Someone posted in my thread that perhaps I should buy a can of mace; now I can't find that post, I wanted to ask that person where I can buy this. I think it is a good idea to have on hand just in case...........so if someone knows the answer to this please share it with me. Thanks!

Isadora - I believe that mace may be against the law in the state of Michigan, you may want to check before you buy some. Good luck to you - be safe hon.

I know that down south you can buy it at gun shows - seen it there before. Please do check though before you buy it.

I'm such an idiot! After reading MLG's post - that's what I've seen at the gun shows - PEPPER SPRAY! That's what you need.

Don't get mace...I believe it's illegal in most places. Get pepper spray and you can probably find that on a keychain at your local Walmart or Kmart.

Oh gosh I didn't know mace was illegal! Maybe it was pepper spray that they told me to get. You can get that at Wal-Mart?

I believe I got my keychain with pepper spray that I had in college at Walmart...but that was 8 years ago. I would have NO clue what department you'd get it in, however.

If they still carry it at Wal-Mart, it would be in the automotive part. (I worked there for 8 1/2 years) The last time I had checked, they stopped carrying it. It's pepper spray on a key chain. My cousin has a business, selling things for self defense, not only pepper spray but other items as well. He is also a police officer. If you would like the info, just PM me and I'll send it to you. I wish you the best of luck.:D

When I was about 18 I had mace on my keychain. I got rid of it cuz i was afraid that I would somehow spray myself. I got it while attending a self defense course somewhere...(can't remember where)
Of course, this was about 13 years ago- so did the laws change? I had no idea mace was illegal!

I bought some from ebay about 2 yrs ago. I also had the keychain kind when I was in college---it came from Wal Mart- try automotives or sporting goods department.

ONE

Check your local laws... in Massachusetts you have to have a permit to carry pepper spray.

I dont know how current this is, but hope it helps
http://pepperspray.lifetips.com/faq.asp__Q__SiteID__E__1091__A__QuestionID__E__900 15__A__type__E__0

Thanks so much! That is very informative and helpful!

Isadora - I've seen someone pepper-sprayed and it didn't stop their behavior - it just made them madder. The amount on those keychains probably wouldn't stop anyone. If you really want to protect yourself buy Bear repellant - at a hunting store or from the advertisements in the back of Hunting magazines. If it's used in self-defense on a human I don't believe you'd be charged with it being illegal. I think the "bear" part makes it's legal and it's many times stronger than the pepper or mace...I was given a 110,000-volt stun gun for protection and I'm afraid it would be taken away and used on me if I ever needed it....but I do keep it close in my home...good luck

Isadora: Do you have a protection order against the individual you're fearful of?

Wow bear repellent, I would never have thought of that! No I don't have a PPO, because I think if he wanted to assault me that is not going to stop him in the least.

It wouldn't HURT to get one... It would get him an additional criminal charge.

You have to be proactive in the situation, instead of reactive (...by using pepper spray).

Pepper spay is very effective, you can buy the kind that is super strong..i would call your local police station and ask them wherre to buy..the kind that is really strong..i actually have a police catalogue..that anyone can buy from..with super strong pepper spray...it does work..i will look for the phone number...

i, too, am in fear that if i get a restraining order it would set him off, but really they say it is the best thing to do..the police will be there quickly at least in california.
i send much peace and protection to you
francis

Police here respond much faster if there's a protection order already in place in most cases...

I just don't have much faith in the police as the way for me to go. I had a girlfriend whose husband was a police officer and he abused her all of the time. She could get no help from the police when she called them cause they were all his buddies. I'm sure hers was not an isolated incident and I just don't feel that male police officers really take domestic violence seriously enough. My husband has told me that if I call the police there will be a shootout and they will have to kill him cause he's not going back to prison. I had another girlfriend whose boyfriend punched her and then kicked her in the leg after she fell down. She had a huge bruise all up and down her thigh. She called the police and they came and took pictures of her leg and took him in; they also released him the same night and told him not to go back to her house. Now how is that supposed to stop someone who is intent on hurting you? Seems to me it will just make the situation worse. With pepper spray I am thinking that I can get away safely if he tries to hit me and for some reason I want him to know that I am not going to depend on others to always fight my battles for me. Actually I can't get a PPO on him right now because we are living together. I am in a tricky situation and we are going to counseling. But JUST IN CASE he loses it sometime; I want to be prepared!

Pepper spray is tricky. If you're outside, it could hurt YOU. You could have bad aim and that will piss him off even more.

Yes, police officers are known for having DV problems in relationships but most of my cops are very passionate about domestic violence. It's the most prominent problem out there in most police districts.

...and it doesn't matter that you two live together. A protection order would get him removed from the home.