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[Editor’s note: This bundle was originally planned to include pepper spray as a “humorously” inappropriate toy. However, our lawyers and common sense suggested we remove the pepper spray from the bundle. The following product description was written before this change, and has been edited to reflect it. We apologize. The person responsible for the pepper spray idea has been pepper sprayed.]

Have you heard of the new thing the kids are doing? It’s called “Peppering.” You take a can of pepper spray and shoot it on your face as long as you can. Lawmakers have recently learned of the phenomenon and are taking steps to have pepper spray blocked for sale to minors.

What are they thinking, these kids? Why were a bunch of boys in Wyoming recently caught spraying themselves in the face before band practice? The fact that they enjoyed it has been successfully demonstrated in interviews with the boys. It’s too early to say how widespread “peppering” is, but parents haven’t been this upset since the violent video game scare of the 1990s.

Some parents report that their children take “hits” of pepper spray to the face until one of them gives up. Others play a more elaborate game that includes many parts. Step 1: Spray yourself in the face with pepper spray by yourself. Step 2: Spray yourself in the face with pepper spray while others watch and cheer.
And although most kids enjoy “peppering” while hanging out with friends, others are reported to have made it a solo endeavor. Officials say it has been tough to collect data on this latter trend.

They also aren’t sure about the geographical distributing of “Peppering.” The first reports of the behavior were reported on the West Coast but it has been pretty difficult to triangulate back to the specific source.

We aren’t suggesting you buy these bundles of toys and give the pepper spray to your children. If you keep that for yourself your children won’t miss them. Then you can try “peppering” yourself and see if you like it very much.