Why would you need pepper spray at Placer High School? School is supposed to be a safe environment where parents and students should not have to worry about carrying any items of protection.

In most states you have to be 18 to carry pepper spray because at that age you’re deemed mature. Pepper spray, also known as OC spray, can cause intense burning to the skin, throat, nose and eyes; swelling, redness of skin, shortness of breath, gagging and gasping and if you have an allergic reaction or respiratory conditions it can be very serious. In most cases, people who have been sprayed with Pepper Spray do not usually experience any long term effects.

If used by high school students it may be used in harmful and inappropriate ways. School policies generally restrict students from carrying this self defense item. It is though a fact that Pepper Spray helps to control crowds and students at a high school level.

According to California Law anyone under the age of 18 is not allowed to buy, have possession of or use pepper spray. California also requires the canister to be 2.5 ounces in weight and must include the following label that says “WARNING: the use of this substance or device for any purpose other than self defense is a crime under the law. The contents are dangerous- use with care.” Peter Efstathiu, principle of Placer High School, says he is completely against the use of Pepper Spray. He believes it would be misused, for example, out of anger or as a joke. This could be dangerous to other students. It is as well very difficult for someone to resist after being sprayed with the chemical. Unfortunately, it is possible that the spray would be used as a weapon rather a method of self defense. Efstathiu states that even though Placer is an open campus he doesn’t have a reason for why kids would want to have Pepper Spray on them. Efstathiu said, Pepper Spray is banned from school grounds without appropriate use because it is considered a chemical. Efstathiu told me if he caught a student with the item he would not be okay with it, he believes it’s not necessary and would want to ask the parent of the student why they think their child needs it.

There are other ways that school administrators can assure parents of their childrens safety. According to Efstathiu, “I think Placer is a safe school”.