Are expandable batons legal to carry?

[ROGER4314]

The laws make little sense. When I was bicycle riding, a dog attacked me and a baton would make perfect sense to ward off the attack. I have a CHL and carry always however. I will NOT start blasting away at a dog while riding a bike.

Flash

 

[TheDan]

Bear spray works on dogs, too. Just don't try to spray in front of you while you're pedaling forward, lol...

Flash, you're old... one advantage to that is no one is going to bat an eye to you having a cane.

 

[oohrah]

I do carry a gun, but I also work on a campus, so it is not always readily available. I've also had some professional hand-to-hand training, and you'd amazed at how effective a baton can be in a close situation, especially against a knife wielder. I just like to keep more options open.

 

[Charlie]

You can carry some nice "defensive" tools in your car/truck ............. as in, hammer, wrecking bar, etc.

 

[London]

Thanks Koinonia, please correct me if Im wrong but this means it is illegal to carry it around but is legal to keep it in my car.

Good luck swinging a baton in your car. :P

 

[London]

I do agree with you on "Why carry a stick when you can carry a gun?" That doesn't make much sense to me either, and am also a little curious as to oohrah's needs.

Doesn't make sense to us because we are gun owners. Look at the bigger picture- a lot of people out there can't afford guns.

Laws against good, cheap weapons make perfect sense when you consider who wrote them (powerful whites) and who they were trying to disarm (blacks- who were usually poor). Wanna keep blacks disarmed? Ban possession of everything but the weapons they can never afford. CHL laws have similar roots- blacks were of course always denied their permits.

Nowadays these laws are an unfortunate surviving vestige from a more oppressive time. They are excellent at disarming people who often need weapons the most.

 

[40Arpent]

I do carry a gun, but I also work on a campus, so it is not always readily available. I've also had some professional hand-to-hand training, and you'd amazed at how effective a baton can be in a close situation, especially against a knife wielder. I just like to keep more options open.

That's the answer right there in bold to "why carry a stick when you can carry a gun"....I mean, what's wrong with carrying both, right?
Are those that are asking that question suggesting a gun be your only means of defense? Do y'all not carry knives in addition to your gun?

 

[ROGER4314]

When I posted this question a while back, the LEO's responded with Texas State law provisions. There may also be municipal ordinances. In general, however, it's a safe bet that the right cop could ruin your day if you carry a baton.

Flash

 

[TheDan]

I mean, what's wrong with carrying both, right? Are those that are asking that question suggesting a gun be your only means of defense? Do y'all not carry knives in addition to your gun?

Nah, there's nothing wrong with carrying both. Just because I wouldn't do it, doesn't mean someone else might not have the need for it. I do carry knives, but they aren't for self defense; that would be a very bad day indeed... My primary piece of defensive equipment is comfortable shoes I can run in. For any type of bad situation, I'm just going to un-ass the area pronto. That's my "less than lethal" response. If I don't see an exit or don't have time before the attack starts, then yes I go strait to the gun.

 

[Papa Glock]

Carry a walking cane. the end can be weighted if needed.

 

[40Arpent]

...I do carry knives, but they aren't for self defense; that would be a very bad day indeed...

But you never know what kind of day you are gonna have, so why not be as prepared as possible (within reason), for the worst. At least that's how I see it. As for the shoes, we are on the same page.

 

[AMERICANTARGETS741776]

that's how I feel. A moving target is a lot harder to hit than a stationary haha.

 

[Shady]

not all of us want to kill people when we can just bust his knee cap and both walk away errr well both live another day.

[/B]That's the answer right there in bold to "why carry a stick when you can carry a gun"....I mean, what's wrong with carrying both, right?
Are those that are asking that question suggesting a gun be your only means of defense? Do y'all not carry knives in addition to your gun?

 

[Hoji]

not all of us want to kill people when we can just bust his knee cap and both walk away errr well both live another day.

Guess how I know that you have had no formal training on the use of an expandable baton.

 

[txinvestigator]

Guess how I know that you have had no formal training on the use of an expandable baton.

Or of what constitutes "deadly force".

 

[vmax]

Why carry a stick when you can carry a gun? Are you prohibited from carrying? Not judging, just trying to understand.

this.
if you are close enough to a threat that you have to use a stick, you are in deep doo doo already

 

[Tony2]

Nah, there's nothing wrong with carrying both. Just because I wouldn't do it, doesn't mean someone else might not have the need for it. I do carry knives, but they aren't for self defense; that would be a very bad day indeed... My primary piece of defensive equipment is comfortable shoes I can run in. For any type of bad situation, I'm just going to un-ass the area pronto. That's my "less than lethal" response. If I don't see an exit or don't have time before the attack starts, then yes I go strait to the gun.[/QUOTE

For the win

 

[Lipps]

Used by truckers every day to check proper tire pressure.

 

[Shady]

My guess would be a baton is considered deadly force, but we all know you are less likely to do major damage/death than if you shoot someone. I would just as soon be judged by 12 for smacking someone with a club over shooting them in the face. If I am in a situation that calls for that level of force I am not worried about the consequences at the time I have my life to save.

Guess how I know that you have had no formal training on the use of an expandable baton.

 

[txinvestigator]

My guess would be a baton is considered deadly force, but we all know you are less likely to do major damage/death than if you shoot someone. I would just as soon be judged by 12 for smacking someone with a club over shooting them in the face. If I am in a situation that calls for that level of force I am not worried about the consequences at the time I have my life to save.

Agree, except that whacking someone with a club exposes you to risk you don't have to endure. You have to get too close, you have to swing (easy to block) and strikes are not as effective.

If you are going to carry a baton, get some training with one.