United Tactical Systems, developer of the world’s leading non-lethal professional and personal defense products, announced that its innovative and easy-to-use personal protection device, PepperBall LifeLite, is now available to the public. PepperBall has been in use for over two decades by more than 5,000 law enforcement and military agencies, but has not been available to the public until now. PepperBall offers an effective solution when lethal force is not warranted or permissible and is ideal as a non-lethal option at home, places of worship, while traveling, in schools and the workplace.
PepperBall LifeLite personal protection devices can be openly carried and are user-friendly. These launching devices use CO2 cartridges to accurately propel small, non-lethal plastic projectiles 60 feet at a velocity of 270 feet per second. On impact, these projectiles burst open to create a cloud of potent, debilitating pepper powder. The powder is designed to painfully disrupt normal function of the eyes, nose, lungs, and central nervous system, halting the immediate assault but without causing permanent bodily damage. PepperBall need not hit the body to be effective; the projectile can strike proximately and still overwhelm the assailant. The technology can also impact assailants even when they are not in the direct line of sight. Unlike pepper sprays and “stun gun”-like devices, PepperBall LifeLite gives users the advantages of time, distance, and accuracy. These in turn give users the confidence to carry and use the device when necessary.
According to Monte Scott, Director of Training at PepperBall, “Our system is all about simplicity and ease-of-use in a hazardous situation. Our research and customer testing with PepperBall LifeLite shows that once they have had a couple minutes of experience with the launcher, people are immediately confident that they can use it without hesitation. To them it’s not something scary—it’s a straightforward and useful tool.”
The PepperBall LifeLite is first being made available through the company website at www.pblifelite.com. The device will also be distributed through select channel partners in the RV, outdoor recreation, and commercial trucking markets. Video of the PepperBall LifeLite in use can be viewed here.
School Security
PepperBall LifeLite is also ideal for the non-lethal defense of schoolchildren, teachers, and staff. The PepperBall® Protect program places the technology directly in the hands of school security officials, who can safely store it in classrooms where it can will be instantly available in the event of an attack. The program combines the PepperBall® technology with comprehensive training from company and local law enforcement officials, empowering users to operate this life-saving defense technology knowledgably and confidently. The program can be tailored to fit existing emergency and lockdown protocols.
School districts are spending millions of dollars on surveillance, lockout/lockdown and other security systems, but have not effectively addressed the dilemma of how to subdue and stop an attack in progress. PepperBall LifeLite provides a highly effective, non-lethal option that empowers rank and file staff to protect themselves and their schools. More information about this program can be found at https://pepperballprotect.com
Home and Personal Use
Home invasion is a serious threat in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately 1 million burglaries occur annually with residents inside their home, with 27% of those residents becoming victims of a violent crime. According to the FBI, 1 in every 36 homes is expected to be robbed based on recent statistics. Beyond preventative measures like locks or passive measures like alarms, PepperBall LifeLite™ provides residents with a form of security they can use when a burglary is in process. It is also highly portable and can be used while walking the dog, in the outdoors generally, or while in a vehicle.
Outdoor and RV
Outdoor and RV enthusiasts can rest assured that they have an effective, usable personal protection device should they encounter a serious threat while in transit or at a campsite. From 2002 to 2007, the U.S. National Park Service statistics show 63 homicides, 240 rapes, 309 robberies, 37 kidnappings, and 1,277 attacks on their properties. Soft body armor and guns are used today by an increasing number of national park rangers. Many would be surprised to know that per capita, violent crime rates are roughly the same everywhere—even in wilderness areas. Adding to the need for effective personal defense in these remote or rural areas is an absence of law enforcement patrols and assistance. Boaters are similarly vulnerable, with piracy a rare but real danger.
Commercial Trucking
Commercial truckers face a number of occupational safety hazards that include robbery and violence. A growing number of female truckers are particularly vulnerable to violence including sexual assault. While long haul trucking robberies and violence have long been problems in Mexico and throughout Latin America, the United States has also seen a significant rise in personal attacks on truckers as well as cargo hijackings.
Workplace and Office
According to the Society For Human Resources Management, some 27% of businesses have experienced at least one violent workplace incident. FBI statistics show that 80% of active shooter incidents occur in the workplace, with approximately 2 million people a year affected by some form of workplace violence. The recent lethal attack on a Maryland news organization, and countless other workplace violent acts where staff have been injured or killed, underscores the need for employers and office complexes to provide their personnel with the kind of stopping power that the PepperBall LifeLite offers.
“We’ve spent a great deal of time and effort designing, developing, testing, and perfecting PepperBall LifeLite, and it is now ready to serve the public with enhanced safety,” said United Tactical Systems CEO Ron Johnson. “We expect that there will be a significant and rising demand for this as the public and channel partners become familiar with its ease-of-use and effectiveness.”
For more information, visit www.pblifelite.com.
About PepperBall®
The PepperBall® system originates in a 1996 DARPA program. PepperBall® projectiles are precision-manufactured with a proprietary outer shell and live active irritant compound engineered to burst on impact into a temporarily incapacitating cloud with no harmful impacts. PepperBall® products are used by thousands of agencies across the U.S. and around the world, and offer a true non-lethal alternative with an unsurpassed safety record over thousands of incidents spanning 20 years. The company delivers professional certified training for users, instructors and armorers. PepperBall® engages with military agencies, law enforcement, and Tier One industry defense and security partners to continue evolving safe, versatile, effective variants for non-lethal solutions and missions. PepperBall® is a registered trademark of United Tactical Systems LLC, exclusive manufacturer and worldwide supplier of genuine PepperBall® products. For more information about PepperBall® and its products, please visit www.pepperball.com.
