Why does the military require personnel to get OC sprayed before they are allowed to carry OC spray? They don't require you to be shot to carry a gun.

Most law enforcement officers also get sprayed with OC during training. I found it to be a highly educational experience, albeit one of the most unpleasant of my life. I had experienced exposure to tear gas in the Army, and while that wasn't any fun, I could still perform basic tasks and walk from A to B. OC was a whole different animal. I couldn't see, I couldn't breathe, and I was all but helpless. Different people react in different ways to OC, and the instructor who was running the class told me later I had one of the worst reactions he had ever seen. I learned from this that, if anyone was to threaten me with OC, it was a potential deadly force situation. If they were to succeed in spraying me thoroughly, I would be incapable of defending myself. I would never have understood that via a classroom lecture.

Nasty as it is, the effects of OC dissipate quickly. In 30 minutes, I was still uncomfortable, but able to see, talk, and move about unassisted. I've heard anecdotes of people suffering lasting harm from OC exposure, but never seen any credible evidence of it actually happening.

Now that I am no longer working in law enforcement, I can tell you that if I even suspect someone is about to discharge OC in my vicinity, I am going to be on my way to Not Here.

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