What Is Pepper Spray?

I never really understood the "need" to feel the pain of the individual getting pepper sprayed...Here is the argument: Do I need to be shot to understand that...just so I can carry a gun? Do I need to be smacked on the thighs full-speed with an asp? Re-certifying on that every year would be a bitch. Maybe you could do level II or level III re-certs for gunshots...just a little off the ear or a graze the knee.

The good thing about the "not for combat" use of this "chemical weapon" is that it is allowed in GTMO...so whoever didn't get it on the battlefield gets it in jail...weird, that.

Maybe I missed it in the article, but I think you are alluding to law enforcement personnel being subjected to it as part of their training. An example. Note the catchy, macho song that someone put to this. Also, note, that cadets -- at least in this instance -- are apparently supposed to retaliate by whacking away with a club at whomever sprayed them. Whack away even though you can't see well anymore. It doesn't matter who you hit at this point. (Protesters shouldn't get any crazy ideas from this, but I'm sure they have similar feelings if they get sprayed while just sitting doing nothing.) It's not the need for understanding. It's more of a badge that says, "See. We've endured this without serious consequences, so no one should complain about it's use."

The video + song says something about our culture, I think. Draw your own conclusions.

I have also been told that consequential over-spray in a tactical situation makes it necessary.

I can attest that over-spray in an excited environment does happen...but that doesn't count for annual refresher training.