Chemical irritant dispenser

A dispenser for dispensing a substance from a pressurized canister having a nozzle and a selectively operable valve that is open when the nozzle is diverted from axial alignment with said canister and closed otherwise, said dispenser comprising:

• an elongate housing for a pressurized canister, said elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said distal end has an aperture formed therein;
• a manually manipulable element;
• and
• a spring within said elongate housing, said spring including a first leg and a second leg having an opening therein through which the nozzle of the pressurized canister can extend, wherein an outer end of said first leg is attached to said manually manipulable element and wherein an outer end of second leg is retained substantially stationary with respect to the pressurized canister, such that said outer end of said first leg can flex toward and pivot about said outer end of said second leg to permit at least one of said manually manipulable element and said spring to contact said nozzle and divert said nozzle from axial alignment with said canister to open the valve and release said substance through said aperture.