In the event of an assault, carrying a weapon can be turned against you — legally as much as physically. Yet the rules that govern these objects remain widely misunderstood, or even ignored.
What the law says: a reality kept under wraps
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€15,000 in fines and up to 1 year in prison are incurred for carrying or transporting a Category D weapon — such as pepper spray or an electric stun device — without a legitimate reason (French Internal Security Code, article L317-8).
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Legally buying a Category D object and being allowed to carry it on you are two different things: keeping one at home does not entitle you to carry it in public.
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An offensive object has to be drawn, held and used under stress. It can then be snatched away and turned against the very person who reached for it.
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Self-defence requires an immediate and proportionate response to the attack (French Penal Code, article 122-5). Reaching for an offensive object makes that proportionality far harder to establish in court.
These rules show that the real question is not "How can I hurt my attacker?" but rather "How can I get to safety without ending up at the police station?"
Self-defense: far more than offensive weapons
Today, many experts advocate a broader and more realistic approach to personal safety:
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Immediately deter through sound, without physical confrontation.
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Instantly alert loved ones through technology.
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Get away and flee without taking physical or legal risks.
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Practice prevention against invisible threats before they arise.
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Work on awareness, anticipation and mindset.
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Know French law to systematically remain on the side of the victims.
"In France, the best defence doesn't draw blood. It shatters the attacker's element of surprise, draws attention, and opens the only option that matters: escape."
A tool for empowerment and comprehensive prevention
The My Self Key connected keychain and its Safe Cup protection were designed as a technological shield:
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Neither a weapon nor a Category D object: it can be carried freely day to day, without the legal risk attached to self-defence gadgets.
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A piercing 140 dB alarm to break the element of surprise and draw attention to you.
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An SOS button and an emergency QR Code to alert your trusted contacts and guide whoever comes to your aid.
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A physical barrier against drink spiking in social settings, with the Safe Cup drink cover supplied with the keychain.
Conclusion: yes, safety is a right: but not at the cost of your freedom
Self-defense doesn't always mean striking back.
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Sometimes it means triggering an alarm.
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Or sharing your GPS location.
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Or protecting your drink.
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Or simply running away.
It also means claiming the right to walk freely, without the burden of legal risk. Personal safety is both a skill and a right.
Reference sources
- French Internal Security Code, article L317-8 — carrying and transporting Category D weapons without a legitimate reason.
- French Penal Code, article 122-5 — conditions of self-defence.
