Is pepper spray legal in NY? Is pepper spray illegal in NY? What gives?..
Not a day goes by without a question from our customers or web passers-by: Is pepper spray legal in NY? Is pepper spray illegal in NY? Is Mace legal in NYC? where can I buy pepper spray in Manhattan? etc, etc, etc.
We’ve compiled a short Q&A post to answer all these questions at once.
Please read the disclaimer too.
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Disclaimer: we are not lawyers and do not dispense legal advice. We are not interpreting any laws either, we just explaining our own operating procedures and how the laws, we are aware of, affected them. Laws and regulations change all the time and certain things written here now (06/25/2008) may become obsolete later. So we advise you strongly to contact your local Police Department or other local authority and ask them about current legal situation in your locality. Please do.
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Q. Is pepper spray and mace legal in New York (NY)?
A. YES, pepper spray IS indeed legal in the state of NY.
Since Mace is just a brand of pepper sprays, Mace is legal in NY as well.
Some visitors insist in asking the same question in the negative:
Q. Is pepper spray illegal in NY? Is Mace illegal in NY?
For them the answer is:
A. Pepper sprays are not illegal in the state of New York, Mace spray is not illegal in NY either.
Q. What are the pepper spray (or Mace) laws in the state of NY?
A. The law we are aware of regulates only the purchase and sale of self-defense sprays in the state of New York. In brief, the law requires that sale of defensive sprays within NY state is performed by special authorized dealers only; such dealers should perform the background check on buyers; sales to felons are prohibited etc. For complete details see the legal definition here.
Q. Where can I buy pepper spray in New York, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Rochester, Albany, NY (the list goes on…)?
A. We do not have a list of authorized dealers in NY state but we have a couple of tips for you:
– You might want to try calling hunting supplies stores, sports and outdoors, and, surprise-surprise: local neighborhood pharmacies. A licensed pharmacist could be an authorized dealer.
– Don’t call big chain pharmacies, call your small friendly drugstore on the corner.
Q. Why don’t you ship defensive sprays to New York, NY?
A. You are correct: Pepper Spray Center (or any other company) may not ship defensive sprays to a NY state address because this would violate the law mentioned above. Such orders of Pepper sprays to a New York state address will be stopped and will not be shipped, no exceptions.
Q. Are there any other pepper sprays that can be shipped to NY?
A. Excellent question! Yes, Mace Dog spray (Canine repellent/repellant spray) and Bear spray can be shipped to New York.
You can buy animal repellent sprays here. This situation may change at any time.
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Disclaimer: we are not lawyers and are not dispensing legal advice. We are not interpreting any laws either, we just explaining our own operating procedures and how laws we are aware of affected them. Laws and regulations change all the time and certain things written here now may become obsolete later. So we advise you strongly to contact your local Police Department or other local authority and ask them about current legal situation in your locality. Please do.
Mike Armstrong
Great information, Thank You for getting the word out about the pepper spray laws in New York!
Ptricia28
Can i buy pepper spray and have it shipped to Ga and i ship it to someone in Ma?
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Dear Patricia,
Thank you for the good question!
The biggest problem with such a roundabout way to get pepper spray to someone you care about in Massachusetts is that in MA one must have a Firearm ID (special class: defensive sprays) in order to even possess a pepper spray.
Otherwise, it is illegal in Massachusetts.
So, by shipping the pepper spray privately to someone in MA you might be putting that person in a tremendous legal trouble in that state. We do not advise doing that.
Stay Safe,
PepperSprayCenter.com
Tom
What is the difference in potency between the dog/bear spray and the human spray?
doud
The difference is that dog/bear spray is used on dogs/bears. The human spay is used on humans
Al
You wanto to know how to get around New York’s stupid laws: Just get a can of oven spray or dollar spray bottle and fill it with lye or battery acid – not as compact but it’ll work in a pinch if you want to save your cherry or need home protection. Another statist attempt defeated.
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@Al:
We feel your anger and frustration.
Emotions could be very strong but advices should be practical.
Your solution is quite caustic (pun intended) and dangerous for everyone involved, including the owner of such a device and bystanders, and 100% illegal.
Sure, this New York state law on defensive sprays could’ve been more thoughtful. Although we are not lawyers but spraying someone with lye or acid will surely be prosecuted by some other even more severe law.
Effects of Pepper spray is temporary, it’s designed to give you time to escape the danger zone. The effects of those chemicals are permanent and heinous. Bystanders will get some of it too. When Pepper spray leaks it goes undetectable, but cheap $1-store bottles will leak fumes burning through your pockets, leather purse, skin and flesh.
Remember, Pepper sprays are legal in New York state. It’s their sale in NY state that is regulated.
Stay Safe,
PepperSprayCenter
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