SALISBURY, NC (WCMH) — Pepper spray could soon be permitted at every high school in one North Carolina school district.

During a work session Monday night the board members of the Rowan-Salisbury School District voted to change the language of the rules about weapons, clearing the way for students to carry mace and other defensive sprays on campus.

Board of Education Chair Josh Wagner says the decision was about increasing student safety at school.

Board member Chuck Hughes said using the sprays was purely defensive, and he referenced the North Carolina law that limits LGBT rights, saying such sprays could help female students if they go to the bathroom and don’t know who’s coming in after them.

“Depending on how the courts rule on the bathroom issues, it may be a pretty valuable tool to have on the female students if they go to the bathroom, not knowing who may come in,” he told the Salisbury Post.

The changes would go into effect for the upcoming school year.

“It’s gonna be risky,” says gun shop owner Larry Hyatt told WCNC.

Hyatt sells defensive sprays at his store but has a policy against selling to anyone under 18.

“The parent does need to be involved, as far as we’re concerned, at that age,” Hyatt says.

However, there are some pros and cons with the peppery spray. Hyatt says students can do more to defend themselves against bullies but there is always the concern that the pepper spray could fall into the wrong hands.

“That’s one of the scary things that happens with weapons,” says 19-year-old recent grad Phillip Gatewood, whose younger brother and sister are still in high school. “It’s not really used for defensive purposes anymore.”

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