Could you give me a scenario in which you would expect spray to do a better job than a gun?
While I do very much agree about the de-escalation, avoidance and all that, and WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree that a gun is the VERY LAST LINE of defense, I still don't quite get it.
If you feel threatened enough to spray someone, wouldn't you feel justified in drawing (NOT NECESSARILY USING) your gun?
I've read statistics that say that approx. 75% of the time when a gun is drawn on a criminal, the situation ends WITHOUT a shot being fired.
Here's a simple example: you are walking along the street with your wife/girlfriend. Hardly a soul around. You notice some guy has been following you for a short while, and he begins closing. When he gets around 30 ft. away from you, you begin to worry, so you turn to face him. He continues towards you and pulls a knife. You yell "I am in fear of my life. I am armed and will shoot you. STOP!!!" He continues advancing. You draw your gun, leveling it at him. The guy suddenly remembers he forgot to return his rented video on time, turns and runs.
How can a situation turn out any better than that?
Here's another: you are walking along the street with your wife/girlfriend. You notice some guy has been following you for a short while, and he begins closing. When he gets around 30 ft. away from you, you begin to worry, so you turn to face him. He continues towards you and pulls a knife.
THIS TIME, you pull your pepper spray and spray him in the face. However, this requires him to be much closer (what's the max. range of sprays? I don't think its more than 10-15 ft.) and the spray has very little effect. Lucky for him he's pumped on alcohol/drugs/adrenaline, and keeps advancing. He jumps on you and begins stabbing. Your girlfriend/wife is screaming hysterically.
Aren't you glad you used your spray first???
Did I miss something here? I know they are simple, basic examples, but let's not get buried alive in "what-ifs." We could what-if all day long. Not straying too far from the examples I gave, tell me if I'm incorrect in thinking spray isn't all its cracked up to be.
Oh, sorry, one more thing: I've read some pretty disappointing test results of various types of sprays. IMO, the results vary too widely to be of much comfort to me...