It’s a controversial thing, but law enforcement pepper spray is sometimes a necessary method to subdue assailants or criminal suspects, according to law enforcement officials.

Pepper spray is a product that’s sprayed on people in order to get them to calm down, to incapacitate them and allow time for a victim to get away, or in the case of law enforcement personnel, to handcuff or otherwise subdue someone. The pepper spray actually works with the body’s respiratory system to incapacitate the subject.

The pepper spray works to create a feeling of discomfort and burning on the skin and it causes inflammation in the eyes, nose and throat. The subject who’s sprayed with it might not be able to see, smell or breathe well. This slows them down and gives the officer time to subdue them.

Law enforcement pepper spray usually contains a relatively low concentration of pepper spray – for example, from 1 to 5 percent. This lower concentration will be weaker than that carried by non-law enforcement officers, but it acts quickly (which immediately slows down the subject) and wears off after about 10 to 15 minutes, which gives the officer time to handcuff the suspect or place him or her in the patrol car.

Some argue that pepper spray is inhumane because it’s strong enough to make someone cry, to make them drop to their knees and to suffer respiratory distress. They argue that it’s cruel and unusual punishment and is often used in circumstances where it’s not necessary, that officers might abuse the privilege of the use of pepper spray.

But law enforcement officials will argue that pepper spray is a better alternative than pulling a gun on a suspect. If a suspect is uncooperative and needs to be slowed immediately, the only two options are something like pepper spray and shooting the suspect. Law enforcement will argue that pepper spray doesn’t hurt anyone long-term, that the effects are short-lived and that having such relatively minor complications are much better than being shot.

Ideally, officers will choose to use pepper spray only when absolutely necessary and not abuse the privilege. If it’s used judiciously, then it’s unlikely that others could argue against it.