Pepper sprays of between 35 grams and 120 grams are already being sold in Guayaquil, but only to military or police personnel and will remain so until there are further details on measures adopted by the government to allow their use for personal defense and the sale of electricity that item to the general public.

Carolina Flores, general manager of the Swat Store, which sells Saber Red pepper spray, comments this way: a small one contains 35 grams with a range of four meters and has between 14 and 15 sprays for a value of $16.50. The 120 gram one also has a range of four meters, delivers 35 sprays and costs around $30-$35.

After twelve years, the carrying of weapons for civilian use for personal defense was allowed again

He says it before Press release of the President of the Republic Guillermo Lasso, to authorize individuals to carry and use pepper spray, have already been sold to military or police personnel through credentials. Now they are waiting for more information about the methodology for public marketing.

Your company, as a supplier of this product, is authorized by the Joint Chiefs of Staff Arms Control. At the end of each month, they submit a report to that department about what was sold.

What is pepper spray and what are its effects? Its carrying and use is allowed in Ecuador for personal defense

He believes that, even if the use of this aerosol is approved, there will still be restrictions or requirements that citizens must comply with. As an example, he cites the police record and further surveillance, which requires a copy of the identity card of the person making the purchase.

“If the free sale of this pepper spray is now open, you must buy it at an authorized place with the corresponding receipt because now you will find it everywhere, but mostly it will be illegal sales, it will be entered without paying taxes, so we have to find a way to control it all.” If it’s going to be sold to civilians, there’s a biker type, lipstick types, key chains, pens.

How do you take over weapons and curfew in business?

However, This control of who is sold to is not fulfilled in all stores. There are jobs where they are promoted through social networks.

A shop in the center of Guayaquil sells them even before the government’s announcement. They sold one or two a week, small or in a pouch for $13 each. There is currently a greater interest in which they no longer have stock.

“Yes, they came looking for him, but now he is gone. The same distributor said, ‘This can be sold, just take it,’ because it’s for your own defense. If they kill you, you don’t even defend yourself with this…”.

Two more places were consulted, which are also in the north of the city, but they did not want to talk and said that they were waiting for some more discussion about the scope of the decree issued by the Executive Power.

Parameters given by the Government

On April 1, as part of measures to combat insecurity, the Government adopted Regulation 707:

After the president’s announcement, the sale of pepper spray is increasingly being promoted on social networks. And in addition other personal defense items, such as hand protection gloves costing $5 and $6.80; and folding umbrella-like sticks, between $5.25 and $20.70, depending on size.