On 30 Apr 00, at 9:34, Jim wrote:

..
>
> Regarding pepper spray, an ordinance making its use a criminal offense in
> Kent was passed within the past 4 years. Besides being illegal, if the
> wind/weather conditions aren't just right (in an emergency situation not
> many people check to see if who/what they are spraying is down wind), the
> sprayer can end up on the receiving end of the spray.

This statement caught both my eye and Clarice's, because of the immediate
reaction of "what business does Kent have restricting pepper spray against
dogs." I don't want to get into the business of providing legal advice to
readers of tweeters, but if you want to carry pepper spray in Kent, or
anywhere else, you might want to seek the advice of an attorney. It just so
happens that cities sometimes pass ordinances that themselvesappear to
violate state law.

For example, as soon as I read the above quote I merely did a search in the
RCW section of the Washington Access home page for "pepper & spray".
RCW 9.91.160 says the following:

2) No town, city, county, special purpose district, quasi-municipal
corporation or other unit of government may prohibit a person eighteen years
old or older, or a person fourteen years old or older who has the permission
of a parent or guardian to do so, from purchasing or possessing a personal
protection spray device or from using such a device in a manner consistent
with the authorized use of force under RCW 9A.16.020. No town, city, county,
special purpose district, quasi-municipal corporation, or other unit of
government may prohibit a person eighteen years old or older from delivering
a personal protection spray device to a person authorized to possess such a
device.

The citation to RCW 9A.16.020 is to the general state law allowing a person
to use force in self defense. Again, I do not want to give legal advice, but
when I'm bicycling on Frager road in I still will likelly carry pepper spray, just
as every postman I know does when around big dogs.

>
> Jim Brewster
> Brewinkent at msn.com
> Kent Washington
>
> Lydia wrote:
>
> "Hi Tweets,
> A friend and I went out for a walk along the Green River Road here in Kent
> and had a very, very frightening experience with some EVIL DOGS. This
> gang, "guarding" a farm house rushed their fence and began barking and
> growling and behaved like a pack of wolves. One of the dogs, a Lab mix
> crawled out and barked at us, but stayed put. The other EVIL DOG, a Pit
> Bull crawled out and followed us, snarling and growling for about 1/8th of a
> mile. We knew to keep walking at a brisk pace, kept our arms folded across our
> chests, and only made a couple of quick glances back to see if it was still
> following." Snip "Next time we walk that route, we're bring pepper spray and a
> heavy stick!"
>
>
>


Clarice Clark
Puyallup, WA. 98371
mailto:jbroadus at seanet.com