Why are batons illegal in California?

Why are batons illegal in California?

Batons fit into the Law Enforcement “continuum of force” between fists and guns. It is a weapon used to subdue, not “stop”. A baton is rarely (successfully) used as a threat alone, but to actively strike major muscle groups to cause pain and muscle spasam, leading to collapse and arrest.

Is it legal to have a baton in California?

PC 22210 – Are batons and billy clubs illegal in California? Penal Code 22210 PC is the California statute that makes it a crime for a person to manufacture, import, sell, give, or possess leaded canes or batons. This charge can be filed as a misdemeanor or a felony.

Can I use a baton for self defense in California?

Most citizens cannot possess batons legally in California, but exceptions do exist. The fact that you are unaware that a particular weapon, such as a baton, is illegal, is irrelevant – in California, ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

Is a baton an illegal weapon?

California is the only state where expandable batons are illegal to both own and carry. In Massachusetts, New York, and Washington D.C. batons are illegal to carry, but legal to own for home use. There are no federal laws against carrying expandable batons.

What is considered a baton in California?

Any small hand-held object that has been unnaturally weighted down can be considered a prohibited weapon under this law. The prosecution can still charge you with PC 22210, batons even if you do not think the object in your possession is a baton or similar to it.

Are monkey fists illegal in California?

shall be guilty of a felony. …” It is evident from a reading of the foregoing statute that the possession of a “monkey fist” is not made illegal by such act nor is a “monkey fist” commonly known as a black-jack, slungshot, billy, sand-club, sandbag or metal knuckle.

Is it illegal to carry a bat in California?

Thousands of small replica wooden bats are given out every year at major league baseball parks. In the recent case of People v Baugh, decided on February 9, 2018, the First District Court of Appeal in California found that exactly such a bat constitutes a weapon and is illegal to possess under Penal Code Section 22210.

Is it illegal to have a baseball bat in your car in California?

It is not illegal to carry a baseball bat in one’s vehicle. As a general proposition what makes an object a deadly weapon is its manner of use, assuming it is not specifically defined as an illegal weapon. A bat that is designed for use in sport is not illegal to possess or carry in your car.