In the list of items prohibited by USC Athletics from tomorrow’s football game, you have your usual contraband: explosives, illegal drugs, alcohol and parrots.
Tucked into the middle of that list is Mace/pepper spray.
Unlike firearms and explosives, students are actually encouraged to keep these non-lethal weapons on hand in case, say, one is attacked with a bat when walking late at night.
And in light of the heavy criminal activity in the past week, carrying around a small can of the substance seems like a smart choice.
So why, at such a public and well-attended event, does carrying mace, otherwise acceptable, become something absolutely prohibited?
Yes, pepper spray can be considered a weapon. By its nature, it caters to those using it in self-defense. We’re not saying some jerk wouldn’t go off the handle and spray an obnoxious fan of the opposing team.
But we’re willing to bet that someone with the foresight to buy Mace won’t be the type of person to go off the handle and soak people with it for fun.
Security while walking home or back to their cars is also relevant. It’s true; the Columbia police department have expanded the “safety net” to protect those in and around the stadium, according to The State. There are late night shuttles to bring students around campus. Various other precautions, like an app that immediately reports to USC police, have been promised in the coming weeks.
These are important developments.
Nevertheless, no system is perfect. Common sense says that when you gather a whole bunch of people in one place, the possibility for crime increases, too.
In the end, it’s up to each individual to protect him- or herself. We feel that the small chance of people misusing Mace is simply outweighed by the security, and sense of security, that holding that small canister can give.
If having pepper spray can prevent one person from getting physically harmed (or worse), then the entire enterprise is worth the danger.
Imagine you’re in a very large crowd: thousands on thousands of jostling, screaming fans, sun visors and garnet T-shirts mixed up in a boozy, sweaty fray.
Next, imagine someone is physically accosting you. Someone who is more than just a little drunk, and who isn’t stopping. Security is dotted throughout the crowd, but the roar of the sheer, unadulterated throng of screaming faces drowns out your voice.
Now, would you feel more or less safe if you had a can of Mace by your side?