I’m curious if, as a concealed carry license holder, I can carry a collapsible baton? Thanks – Kase
Texas
We advise that you may not carry a club or collapsible baton on your person unless you are on your premises or at a premises directly under your control, or directly outside of or en route to your motor vehicle or watercraft. An illegal club includes, but is not limited to: a collapsible baton, blackjack, tomahawk, mace, or nightstick. – Curtis Reynolds, Walker & Taylor, PLLC
Oklahoma
In Oklahoma 21 O.S. section 1272 prohibits the carrying of a billy, baton, collapsible baton, sap, club, or similar weapon under the authority of the SDA, Self Defense Act. Having a CCL, does not authorize the carrying of similar weapons. Possession in your home, or on private land is okay, however carrying a collapsible baton is prohibited.
Missouri
If you are a licensed CCW holder, you may carry a collapsible baton in MO. If you do not hold a CCW permit, carrying a baton will be considered Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Batons are considered to be in the same category as black jacks and are addressed by the Missouri legislature in RSMo Sec. 571.030.1.
Florida
Yes, a collapsible baton would fall under the definition of a billie, which is allowed under your CWFL. (13) “Weapon” means any dirk, knife, metallic knuckles, slungshot, billie, tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device, or other deadly weapon except a firearm or a common pocketknife, plastic knife, or blunt-bladed table knife.
Georgia
Yes, Kase, you can. Impact weapons such as nightsticks, “monkey fists”, and batons are not included in the definition of weapons for which a license would be required before lawful carry. They may be prohibited in a school safety zone by virtue of O.C.G.A. §16-11-127.1, the school safety zone law, but are not otherwise considered weapons by definition in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-125.1 (the statute that generally defines “weapon” in Georgia) if carried in the unauthorized locations listed in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127. Impact weapons are included in the state pre-emption doctrine codified in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-173(f). No local jurisdiction may enact ordinances regulating them.
Pennsylvania
The law surrounding collapsible batons, like many things unfortunately, is not entirely black and white. The controlling statute is 18 Pa.C.S. §908- Prohibited Offensive Weapons. The statute creates criminal liability for possession of prohibited offensive weapons. An offensive weapons is specifically defined as “Any bomb, grenade, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches, firearm specially made or specially adapted for concealment or silent discharge, any blackjack, sandbag, metal knuckles, dagger, knife, razor or cutting instrument, the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, spring mechanism, or otherwise, any stun gun, stun baton, taser or other electronic or electric weapon or other implement for the infliction of serious bodily injury which serves no common lawful purpose.”
While a collapsible baton or asp is not specifically listed, it is the position of US Law Shield that a collapsible baton would be classified as a weapon for the “infliction of serious bodily injury which serves no common lawful purpose”, and as such is a prohibited offensive weapon. You cannot own, possess, or carry a prohibited offense weapon, even if you have a License to Carry Firearms.
Colorado
In Colorado, a concealed carry license solely provides permission to conceal carry a firearm and is not a license to carry any other weapon. Further, under C.R.S. 18-12-102(2), a “blackjack” is included as an “illegal weapon.” “Blackjack” is defined under 18-12-101(a.5) as “any billy, sand club, sandbag, or other hand-operated striking weapons consisting, at the striking end, of an encased piece of lead or other heavy substance and, at the handle end, a strap or springy shaft which increases the force of impact.” A collapsible baton would likely fit this definition of “blackjack.” A person who knowingly possess an “illegal weapon” commits a class one misdemeanor.
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