Is pepper spray muktzah?

Question

Is it permitted to carry pepper spray for self-protection on Shabbos or Yom Tov mitzad muktzah?

Is there any issue with using aerosols on Shabbos? discusses a machlokes of using sprays on Shabbos, however, according to the stringent opinions, would pepper spray be muktzah being that it's carried around for self defense?

I don't think this is a clear cut case of pikuach nefesh, as there's not necessarily any tangible threat, it's just a precaution.

Or a knife, or a gun... Why do you ask about pepper spray specifically? — DonielF, Sep 13 '18 at 19:11
@DonielF a knife can be used for food or many other things that are definitely muttar, and it definitely doesn't have any issue with zoreh. A gun would be ossur except in a case of pikuach nefesh, as it makes a spark and causes bleeding, among other issues, while pepper spray might be mutar in a case of defending property, unless there's a problem of zoreh. — user613, Sep 13 '18 at 19:20
A knife is a kli shemelachto l’heter. That isn’t a blanket allowance to carry it anywhere. While I don’t have sources, i know lots of people who carry guns on Shabbos. You make a good point with zoreh - you should edit it into your question. — DonielF, Sep 13 '18 at 19:22
@DonielF good point. Then maybe a knife is more of an issue, as it'll cause blood in a defense situation. The main reason why I mentioned pepper spray is because that's what I'm interested to know. I don't have a gun and I don't carry knives. — user613, Sep 13 '18 at 19:25
pepper spray is inherently food https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNYobXLCUhY — rosends, Sep 13 '18 at 19:48
If the pepper spray is being carried for self-defense I don't see why it'd be different than carrying a gun which is also permissible (Shmirat Shabbat KeHilchita 8:28) — Oliver, Sep 13 '18 at 20:00
@Doniel Some (Tosafot?) hold that cutlery has the same status as food and can be carried in all circumstances — Joel K, Sep 14 '18 at 13:53

Is pepper spray muktzah?

0 Answers0