We talked in biology about how some plants produce toxic compounds to protect themselves. Peppers have such a compound (although how much is natural, and how much is due to artificial selection is a question to be answered later). The compound in question is capsaicin. The amount of it is measured by the Scoville Scale (a measure of pepper hotness).
As you read the article, identify how peppers would benefit from this compound and also how it might hinder their distribution. The rest of the article deals with using isolated capsaicin in pepper spray by police and in personal safety devices. In your opinion, is this safe to continue?
I like that pepper spray is accessible for anyone to buy, at low concentrations. This is a form of safety and protection for citizens. I do not think that the orange colored, highest concentration of pepper spray should even be acccessible to the police. Obviously policemen think it is alright to use the pepper spray as they wish and how often they wish, which is not humane at all. They have other means of protecting themselves, and they don't even use the pepper spray for "safety and protection" in the first place. So, no, I don't think it is safe to continue with the highest concentration of pepper spray.
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