You should but tell her not to think it will save her in any situation because it won't. However it is better than nothing. I would add a police whistle as noise is often a woman or girl's best defense.

I don't see why not. Sixteen is old enough for her to be mature about having pepper spray. If it makes her less nervous when going out, that's a good thing, and it can be useful in some situations.

Just keep in mind, though, that she's not the one to blame in an incident. Blaming the victim is one of the worst, most harmful and completely incorrect viewpoints one can take. The attacker is the one to blame, and a person carrying or not carrying pepper spray does not change this one bit.

To answer this question I'd need some more info. Where exactly is a 16 year old going that she would need to have pepper spray? Is it simply to have in her purse in the event that something could happen? Do you live in a rough area?
If she is a mature 16 year old, and wants to feel protected where ever she is then I would buy it for her BUT.....make sure that she is taught how to use it and the proper way to spray it. (Not directly at the eyes like most people think---right in the middle of the forehead is a better place to aim--like the third eye area--just a tip.) Also, go over the do's and dont's with her and explain that she is responsible if someone gets seriously hurt if it was her pepper spray being used. (In other words, don't let your friends use it, borrow it or toy around with it.)
When I was a young mom and I would jog early in the morning I always had two things on me, my pepper spray and my HOMICIDE DETECTIVE t-shirt.
Best of luck to you.

I think you should by pepper spray for your daughter. I carry pepper spray myself on my key chain. It always makes me feel a little bit better just in case something happens. I don't go to bars, clubs and all that stuff, but bad things can happen anywhere.
If she's mature enough to understand what it's for and how to use it, I'd say get it for her. That 15 year old girl that was gang raped outside her school in California recently would have been grateful if her mom had given her pepper spray. I'm not saying that it would've saved her from being raped, but it might have.
Personally, I just feel a lot more save & secure knowing that I can always reach for it, if something happens. (And belief me I will) There are a lot of crazies out there, just watch the news.
Hope that helps.

Yeah!
Am 17 and i have had pepper spray since i was 16! Its good, real good. I have used it once, on a guy who wanted to come on to me. The cops came and it really helped.
Advantages of pepper spray:
•Pepper spray should be considered a distraction device to buy you time to escape, and not a personal weapon that always incapacitate an aggressor.

•The effects of pepper spray wear off after 30 to 45 minutes, but may have some residual effects days later.

•It can be kept readily accessible in your backpack, purse, and/or hand.

•The response to pepper spray is involuntary (not dependent on pain response) by causing a physical reaction from the mucous membranes—eyes, nose, and lungs. The results are near loss of sight (temporary) and a severe restriction of upper and lower respiratory breathing.

•Pepper spray may be ineffective on certain ethnicities because of their high consumption of hot spices in their foods. Their bodies have developed some immunity to react to pepper sprays, and the defensive spray maybe less effective.

The Student Code Of Conduct and University policy permits the possession and carrying of pepper spray as a defensive weapon; however, if it is used in any offensive and/or negligent manner a person will be looking at administrative sanctions and/or criminal liabilities.

Tell your child it can be very dangerous and can cause cancer or death (something very horrible). She has to be careful and should not show her friends! They might want to play with it.