Founded in 2021 by David Leeland, Guardian Angel Pepper Spray Systems (GASS) is a company dedicated to reducing home invasions and domestic violence. As part of its mission, GASS is embarking on a new initiative with the launch of its Camera Defender GA 2000, a camera-mounted spray system, in 2026.

“Traditional security systems sound alarms and photograph break-ins, but they don’t physically stop intruders,” Leeland said. “The Camera Defender GA 2000 gives homeowners and business owners the power to stop criminals the moment they’re identified on camera by temporarily disorienting them. This fills a critical gap between detection and physical defense, providing law enforcement more time to respond.”

The GA 2000 comes mounted to a WYZE Pro Cam camera or can be purchased to attach to existing surveillance cameras. Once a perpetrator is identified and captured on video, the property owner can remotely activate pepper spray or food-grade colorant via a key fob.

A key component of the company’s mission is to add another proactive layer to a comprehensive security system. “I’ve always been a big believer … that what we need to do is we need to have concentric layers of security,” said Kirk MacDowell, business advisor, Guardian Angel Pepper Spray Systems and president and CEO, MacGuard Security Advisors, Inc. “Years ago, we had intrusion systems, and we had camera systems that didn’t talk to the intrusion systems. Now we have video that really communicates with the intrusion, so we’ve extended that area of detection, and we’ve provided this concentric layer of security outside the home to the cameras.”

What’s still out of control, however, is how quickly law enforcement can make it to the scene of a disturbance. “So David said ‘we need to develop a type of system that can disable to some degree an intruder without using deadly force,’” MacDowell said. Thus, GASS entered the market.

What Dealers & Integrators Should Know

As part of its release plans, GASS is offering a unique opportunity for investors, manufacturers and integrators to participate in bringing a full line of physical defense systems against property invasions to market.

GASS will offer wholesale pricing to dealers for the solution. For integrators, because the product’s installation is simple --- to roll out on a DIY basis --- Guardian Angel plans to offer a guide on how to install the product and the legalities of it. “We are not attorneys, so [integrators are] going to have to confer with their attorney and also their E&O carrier,” MacDowell said. “The better we can train people in the beginning, the more adept they’re going to be able to do to continue selling this and offering this to clients.”

Though GASS does offer a full camera and discharge nozzle system, the company plans to offer the nozzle system independent of the cameras, to be installed on just about any camera out there. “We don’t want to force them to buy a camera they don’t want to use,” MacDowell said. “Or, you have an integrator who is standardized on a specific camera manufacturer, that’s fine as well. And we’re happy to work with camera manufacturers and even do a built-in on one of their housing units if that’s what they so desire.”

Additional services offered with the technology mirror those of a fire system. “Say we can come out once a year, take inert gas and spray it to make sure the line’s clean and everything’s fine. … You’re selling inspection,” MacDowell says. “If I was to open ‘Kirk Alarm’ tomorrow, I would buy the unit and charge probably $25 a month for additional RMR.”

Use Cases & Target Markets

In its infancy, the concept of GA 2000 was simple: provide consumers with a device that could discharge pepper spray or other types of divertive spray to disable perpetrators while the consumer calls the police and seeks a safe location. An important purpose of using a non-lethal spray extends beyond legality; if someone is breaking into a home, and the homeowner pulls out a gun to shoot them, it’s not guaranteed they’ll overcome the trauma of having to shoot someone. “So David said, ‘Let’s have an intermediary. Let’s have something in-between deadly force and between the camera activating and the intrusion system,’” MacDowell said.

To start, GA 2000 will launch nationwide. MacDowell predicts the early adopters of the technology will be those who have issues with an estranged partner. In close second, MacDowell predicts, are those who have had intense confrontation with a neighbor. “I think what will happen is very similar to what we have found in the doorbell space. It’s going to exponentially curve, and you’re going to see an intake of the amount of people that are offering this.”

For now, the company is remaining cautious with deployment in commercial markets due to varying state laws and the initial launch not having remote capabilities. “Because what we don’t want to do is have a business owner drive to the location to go in and press a button. They’re driving into danger,” MacDowell said. “We are absolutely determined to make sure that it’s only deployed at the appropriate time, under the appropriate circumstances, and in conformance with state and local law.”

The GA 2000 is strictly for use in dangerous situations where first responders may not get to the location in time to prevent something terrible from happening. “The company has elected not to do this remotely. Because, if I’m at work, and someone’s breaking into my home, I’m angry, right? But I also cannot press that button and discharge because I’m not in fear of my life,” MacDowell added.

MacDowell strongly recommends using the nozzle with a video verification solution. “Somebody could be banging on your door, and you get scared, but there could be a traffic accident down the street and their cell phone is dead, so they’re trying to get somebody’s attention. That’s not a bad person,” MacDowell said. Having the camera in place, especially with audio, opens a line of communication in uncertain situations for the homeowner to properly assess what’s going on before deploying any sprays.

As part of its compliance with safety and legal regulations, the camera or nozzle comes with a sign visible to potential bad actors that says something to the effect of “Property protected by pepper spray gas.” There will also be contracts in place ensuring all legal requirements are met and clearly stated. It is also possible to deploy different types of sprays that will not cause any physical harm, like a color spray. Instead of pepper spraying a potential intruder, the nozzle will spray, for example, bright green all over the bad actor. “It creates that moment of questioning by the suspect,” MacDowell said. “I think it’s an elevated step in terms of the release of the chemical agent.”

Market Launch

As GASS prepares for its 2026 product launch, the company is actively seeking strategic partnerships and licensing opportunities with security integrators, manufacturers and investors. “We’re eager to work with partners who share our vision for proactive property protection and recognize the value of this innovative technology,” MacDowell said. “This is a ground-floor opportunity to participate in the next evolution of home and business security.”

To learn more about GASS and the GA 2000, visit its website.