Self-Defense or Security Risk? NJ College Bans Pepper Spray

Montclair State University, a public college in New Jersey, has sparked controversy with its strict weapons policy, which some argue effectively bans students from carrying even non-lethal self-defense tools like pepper spray. While most universities prohibit firearms and knives, Montclair’s ambiguous policy leaves students unsure whether carrying pepper spray for protection could lead to disciplinary action, including suspension or even expulsion.

According to John Petrolino of Bearing Arms, the university has refused to clarify its stance on pepper spray despite repeated inquiries. Meanwhile, gun rights advocate Liberty Doll highlighted the growing concern that such policies disproportionately impact women, who are statistically more likely to face assaults on college campuses.

Montclair’s Vague Weapons Policy

Montclair State University’s official policy prohibits students from “threatening to and/or bringing any weapon or facsimile of a weapon to campus.” The list of banned items includes firearms, explosives, hunting knives, BB guns, dart guns, and even bows and arrows. However, as Petrolino notes, the policy makes no explicit mention of pepper spray – neither banning it outright nor making an exception for it.

The absence of clarity leaves students in a precarious position. If a student is caught with pepper spray, would they face consequences? If they use it in self-defense, would they be punished? The policy states that violations can result in suspension at a minimum, with expulsion as the maximum penalty. This uncertainty could discourage students from carrying any form of self-defense, leaving them vulnerable in dangerous situations.

Rutgers Allows It, So Why Doesn’t Montclair?

One of the more baffling aspects of Montclair’s stance is that Rutgers University, another public college in New Jersey, explicitly allows students to carry small containers of pepper spray. As Petrolino points out, this inconsistency raises an important question: why is one public institution recognizing the right of students to defend themselves while another remains silent?

Rutgers’ policy suggests that there is no statewide mandate forcing public universities to ban pepper spray, making Montclair’s decision a matter of internal discretion. If that’s the case, then why won’t university officials provide a clear answer to the students, parents, and taxpayers funding the institution?

A Public University Funded by Taxpayers

Montclair State University is not a private institution – it is a state-funded university, meaning it operates using taxpayer dollars. According to Petrolino, Governor Phil Murphy’s 2025 budget proposal allocates $939.5 million in taxpayer funding to New Jersey’s 13 public colleges and universities, including Montclair.

This raises a constitutional issue. As a public institution, Montclair is expected to uphold constitutional rights, including self-defense. Petrolino argues that the university’s refusal to clarify its position, combined with its implicit ban on defensive tools, effectively disarms students in direct contradiction to the interests of the public funding it.

Liberty Doll: “This Is Irresponsible and Cruel”

Gun rights YouTuber Liberty Doll did not hold back in her critique of Montclair’s policy, calling it “downright ridiculous, irresponsible, and cruel.” She highlighted the troubling statistics surrounding sexual assault on college campuses, noting that many studies suggest nearly 27% of women will experience assault during their time in college.

While acknowledging that not everyone wants to carry a firearm, Liberty Doll stressed that banning non-lethal alternatives like pepper spray leaves students, particularly women, defenseless. “No one should be forced to carry,” she said, “but this is taking away an option that many women rely on.”

The University’s Weak Response

Petrolino reported that he reached out to several officials at Montclair, including the Office of the Dean of Students, the university president, the director of student conduct, and the chief of staff. Not a single one responded to his requests for clarification.

Only after his article was published did a university spokesperson, Andrew Mees, finally issue a response. However, the statement was vague, stating that Montclair’s policy “prohibits weapons” and that while items like pepper spray might be legal in New Jersey, the university reserves the right to ban them on campus.

When pressed about what options women have for self-defense, Mees listed resources like self-defense classes, a campus safety app, and the university police. As Liberty Doll pointed out, this response ignored the reality that calling campus police or reporting an assault after the fact does nothing to prevent the crime from happening in the first place.

Suspension for Self-Defense?

One of the most shocking aspects of Montclair’s policy is that if a student uses pepper spray to defend themselves, they could be suspended or expelled. Liberty Doll found this especially egregious, noting that the university would rather punish students for protecting themselves than acknowledge the dangers they face.

Montclair claims that “lawful self-defense would be considered” when determining disciplinary action, but this vague language offers no real protection. As Liberty Doll put it, “So you’re telling me a woman being attacked is supposed to hope that the university will consider her case fairly after she’s already been assaulted?”

Pepper Spray: A Weapon or a Lifeline?

New Jersey law does classify pepper spray as a weapon, but it allows civilians to carry it in small quantities for personal defense. The fact that Montclair treats it the same as a firearm or an explosive device defies common sense.

As Liberty Doll pointed out, self-defense tools are not just about preventing crime—they give individuals a fighting chance in situations where police cannot respond quickly enough. “There is no way that me, a 5’3” woman, is ever going to be able to fight off a 6’0” male attacker without some kind of weapon,” she argued. “That’s just not how physics works.”

Is This Really About Safety?

Montclair recently received a $500,000 grant from the DOJ to address campus safety, specifically in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault. The irony, as Liberty Doll noted, is that rather than empowering students to protect themselves, the university appears more focused on administrative measures that do little to prevent these crimes in real time.

Montclair’s approach – relying on security apps and campus police rather than allowing students to carry a basic self-defense tool – feels more like a bureaucratic solution than a practical one. By prioritizing policy over personal protection, the university risks putting students in harm’s way.

A Policy That Needs to Change

The university’s stance on pepper spray is not just a matter of campus policy; it is a question of students’ rights to protect themselves. If Rutgers can allow it, why can’t Montclair? If the state permits it, why does the university feel the need to go further?

Petrolino and Liberty Doll both agree that Montclair owes its students a clear answer. The silence from administrators suggests that either they haven’t fully thought through their policy, or they know it is indefensible. Either way, students deserve clarity – and more importantly, they deserve the right to defend themselves.

Who Does This Policy Help?

Ultimately, Montclair’s policy seems to serve no one but the administration. It does not make students safer. It does not prevent crime. It only ensures that the most vulnerable individuals on campus remain defenseless.

For now, students at Montclair remain in the dark, unsure whether carrying pepper spray could cost them their education. But as awareness grows and more people demand answers, the university may be forced to finally provide the clarity it has so far refused to give.

Explore the full insights by reading the Bearing Arms article here, and by viewing the video on Liberty Doll’s YouTube channel here.