Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, a person who possesses a chemical substance for the purpose of personal self-defense in accordance with subsection i. of N.J.S. 2C:39-6 and who releases or discharges that chemical substance upon or toward another person shall not be liable in any civil action for damages resulting from that release or discharge when the actor reasonably believes that the releasing or discharging of that chemical substance is immediately necessary for the purpose of personal self-defense. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to grant immunity to any person causing any damage by his willful, wanton or grossly negligent unlawful releasing or discharging of such a chemical substance upon or toward another person.
N.J.S. § 2A:62A-20