Gail

A young adult family member of mine traveled with a friend and her parents and grandparents and they were mugged in Paris. Two of their purses were grabbed while one of the muggers sprayed them with something--pepper spray, mace? Don't know which, but it burned their eyes. A couple of the women struggled with the muggers and were able to hold onto their purses. Yes, if they had some kind of spray, maybe they would have been able to spray the muggers while the struggle was going on.

xx

Yes, but wouldn't the spray have been IN their purses?

Gail

I meant if the men had the spray *in their pockets. (Actually, a friend of mine carries one in her pocket whenever she travels. And she puts it in her checked luggage)

eureka

To Troy:<BR><BR>I had a revelation about the motives of gun-control supporters while reading this thread. You got exactly the same types of responses regarding pepper spray that one sees about guns. Here's my brand new hypothesis:<BR><BR>People who know they are too weak, too frightened, and just generally too much of a victim want to just throw their hands over their eyes and say "it won't happen to me and even if it did there's nothing I could do about it anyway". And it follows, if they are too lame to protect themselves and their families, they don't want you to be able to either.

Scott

While I'm sure violent crime exists in Paris, the biggest threat I feel when touring there is pickpockets. In the US, if someone wants your wallet, they're likely to point a gun at you. In Paris, they just try to get if from you without you knowing. Perhaps I'm just naive, but I feel safer in Paris, Rome, Florence, etc. than I do in NYC, Chicago, D.C.

xxxxx

Troy, I don't know the answer to your question, but I just wanted to say that I see nothing wrong with your concern for your family's safety, especially in this day and time! I think your concern is a legitimate one...it's better to be safe than sorry!

Janice

stay home. I walk around Paris often, day, night, good neighborhoods, bad neighborhoods - it's not nearly as threatening as living in Chicago. I've never even seen a mugging, only seen one pickpocket (and we caught him in the act) and I hate the idea that you will bring your escalating combattive/weapon-carrying attitude to an otherwise peaceful and beautiful city.

Rob

Why is it that places like the US South and (Western South in particular, e.g. Texas) have little or no gun control, capital punishment AND the highest violent crime rates? (check DOJ stats). Paris and other European cities have much much less violent crime and gun control and no death penalty. STAY AT HOME COWBOY!!

Tony

I'm with the last two posters.<BR>First Rule of Travel: If you need Pepper Spray or weapon of any kind, STAY AWAY from the place.

frank

Tony--I guess people are not following your rule about not going where a gun is not necessary-the US get millions of tourists, with NY City the number one destination! (Yes, violent crime is down in the US but homicides are still abouy 2K last I checked)

Rebbecca

Of all the trips I have taken I have never once thought about having something with me to protect myself or have I ever been mugged. <BR><BR>1. It might be because I am PLANNING on having a good time, and am not PLANNING on being attacked. <BR><BR>2. I wonder if you are really a policeman or just a troll, trying to get a thread going. <BR><BR>3. If you are I would suggest you go on vaction have a good time and to forget about work. If you are scared to go to Paris, than maybe it's not the right place for you, rethink your trip and talk to your family and go someplace you can relax and actually enjoy yourself. I know you see a lot of crime because that's your job, but most people don't and most people have fun on vacations. If vacations were something that you had to take pepper spray with you to feel comfortable I don't think people would continue to go on them. <BR><BR> I hope you can have a good trip.

yoipitydafool

I see nothing wrong with Troy's question. I will be visiting Europe for the first time this Sept & will driving from Barcelona Spain to Rome & Venice & there is nothing wrong with being safe then sorry. If someone does try to use a knife to mug you, you will have a much better chance of fight back or escaping if he gets a shot of pepper spray in the face & eyes. I know it is legal in Italy & Spain as long as its not more than 5% Capsasium (Pepper). I may have to pull over in rest area to take a nap & I will feel safer with pepper spray. I will carry it for 2 Weeks then give it to someone when I leave. Im a male Korean/American from Arizona by the way.

adrienne

So why are you topping a 10 year old post to give us your opinion on pepper spray.

Ackislander

You are also perhaps an unsophisticated Korean-American male from Arizona.

Will they let you on the plane with it in the US?

It may be legal in Spain and Italy (I don't know) but is it legal in France, which lies right between Spain and Italy?

Unless you are trying to buy drugs, the chances of you being in a neighborhood where someone would try to mug you at knife point are pretty laughably minimal.

They don't need to mug you: they can pick your pocket, open your suitcase, pop the lid of your trunk, or unzip your backpack without any need for weapons and probably without your even knowing it. The only time you are likely to encounter a knife is if they slit a waist belt under your clothes, and even then, it will be done from behind and you won't know what's happening until it is over.

If you are that paranoid, you really need to stay home in Fortress Arizona.

hetismij2

It is illegal in France, and you cannot take it on a plane with you.

As Ackislander says if you are going to be robbed it will not be in a way that gives you a chance to use it anyway.

colduphere

This is why we always bring our three German Shepherds with us to Europe. Absolutely no problem with pickpockets (who are everywhere).

millie2112

I think that yoipitydafool you are a first class 'FOOL'!!!!!

zippo

Just buy a spray bottle of bleach - cheap and easy to find, also totally legal everywhere. Sure it causes permanent blindness and scarring but it beats having to call the credit card company!
If you need any more security advice post again!

bilboburgler

Thought this might interest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepper_spray#Europe

MaisiePlague

I think it would be crazy to carry around any kind of weapon or spray with you whilst in Paris. In the unlikely event that you get mugged, just do what everyone else does and go to the Police.