Greetings... I've been carrying pepper spray for a long, long time. I've only recently obtained my CCW permit here in Delaware and carry all of the time along with a new pepper spray contraption that looks just like a water pistol. Not every tight situation calls for the drawing of a firearm so I faithfully have a pepper spray ' gun ' in my pocket.
In my neighborhood is this monster Doberman which gets loose from time to time... spotted him from a 100 yards while walking my dog late one afternoon. We went the other way. My dog is a hunting dog breed and is friendly towards all people but he wanted to fight the Doberman... not a good thing at all... he's not young and has hip problems.
Anyway, one day at another close encounter he and I are strolling along when some family paying a visit to a distant neighbor opens their car door and their medium size mutt comes charging right to us with an aggressive countenance. Wish I had pepper spray then. The situation defused when I made aggressive moves towards the mutt. The moral of these stories is drawing my firearm is the very last resort in my world.
I do like to set up in my mind worst case scenarios. For example, I've been approached by derelicts a local parks asking for a cigarette and or pocket change when walking my pussy cat dog. Yeah, okay... like I'm going to put a hand in my pocket and get jumped at that moment ! So, at least with pepper spray I can ward these individuals off without
having to draw deadly force.
If such people keep coming at me after ordering them to keep back I believe it's better, if the situation allows, to defuse the situation without a death or serious injury from the use of a firearm. Yes, I'd back up if possible... but I'm from the big city of New York and know better than to turn my back on an approaching derelict who refuses to stop.
After viewing a million miles of youtub videos about Concealed Carry virtually no one suggests carrying pepper spray with a firearm permit. Mine is in my coat pocket with my hand on it almost at all times. Harsh language doesn't work !
Well, that's my 2 cents worth.