PRODUCT RULES AND REGULATIONS, Self Defense Blog

Baton Laws By State

Police Officer holding an expandable baton.
02 Mar
State Open Carry Concealed Carry With CHP Other Permit Comment
Alabama Legal Legal N/A N/A
Alaska Legal Legal (21+ years old) N/A N/A
Arizona Legal Legal (21+ years old) N/A N/A
Arkansas Vague Vague Yes Yes Technically only illegal “with a purpose to employ as a weapon against a person.”
California Illegal Illegal No Yes
Colorado Legal Legal N/A N/A
Connecticut Illegal Illegal No No On duty security guards may carry a baton.
Delaware Legal Illegal Yes No
District of Columbia Legal Vague No No Illegal to conceal “any deadly or dangerous weapon.” Similar cases suggest general hostility to carry.
Florida Legal Illegal Yes No
Georgia Legal Legal N/A N/A
Hawaii Illegal Illegal No No Fish Bats don’t count, unless carried as a weapon.
Idaho Legal Vague Yes No Illegal to conceal “any deadly weapon,” but doesn’t apply outside a city if 18 + years old or on private property with owner’s permission.
Illinois Vague Vague No ? Illegal to carry a billy “with intent to use the same unlawfully against another” or in a government building.
Indiana Legal Legal N/A N/A
Iowa Legal Vague Yes No Illegal to conceal any “dangerous weapon” which is very broadly applicable.
Kansas Legal Illegal No No Illegal to conceal a “billy.”
Kentucky Legal Illegal Yes No
Louisiana Legal Vague No No Illegal to conceal any “instrumentality customarily used or intended for probable use as a dangerous weapon.”
Maine Legal Vague No No
Maryland Legal Vague Yes No Could be a “dangerous or deadly weapon,” but isn’t named explicitly. Law has self-defense provision. Similar cases suggest state must prove criminal intent.
Massachusetts Legal Legal N/A N/A Only prohibited when arrested on a warrant or during a breach of peace.
Michigan Vague Vague No No Illegal to carry with intent to use unlawfully against another “any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument.”
Minnesota Vague Vague No No Illegal to possess any “instrumentality customarily used or intended for probable use as a dangerous weapon.
Mississippi Legal Legal N/A N/A
Missouri Legal Vague Yes No Illegal to conceal “any other weapon readily capable of lethal use.”
Montana Legal Illegal Yes No
Nebraska Legal Vague Yes No Illegal to conceal “any other deadly weapon,” but burden lies with the state. Law has self-defense provision.
Nevada Illegal Illegal No Yes Can obtain written permission from the county sheriff.
New Hampshire Legal Legal N/A N/A
New Jersey Illegal Illegal No Yes Guards with CHP and training certification are permitted to carry
New Mexico Vague Vague Yes No Illegal to carry “any other typed of deadly weapon.”
New York Illegal Illegal No No
State Open Carry Concealed Carry With CHP Other Permit Comment
North Carolina Legal Vague No No
North Dakota Legal Illegal Yes No
Ohio Legal Vague No No
Oklahoma Illegal Illegal No No
Oregon Legal Legal N/A N/A
Pennsylvania Vague Vague No No Illegal to possess “other implement for the infliction of serious bodily injury which serves no common lawful purpose.” Case law indicates self-defense is not a “common lawful purpose.”
Rhode Island Illegal Illegal No No No exception noted for private security.
South Carolina Legal Vague No No Illegal to conceal “a deadly weapon usually used for the infliction of personal injury.”
South Dakota Legal Legal N/A N/A
Tennessee Illegal Illegal No Yes
Texas Legal Legal N/A N/A
Utah Legal Legal N/A N/A
Vermont Legal Legal N/A N/A
Virginia Legal Vague Spring-loaded baton is illegal, but could possibly be extended to any “weapon of like kind.”
Washington Legal Vague No No Illegal to conceal “other dangerous weapon”
West Virginia Legal Legal N/A N/A
Wisconsin Legal Legal Yes No
Wyoming Legal Vague Yes No Illegal to conceal a “deadly weapon.”
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