I carried Pepper Spray while driving cab. I may have needed it one time, but didn't use it and regretted Not using it.
I was pepper sprayed once, though I wasn't the target.
There was a riot going on, and my buddy looked like charles manson on steroids (really to a T) and I had on my Smiley The Psychotic Button t-shirt which made me scarier. We managed to keep a store we liked from being totally ransacked. Cops charged at everyone, asking questions way later. I had no problem with it. That's my service to my country, but I ain't doing that again. Made a friend of an overnight hotel manager, while getting the spray out of my eyes. Fast forward 3 years. Cindy Blackman (pre-Santana) comes to town. I'm wearing the same Smiley t-shirt. Hotel manager remembers me, so I get to meet her. She's awesome. I gave her a card with a Tyne Daly X-ray cover.