Two entrepreneurs in (of course) Chicago have invented what they are touting as a self-defense tool for people who are concerned about home security but don’t want to commit to the responsibility of an actual firearm. The Salt gun is a CO2-powered paintball-style gun that fires pellets full of pepper spray. The developers claim that its area of effect means it is not necessary to hit an intruder directly and that fatal accidents are nearly impossible.
Bearing Arms has a feature pointing out the myriad problems associated with such a defensive tool. Beyond the strong possibility of the gun not firing if the CO2 charge has been rendered inert, pepper spray is simply not an acceptably reliable measure in a home invasion scenario. (Or in any life-or-death situation: Why do you think police carry real guns?) While the Salt gun sounds innovative, the idea that someone would entrust their safety to it is scary.
