In California it is illegal to own a baton and is a punishable offense as is stated in " Penal Code 22210 PC is the California statute that makes it a crime for a person to make, import, sell, give, or possess leaded canes or batons. This charge can be filed as a misdemeanor or a felony. A conviction can lead to up to 3 years in jail or prison."

This is an absolutely ludicrous law designed only to eliminate people's access to less then lethal defensive devices and allow prosecutors/law enforcement to stack up charges against people who otherwise were doing nothing wrong. All law enforcement in California carry batons specifically so that situations can be handled in a manner that enables them to use less then lethal force upon subjects. The fact that regular citizens would be treated as if they were criminals for wanting access to less then lethal devices for self defense is an absolutely ridiculous double standard. This regressive set of laws only serves as a tool of oppression against the common man and denies him of the most basic of his rights to secure himself from harm. Batons are cheap easily used and easily obtained. They have been used since antiquity by even the most meager of peasants to secure their lives against aggressors. Baton carry/ownership should be decriminalized.