California Expandable Baton Laws

[Dorsai58]

Of course, I'm not using it except in defense. I've been finding that just carrying it is a good deterrent when I ride the light rail. The thugs give me wary looks. Frowning like I want to beat the holy hell out of them helps as well. Like all hyenas they want a victim which I will fight like hell not to be.

[Mark in Eureka]

A current officer who is off duty may carry a baton concealed. A retired officer can not carry a baton concealed.

[OLDLEORET]

A couple of 45 rounds are just as effective on dogs if they are a danger.

[4EverPouring3WM]

Just go pick up the cold steel brookly crusher , a used baseball helmet n some nice "batting gloves" for good measure

[Patrick Aherne]

So,

with all the terrible crap that has happened to my fire service brothers on the east and south east coast of our beloved United States of America in recent days, a discussion has formed around the dinner table of my fire station in regards to how to effectively protect ourselves when we respond to fire and EMS incidents.

Now, we normally do not have law enforcement responding with us to 95% of our incident. We do have LE responding on domestics, fights, suicides, and 1144's. Of course, for the exception of the 1144's, we stage in the area until cleared by LE.

I have been in the fire service for 25 years and have had the unfortunate experience of being assulted, having weapons pulled on me, and even had my ambulace shot at. Some of my younger firefighters have had some of the same sh%t occure, working in beautiful downtown Compton and Ingelwood.

With all that said, understandibly, we are not going to carry guns and boot knives, but the idea of having one of the crew members (I am a captain on an engine company) carry an expandable baton either in the small of our back or even in one of our trauma bags (although it may not be readily available is s*it goes down in a house) may be the answere to our quest for piece of mind responding to some of our more dangerous areas with fun loving s*itizins..

So, my questions to my brotheren in blue is; are there any regulations/laws preventing civil servant firefighters from carrying an expandable baton in the name of self defence or crew protection?

Thanks for any information.

Don't you carry your irons? Duh. I'd much rather get hit with a baton than a Haligan or a fire axe. A hydrant wrench is a significant piece of metal, too. Stop watching so many DVDs and look at everything on your engine or that you carry that would make a dirtbag think twice...

[IA300]

Don't you carry your irons? Duh. I'd much rather get hit with a baton than a Haligan or a fire axe. A hydrant wrench is a significant piece of metal, too. Stop watching so many DVDs and look at everything on your engine or that you carry that would make a dirtbag think twice...

Ditto to this ^^^^^. Just justify the use, and likely, if you are justified in using an expandable baton, one would very likely be justified in using the hydrant wrench or hooligan tool.
I see reports all the time in which a patrol guy uses a flashlight or other object as a blunt force tool, when their batons were left in the unit or fell out during a foot pursuit.

[chad allred]

I really like my C2 Taser...
It has already saved my bacon once too.
I had a paroled felon want to kick my butt at work because I did not have anyone to service his transmission on a Saturday, and he had an appointment someone else made by mistake. I even offered to do it for free on Monday but he was pissed...threatened to kick my butt and kept acting aggressive. So...I pulled my taser out and put the red dot on him while trying to dial 911 with the other...
Long story short that taser saved my *****... this guy had huge arms,teardrop tattoo under his eye etc...
Some of my cop buddies just happened to be on the other side of my work in our cafe having breakfast so they went and picked him up....had been looking for him anyways...bad dude..
Maybe you should give the C2 a look?

[AR15Man]

Why hasn't anyone suggested a C2 Civilian model Taser.

Small, light, looks like a cellphone case on your belt and can be used via direct contact after the first probes are deployed.(It also has a cool LED spotlight and Red laser for aiming).

They also sell a extra belt loop carried reload case for an extra probe cartridge.

[AR15Man]

Hey Gang,

First and foremost, Happy New Years to all you folks.

I want to thank everyone who posted with your information. Silly for me to think that we didn't have "weapons' on the engine already....yes, we do all carry 4 D cell mags, have some real cool "master keys" and of course our brain/situational awareness.

Funny thing.....my crew and I have been taking in our mags into private homes, even at 11 in the morning for the past week....although, I did have to tell my more aggressive young firefighter to leave his axe and scabbard back on the engine when we responded to a 88 yo female with low blood pressure.....

I do live in another time zone, so fortunately, my new AR 15 and expandable batton that my wife bought me for Christmas will not have to be locked away and in hiding.....

Long live the AZ Rangers!

http://www.azrangers.us/

Here's a few sections of the Arizona Revised Statues(Penal Code),that you'll want to read;

ARS 13-105

"Dangerous instrument" means anything that under the circumstances in which it is used, attempted to be used or threatened to be used is readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury.

"Deadly weapon" means anything designed for lethal use. The term includes a firearm.

Here's a quote from a AZ Defensive Tactice Instructor;

http://www.arizonashooting.com/v3/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=14983

The ASP Baton is legal for anyone to have, there is NO legislation or ARS code that covers the having a baton. As I_B stated the ccw covers Lethal items, the ASP is designed for LESS THAN LETHAL uses and NO CCW is needed at all.

_________________
John Hansen
Black Wolf Defense
Affordable Firearms training!
623-694-0377
AZ CCW classes are $30
Defensive Handgun Class is $60
Paracord Items available too.

http://www.blackwolfccw.com

[gblacksmith]

Carry the Pepper & your CCW. Keep a 3 cell Maglite in the car. Collapsible batons are mediocre.

You can crush bones with that Maglite. The baton may or may not cause bruising. I speak from experience.

+2 to Big Stick's advice

[CaliTheCop]

It would have to be a real pos cop to arrest on this in my opinion.

[Xn0r]

Wow. What I've learned from reading this thread will have saved me from possibly getting into a lot of trouble. cough. Nuff said on that.

So I guess pepper spray is legal? I'll be sticking with that I guess, until I get a CCW (not holding my breath).

I carry a 4D maglite in my car too, both for emergency illumination, and as a self defense tool (hope I never need it). Any legal issues with that?

CA seems to really have issues with folks being prepared for self defense. sigh.

[mej16489]

I carry a 4D maglite in my car too, both for emergency illumination, and as a self defense tool (hope I never need it). Any legal issues with that?

Any blunt object with the intent to use it as a weapon (self defense or otherwise) is a 'billy' - in essence the same thing as an expandable baton like an ASP.

Maglite in car for use as a flashlight - not a problem. Maglite as self defense tool - illegal.

[Michael Ehline]

Any blunt object with the intent to use it as a weapon (self defense or otherwise) is a 'billy' - in essence the same thing as an expandable baton like an ASP.

Maglite in car for use as a flashlight - not a problem. Maglite as self defense tool - illegal.

Sounds like commiefornia

[1CavScout]

Ditto to this ^^^^^. Just justify the use, and likely, if you are justified in using an expandable baton, one would very likely be justified in using the hydrant wrench or hooligan tool.
I see reports all the time in which a patrol guy uses a flashlight or other object as a blunt force tool, when their batons were left in the unit or fell out during a foot pursuit.

I was actually taught defensive tactics using a flashlight in the academy, and carried one as an impact weapon for years (until my agency required us to carry a dedicated impact weapon). After I retired I took all my batons and straight sticks to AZ. I have no use for them anymore in CA since I can't legally carry one.