Is It Legal to Use Pepper Spray in Mexico?
Violence against women in Mexico City has led to a surge in homemade pepper spray "recipes" shared online. Carrying such self-defense tools is illegal, with penalties up to 3 years in prison. The law puts women in a difficult position, forced to choose between personal safety and legal compliance.
Mexico. Land of endless beaches, vibrant culture, and of course, a penal code that seems to have been drafted by people who watched too many episodes of a 1950s crime drama. Yes, my dear readers, we’re talking about the hot-button issue of the moment—pepper spray. Now, I can already hear the groans of confusion and the sighs of disbelief as you try to wrap your head around the fact that in a country where crime rates are high enough to make a Grand Theft Auto map seem quaint, pepper spray is illegal.
Let’s dive right into the meat of it. The recent rise in violence against women has, unsurprisingly, made women across Mexico increasingly eager to arm themselves with something—anything—that could help ward off a potential attacker. The solution, it would seem, is a harmless little canister of spicy goodness—pepper spray. A burst of that in the eyes of a mugger or would-be kidnapper, and voilà, instant incapacitation, giving you just enough time to make a hasty escape.
