Unlawful to carry a baton

[Cogent Design]

Doing some reading as I was looking for a good self defense tool. According to Article 46, a baton is defined as a club and cannot be carried legally. I even found a story about a guy was charged with a crime for having a can of pepper spray in his car.

Am I reading this right? We can lawfully walk down the street with a rifle on our backs, but not baton on our person, was this law revised at some point?

What can we do to get it changed?

PENAL CODE CHAPTER 46. WEAPONS

 

[txinvestigator]

From the link

Sec. 46.02. UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPONS. (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun, illegal knife, or club if the person is not:
(1) on the person's own premises or premises under the person's control; or
(2) inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle or watercraft that is owned by the person or under the person's control.

So of course you can carry a club. You just have to be compliant with the above.

And carrying a rifle is subject to penal code 42.01.

Do you have a CHL?

Pepper spray is a much better choice than a club unless you have specific training for the club.

PS I am a use of force instructor.

 

[wakal]

Pepper spray also requires training...

PS I am a professional use of force instructor, not a mandatory one.

 

[Acera]

Lots of good information in these threads to answer your questions.

http://www.texasguntalk.com/forums/...ival/51421-expandable-batons-legal-carry.html

http://www.texasguntalk.com/forums/san-antonio/60153-collapsible-baton.html

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

I'm sneaky. I got a CHL and some batons that shoot handgun ammo to skirt the law.

Here's the main baton I carry...
http://us.glock.com/products/model/g22

 

[Acera]

You could carry a flashlight

Sportlites 22" trucker's flashlight and tire thumper - Walmart.com

 

[Vaquero]

The marching band is doomed.

 

[txinvestigator]

Pepper spray also requires training...

PS I am a professional use of force instructor, not a mandatory one.

Don't know why you wrote "also". And what do you mean by "requires training"?

 

[JohnnyLoco]

The Irish used shillelaghs/blackthorn walking sticks for years when the British banned clubs. It was and still is a formidable weapon. Cold Steel makes a polypropylene version Irish Blackthorn Walking Stick - Cold Steel Knives
or you can get an authentic wooden one online or Ebay.

Or make one yourself.

 

[shipwreck]

You could carry a flashlight

Sportlites 22" trucker's flashlight and tire thumper - Walmart.com

i have seen those. Kinda kewl. However, I personally worry about running afoul with this thing, and the police.

 

[Hoji]

i have seen those. Kinda kewl. However, I personally worry about running afoul with this thing, and the police.

I see what you did there.