Coin Sap - Opinions on how prosecutable this would be in Ca.

[paradox]

Most cops look at situations and apply the reasonableness standard to it. If your actions were reasonable for the situation, i.e. grabbed a baseball bat to stop someone who was stabbing another, you're going to come out on top. If you took same baseball bat to a kid tagging, you're going to come out on the bottom.

The DA and the courts will look at the reasonableness of your actions too.

[Decoligny]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Decoligny
If you grab something that is NOT designed/intended to be used as a weapon and use it as a weapon in a life or death situation, chances are you will not be prosecuted under 12020.

I'd rather avoid having to take my chances, especially with a felony.

In a LIFE or DEATH situation you would choose to avoid the possibility of felony charges over saving your own life or the life of a loved one?

If I stand a reasonable chance of dying, I am grabbing whatever I need to grab, legal or illegal, to defend my life. I would rather be alive and facing prosecution than dead and legally in the clear.

[Matt C]

Most cops look at situations and apply the reasonableness standard to it. If your actions were reasonable for the situation, i.e. grabbed a baseball bat to stop someone who was stabbing another, you're going to come out on top. If you took same baseball bat to a kid tagging, you're going to come out on the bottom.

The DA and the courts will look at the reasonableness of your actions too.

I think we are on the same page here, I'm just saying that if there is another option besides a blunt object (back again to the genesis of this thread) you are better off choosing that. Coin purses and sticks are not ideal weapons, at least in CA.

So you're saying you'd rather be dead than risk a felony? Shoot, if someone is trying to kill me I'm not going out that easy.

I'm saying I'd rather carry a weapon that isn't a felony to possess or intend to use for self defense.

[dantodd]

If you got jumped and beat up at the bus stop yesterday by a group punks, wouldn't it be prudent to bring whatever force multiplier you had available to the bus stop this morning? Isn't it reasonable to take precautions against getting assaulted again?

Yep, quite reasonable and also illegal for many weapons. If you can CCW that is probably your best option. If not then a good tactical pocket knife. If you don't like that then UOC if legal. A blunt weapon carried specifically for the purpose of self-defense is not permitted in CA.

[gunsandrockets]

Funny thing, a week ago I was browsing in a Sports Authority store and in the fishing section they had for sale a "fish billy". The "billy" wasn't like a billy club, it was a billy club.



Did the store not know the law? Or was that a case of bypassing the law is as simple as attaching a paper tag with a silly description written on it?

[Cokebottle]

Or was that a case of bypassing the law is as simple as attaching a paper tag with a silly description written on it?

Exactly.

Having a baseball bat under your seat may be a problem. Having a functioning Maglight is not. Having a baseball bat, ball, and glove is likely not.

Back in '81, my friend got pulled over for speeding. Cop searched his truck and found a motorcycle fork tube under the seat. One end was wrapped with twine and duct tape... it was obvious that it was an "equalizer".
On the duct tape, he had written "Bob's hood holder".

Cop looked at it and asked him to demonstrate. "Bob" (not his name) had replaced his truck's hood with a fiberglass hood... the springs were too strong so they were removed.
He popped the hood and stuck the fork tube in the corner... slipped one end over the bump stop on the support, and the other end fit into the corner of the hood.
The cop said "Okay, that's fine, I really didn't want to bust you for a felony"