Parisians Buy Tear Gas and Pepper Spray Amid Social Unrest

Key summary

Residents in Paris are purchasing tear gas canisters and pepper spray to protect themselves and their property as protests are expected to continue throughout the weekend. France has faced severe social unrest recently, with demonstrations escalating into riots involving looted shops, burned town halls, and clashes between rioters and police across the country. Police permitted a trade union rally in Paris on Saturday (24) but denied requests from major student unions like UNEF and the yellow vest movement. Yves Goulet, owner of Armorie de la Bourse in central Paris, told Reuters that sales of non-lethal weapons have increased significantly since last weekend. He stated this is the first time such a surge has occurred across all demographics, with customers including shop owners, restaurant owners, and ordinary citizens. The best-selling items are pepper spray and tear gas canisters, which Goulet says are for self-defense only. Orders have risen tenfold according to Goulet, who is also president of the National Association of Gunsmiths. Only small canisters with a volume not exceeding 100 milliliters are legally available for public purchase. Reuters found no evidence that people in Paris are buying other types of weapons. Alan de Cressonzo, president of the French Chamber of Commerce, urged shop owners to refrain from using weapons to protect businesses and warned on Friday (23) that some owners were carrying baseball bats, crowbars, and shotguns. A motorcycle and scooter shop owner in Paris's 15th arrondissement told Reuters he bought three large canisters and one small canister of tear gas because attacks could happen without warning. The French government promised to increase security measures and deploy 70,000 police officers plus special units for Saturday (24), but the public's turn to self-defense reflects fear about the upcoming weekend.