i would only consider the use of pepper spray appropriate if i were being physically assaulted, not if my property were threatened.

pepper spray can blind, folks! why would you want to (potentially) permanently maim someone for such a petty offense?

>>> she is in fact a woman.<<<

Laws are same for men and women.

I hope the other posters have dissuaded you from bring pepper spray to Italy. It simply makes no practical sense to think you could use it as a defence against pickpockets, and it could land you into serious trouble to boot.

There are plenty of threads full of advice about how to avoid becoming a pickpocketing target. Read those and leave the pepper spray at home.

I'd like to add that pepper spray is never a good idea, even as a defence against physical assault, because attackers can take the pepper spray away from you and use it as a weapon against you, instead.

Wouldn't your pepper spray be in the purse that just got stolen?

Sorry, I can't help it, there is just soooo much wrong with the picture this post gives.

SO what if sarge is a woman? So am I - I don't need pepperspray and would never consider carrying it. The simple fact that you are carrying it could provide a false sense of security. Where do you carrying that you have speedy access to it should you be attacked you pickpocketed? Unless you have it in you hand at all times the chances of being able to use effectively are small.
It is illegal in most of Europe for a good reason. As has been stated over and over again the idea of carrying to protect yourself against pickpockets is just ludicrous no matter where you are.

<<< Unless you have it in you hand at all times the chances of being able to use effectively are small. >>>

And if you did carry it in your hand then YOU would be liable for arrest

About 25 years ago, in Chicago. Cabrini Green projects became the center of all drug/gang/guns activity. Unfortunately if we wanted to go to Rush/Division area or North River area we had to drive through it unless we wanted to do a nice, long drive around it. It got so bad that CPD and Mayor Byrne gave an official ok to run through red lights in the few blocks of CG if the occupants felt threatened. I did run the red light once at ~2am going home with my wife and another couple. A car blocked us of at the red light and 4 guys came out with guns. I did a reverse and ran through few ligths. Amazingly they did not shoot at us and we got away. Pepper Spray would have been useless.

London - about 6-7 years ago. As I was getting on the subway, 3 or 4 people started to run and a guy started to yell. It happened in front of me and I didn't even know what really happened. Fortunately the young American guy with his gf/wife stopped the pickpocket before it happened. Yet I was right there and I didn't know what happened until the screaming/quick exit happened. Again pepper spray would have been useless. regardless if I or the young couple carried it. After couple of minutes everything was back to normal.

London again - ~ 3 years ago, I was approached by a very nice, very well versed gentleman. He seemed so sincere and very friendly. I never figured it out but I knew from the begining that something was up. Lost him and nothing happened. No pepper spray needed.

Afghanistan - Our convoy was attacked by a drug lord and his crew. We were protected by couple of US Army guys and a small Afghan Army unit. My laptop and camera got shot to hell. We lost an Afghani soldier, a good friend, but we made it. Pepper spray would have been a joke.

Few more incidents here or there but none that pepper spray would have prevented.

I guess a women having a pepper spray key chain and always having it in her hand or within easy reach can prevent a possible rape/assault but other than that it's useless.

Leave it at home!

Bring it with you and you may end up in jail/dead or???

Years ago when I lived in Boston and worked late shifts as a nurse at Mass General Hospital, I often took the "T" home at night. I was in my early 20's and was new to big city living - so I decided to get myself some "protection".

I obtained mace from the police - at that point you were supposed to have a license to carry it if I remember correctly and had to get it legally from the police. It came in this black canister with a red top and was capable of delivering quite a good jolt of mace. It scared the hell out of me.

I remember the police warning me on the precautions of using it - like if you miss the person and hit someone else, or enrage that person, or better yet - and much more in line with my type of luck - if you misjudged the wind and it came back in your face. It also became apparent that I could not keep it in my purse and dig for it when I needed it most. I had to keep it in my coat pocket and remember to switch it from one coat to the other. And even then, when it was in my coat pocket, I wasn't sure I could use it quickly unless I had my hand on it at all times. I remember walking down the street with my hand in my pocket wrapped around the mace canister, observing the wind patterns just in case of trouble and feeling more paranoid with the mace than without it. I eventually left it at home and discarded it after a while.

I really hope Sarge has read this and reconsiders...

Can it be used in France ??

Why?

Wow -- what a fun vacation this is going to be! Hope you don't hurt yourself or someone else!

What you can carry legally is an attack alarm. If you are attacked, you pull a pin and the alarm sounds. It is very noisy, and would draw attention to any attacker or pickpocket.

It would be unpleasant for an innocent bystander, but would cause no harm.

I'm reminded of the spoof of SkyMall, called SkyMaul, which features among other exciting gadgets "Mace My Face (TM) Pepper Self-Spray", so you can stop yourself before you do something stupid.

There's a video here:
http://www.kasperhauser.com/skymaul_site/html/home.html

hawksbill - you and tomas seem to be the voice of sanity here. What are these people drinking?

<i>I asked one simple question</i> and you folks have me killing off total populations. For heavens sake, get a grip.

As the past victim of a very violent crime, I am much more aware of my surroundings than most people. Perhaps this is the only silver lining to being that victim. I have not been a victim since (25 yrs), and I absolutely believe it is due to my diligence in being &quot;aware&quot;. And, no, I have not pepper-sprayed, knived, shot, poisoned or murdered anyone in the process. I am <i>not</i> a violent person.

I am a 50-yr-old female and travel alone often. My biggest mistake was that in my haste to post, I inadvertently typed &quot;pickpocket&quot; but truly meant anybody with less-than-honorable intentions, i.e. muggers, etc.

And, unlike some of the misinformation posted here, pepper spray does NOT cause permanent damage. Tear gas is rated more dangerous, and I have experienced that firsthand. It was no fun, I can tell you.

I think some of you need to re-examine how you read/reply to posts. Only a couple of posters here apparently read the question without bias.

PS--AAFFlyer... I had flashbacks while reading your story! About 20 years ago, I had left a Christmas party in downtown Chicago and got distracted in looking at all the beautiful Christmas lights. Before I knew it, I was in a section of town that I didn't recognize. And it looked so deserted at 2am! It suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks that I was in the heart of Cabrini Green! (And me with my big costume jewelry diamond earrings and faux mink coat!) I made a u-turn on a dime and drove like Jeff Gordon, running every red light until I was back in &quot;traffic&quot;! I SO know what you were feeling!

Sarge, You still don't get it. Downtown Rome is not Cabrini Green. There are no muggers in Rome; physical violence is extremely rare. And if you pepper spray someone on *suspicion* of being a mugger, you will get arrested.

Zerlina, thank you so much for your concern.

Sarge - I work for a law enforcement agency and they did a demonstration of how to use pepper spray for everyone. One of the officers to get sprayed went down immediately and was no threat. The second and third officers got some of the spray and felt very uncomfortable but were able to continue with the attack. The fourth officer didn't even falter. He never felt the effects of the spray. Afterwards, they sprayed it directly at his face at point blank (without pretending to be in a situation) and he still was unaffected. During the entire demonstration, they verified that the wind was &quot;with the victim&quot; and was blowing in the direction of the attacker - if the wind is against you, you've got even less chance.

It made me realize that my odds of stopping an attack with pepper spray wasn't that good. If you're going to get that close to an attacker, you're better off with a key in your hand.

Hey, sarge: In your original post you said &quot;I just thought I'd like to give a dose to any potential pickpocket while in Italy in a few weeks.&quot;

Pardon us for assuming you had a sort of testosterone-laden approach to dealing with potential pickpockets that was, actually, ludicrous, since you'd never perceive a pickpocket in time to use said pepper spray.

Have a great time in Italy. You won't need pepper spray or any other deterrent, believe me. You'll fee real stupid for ever having posted this when you get back, too.

I wanted to purchase a small purse sized pepper spray for some young students in France, would like to know if it is legal or not

Sarge - it was the way you expressed things &quot;I'd really like to give a dose to any potential pickpocket&quot; that stirred things up. 'really like to' and 'potential pickpocket' made you sound like a rambo-esque vigilante. :-)

Everyone has answered your question. Yes it is legal to carry. whether it will be legal or advisable to use it is another thing entirely. Those of us with experience of Italy are advising you against taking it. Take our advice or not, it's up to you. If you do decide to take it, I'm not sure how you will get it on the plane. There is no way you will be allowed to take it in carry-on. If it is a pressurised container it won't be allowed in the hold.