Customs border agents.
So, did the young lady decide which suitor she favors?
LOL.
In some states the use of “BEAR Spray” on humans is illegal as the potential for injury is much higher than with the “HUMAN Spray”. If you check and compare your labels I believe you will see some large differences in ingredients and concentrations.