By Jim Mustian

The Advocate

CLINTON, La. — It has been called “the squirt gun from hell,” even by lawmen who haven’t experienced its memorable burn. Its chemical agent — a concentrated blast of pepper spray fired at a dizzying 405 mph — can disable and disorient an aggressor for 45 minutes or longer.

“This is potent enough to drop a bear,” said Darron Teeters, an instructor and regional director with JPX America, the Huntsville, Texas-based company pitching its patented pepper guns to law enforcement agencies across Louisiana. “One of these Louisiana people called it the ‘hot loogie.’ ”

Touted as a cheaper alternative to the stun gun, the JPX Pepper Gun is appearing on more and more police utility belts as another method of “less-lethal force” authorities can use to subdue unruly suspects. About 70 agencies in the state — mostly smaller, rural agencies — are using the devices, Teeters said, adding he expects that number to grow significantly in coming months.

Full Story: Video: Pepper guns gain traction with rural agencies