Self defense exists only in common law and having something that you intend to use against someone is considered possession of an offensive weapon even if you only keep it for self defense. Your only allowed to use whatever you have to hand at the time of being assaulted to defend yourself.
Pepper sprays sit in the same category of firearm (yes it is considered a gun legally) as say an mg42. Only museums can legally own them
Firearms a separated into different categories and require different licences to own over here. The 2 that are accessible to the general public are a shotgun certified and a firearms certificate.
But things like pepper spray exist as what's know as a section 5 firearm which means only somewhere like a museum could own it with the express permission of the home office and this law dates back to 1968.
The British government likes to capitalise on tragedies for a bit of good PR and this is most clear with regards to knifes. It's standard MO for any political party to give broad variety of knifes/swords a scary name, give a very broad definition of what said weapon is and then issue a blanket ban.
For example saw back knives (i.e. knives with saw on the back) were branded "zombie knives" by the government and media because, and I shit you not, they are popular props in zombie media and banned from sale.
Technically in Canada, a baseball bat, a frying pan, a knife, and a firearm can all sit in the same bucket, and net you a felony weapons charge (though firearms are treated more seriously.) Basically, in the law, anything you intend to do harm with is a weapon. So if you tell a cop "I'm carrying a frying pan to bash my ex's head in", you've just copped a felony weapons charge for possession of a frying pan with intent to do harm. It's more an issue around everyday carry of things like knives as tools - even hinting at self defense can get you in deep trouble. Remember folks: don't talk to cops without your lawyer(s) present.
This is also means you may have to prove lawful purpose for possession of something like bear spray that can, ipso facto, be assumed to be carried to do harm - the carve outs for knives, guns, bear spray etc. are very much "only when you need it for we say are lawful purposes" and generally don't include self defense.
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u/much_doge_many_wow 25d ago
Self defense exists only in common law and having something that you intend to use against someone is considered possession of an offensive weapon even if you only keep it for self defense. Your only allowed to use whatever you have to hand at the time of being assaulted to defend yourself.
Pepper sprays sit in the same category of firearm (yes it is considered a gun legally) as say an mg42. Only museums can legally own them