Baton Legality
 

Maybe theres a better forum for this type of question, but if there is I don't know it. What I'm wondering is the legality of carrying an extendable baton in Oregon (specifically Portland) and Washington (specifically Seattle), and also what brand you guys would recommend.

Also any suggestions on another nice legal self-defense weapon would be appreciated. Though I like my mace/baton combo atm :thumbsup:

Anyone know if mace and other self-defense weapons can be carried on Amtrak or in checked luggage? I'm living in portland atm but travel up to Seattle because of my girlfriend and tend to wander around when shes in class so I want my (legal) defense there also :p

you want self defense, get a Glock. Dont mess with that other stuff, its childs play. Glock .40 is a good self defense gun. Has good knock down power but with reasonable kick, not too much to get a second accurate shot in.

I would, but the whole being 18 and not able to get a concealed carry permit.. or a handgun.. really interfers with that.

Man, just scream like a girl and run then. You baton/mace combo of self defense is going to get you shot by a criminal with a Glock.

ya man untill your 21 anything but a gun will just iritate the bad boy with the gun.
If you still insist though on having somthing, consider a tazer

Check your lcoal laws- every state is different, and some allow a wide range of stuff, others are draconian about a pen knife- I personally believe something is better than nothing, but do be aware of the limitations of what you choose to utilize- nothing in the world is worth a damn unless you learn to use it, practice with it and have it handy in the event you need it- having been close to quite a few law enforcement professionals, and sold quite a few non-gun weapons, I feel that a good brand of pepper spray or mace is often a good bet, and will effectively incapacitate a good number of people- and piss them off at the same time- do not attempt to punch out someone whom you just maced- it will get you hurt- the idea is to mace and run, because they will have a lot of anger induced strength and I have personally seen what happens when you stick around thinking you can pummel your agressor now that they are "helpless" - be wary of the baton, for legal reasons, a lot of place its a deadly weapon, and then you go to jail and / or get sued- in closing, remember that nothing is going to beat a gun, other than perhaps your feet (tazers , the good kind, that run at least 400 + dollars, do work, but are becoming increasingly difficult to carry as various states make them illegal to carry....) as to amtrak, assume that you cannot carry em, but if in doubt call the station and ask.......

How about getting self-defense training
A strong walking cane
And a vary bright flashlight like surefire

Guns are not the only tool that can be successfully used to defend yourself. I find that those who are overreliant on one form of defense generally find themselves in serious trouble if that form of defense should have a problem. What do you do when your gun jams? Or you forget it at home? Or misfires? Or gets stolen when you leave it in your car to run in and get a coke?

Kinda nice knowing how to use multiple weapons and how to fight empty handed as well.


Then there's the legal aspect of it. With the possible exception of the state of Texas, unless your attacker is about to shoot you, if you shoot him you go to jail. If he comes at you swinging his fists, you can not use your gun. You can not even THREATEN him with your gun without risking jail time.

Plus, when someone asks about a striking weapon, it's pretty obvious they don't want a gun. He's already explained he can't even get a gun. Why not help him out with what he wants to know rather than going gun crazy?

And Bayd, generally collapsible batons are obviously weapons, and therefore will cause you trouble. I prefer to carry things that are NOT obviously a weapon. A dowel will do the same thing as your baton, but appear completely innocent. Even a 3" folding knife is a tool, not a weapon.

Above all, whatever weapon you choose, train hard and often with it. If you don't know what you're doing you'll find it taken away from you.

Good advise. Back to the flashlight tactic, i have a 6D-cell maglite. This is a bright light, 30,000 candle power, and is over 2 feet long. It is constructed of solid steel. Nearly indistructable. I personally have dropped it on pavement, used it as a hammer, a ramrod, pribar, and especially a personal defense weapon. and what a better exuse for a weapon, a flashlite. I mean how are you gonna knock someone out with a surefire. Their good little lights, but they require specialty batteries, besides that they cost like $80-100 if i Im not mistaken. My maglite was $25 at walmart.

The surefire is a tactical flashlight. You use it to disorient your opponent with light flashes. At least, that's the theory ;)

Only problem is, how often do you walk around with your 5 pound maglite? I have a 4 cell, and it would be more than able to seriously mess someone up, but even it is pretty damn awkward to walk around with, a 6 cell must be a whole lot worse.

Hank man, Glock .40's have the most documented number of Kabooms of any firearm.. :crazy:


but anywho, from what I understand, it's a federal thing and it's illegal to carry a collapsable baton...

secondhand info, never bothered to look it up, I'd rather have my .45 any day.



http://www.packing.org/state/oregon/

but I do keep a 6-cell maglite handy in my truck for any non-firearm type emergencies, but theres no way in hell I'd walk around with one.

Ya about the Glock .40. I got a uncle who is a recent retiered Game Warden. He has to Glock .40 S&W's. One the department gave him for duty and one he bought previously. he carries one and keeps the other in his bed room. I agree in that i'd rather have a .45 myself, but its a bit easier to get accurate repeat shots with a .40 than a .45

and yall are right about the obsurd size of the 6-cell. it does come in handy however if you do cunstruction/farming/forestry/etc.

different strokes for different folks...

I shoot a .45 better than anything else.

Bayd, i'd look in to pepper spray well before an expandable baton, unless for some reason u dont have a problem with bashing someone. Reason I say this is because we have all been told since we could pick up a stick and hit someone tha we shouldn't do that. Thus, we have a huge mental barrier to overcome in striking someone with a baton.

Check with your local prosecuting regarding laws in your area, but then look into pepper spray. Easy to use, easy to carry, effective. Good luck

If you insist on an expandable, go ASP

I have a 5' wood dowel in my trunk. By law, it's not a weapon until I use it as one- and unless you've got a gun, and it's already pointed at me, you're not winning the fight.

I'll get a gun when I have a few hundred to blow on one. :)

Bayd,
Given your age, and the fact that you are not placing yourself in harms way, you don't NEED a gun. Or a baton, or a weapon of any kind. If i were you i would get a nice pair of tennis shoes, (For running) learn to recognize the situations to avoid, maybe take a self defense class or two. You don't need anything other than that. (This isn't beruit, you know!)

I carry a stun gun in my truck, in the door to be exact. In my line of work, I have run across people who were very happy to see me, but for the wrong reasons. When I travel I carry my Glock 21. For me there is no better handgun than a Glock .45. A lot of folks rave about the Glock .40, but for me the Glock .45 is much better. I'd get my concealed handgun permit, but I still couldn't have it in my vehicle when parked on state property (prison units), so it wouldn't do me any good. I do carry my gun with me when traveling out of town, which is legal in Texas, so I am covered. I carry a state issue .357 revolver, speed loaders, and have to lug around a 12 ga shotgun every day, so carrying a gun off duty is not something I am thrilled about anyway.

Now Bayd, given your age I would have to agree with Serpent7 in that you shouldn't be carrying a weapon anyway under normal circumstances. At 18, you ought to be working on your people skills, and perfecting your ability to talk your way out of trouble when you can. And, you really shouldn't even have to be doing that too often. If you are, a lifestyle change may be needed. At 41, I would still rather persuade an aggressor to leave me alone, rather than have to shoot and kill him/her. I'll do it if necessary, but owning and carrying a gun is an awsome responsibility, and part of that responsibility is knowing when and where to use your weapon.

Carrying a weapon of any kind is a big responsibility, and not to be taken lightly either. Just like a gun, knowing when to pull and use ANY kind of weapon is very critical. You could actually put yourself in a worse situation by pulling a weapon out at the wrong time. At 18 I am just not sure you are mature enough or old enough to know yet. Don't take that as a put down... we were all 18 at one time.

:thumbsup: