Derived from the cayenne pepper plant, oleoresin capsicum (OC) or pepper spray first came to prominence via the US Postal Service in the early 1980’s as a dog repellent. By the end of the decade the FBI and other law enforcement agencies had introduced pepper spray to their field operatives as a non-lethal weapon ideal in subduing crime suspects. Today pepper spray is successfully used by millions of law enforcement and non-law enforcement people in the US and throughout the world.