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Court Strikes Down California Ban on Possessing Billy Clubs
Reason ^ | 2/23/24 | EUGENE VOLOKH

Posted on 02/24/2024 5:19:09 AM PST by CFW

From Judge Roger Benitez's decision in Fouts v. Bonta(S.D. Cal.):

This case is about a California law that makes it a crime to simply possess or carry a billy. This case is not about whether California can prohibit or restrict the use or possession of a billy for unlawful purposes…. Historically, the short wooden stick that police officers once carried on their beat was known as a billy or billy club. The term remains vague today and may encompass a metal baton, a little league bat, a wooden table leg, or a broken golf club shaft, all of which are weapons that could be used for self-defense but are less lethal than a firearm….

The court struck down the law on Second Amendment grounds (citing, among other cases, Caetano v. Massachusetts (2016), which suggested that stun guns were constitutionally protected arms). The historical analysis is long and detailed (read it here), but here's the conclusion:

(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: banglist; benitez; billyclubs; california
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To: bert
Judicious application of the Billy about the head and shoulders....

The proverbial “mahogany shampoo.”

21 posted on 02/24/2024 7:01:08 AM PST by gundog ( It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: ABN 505

Beat cops .....lol.


22 posted on 02/24/2024 7:07:26 AM PST by rolling_stone
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To: Manic_Episode
Asp Batons are near useless.

Nonsense. I see 75 pound anorexic women use them with terminal effectiveness on tv all the time.

23 posted on 02/24/2024 7:12:16 AM PST by LouAvul (If America will repent of its wickedness and return to Christ, He will forgive and restore. )
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To: bigfootbob

Last time I checked you could still buy “Tire Thumpers” at some truck stops.

A two foot piece of 3/4 inch ID pipe also works well.


24 posted on 02/24/2024 7:27:09 AM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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To: CFW

Is the Asian agricultural implement the Rice flail banned in California?
Back around 1970 at lunch, I mentioned this tool for defense. The men laughed at me for such a silly idea. Within 5 years cities were banning the possession of “Numchucks” which was just a rice flail.


25 posted on 02/24/2024 7:33:27 AM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

From what I saw back when nunchaku were a fad, they were far more dangerous to the user than to any adversary.


26 posted on 02/24/2024 7:40:38 AM PST by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: bigfootbob

I have always preferred to use a hammer. Three senses get a more amplified result: sound, feel, and sight. It’s heavier mass at the end of it, striking a very small area would amplify the sound of the thump. The amplified sight and feel of the hammer strike help make up for the muffled sound if the engine is running (and if in a lot with other trucks running nearby).

Sub-zero temps can make a tire even harder, therefore I would swing the hammer harder.

With a 24oz ball peened hammer, and the high pressures truck tires are at, I could usually detect one that was as little as 10 pounds low.


27 posted on 02/24/2024 7:59:42 AM PST by Zuriel (Acts 2:38,39....Do you believe it?)
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To: CFW

I’ve thought about carrying a hachett, or maybe a pitchfork, but need to check on that.


28 posted on 02/24/2024 8:01:45 AM PST by Zuriel (Acts 2:38,39....Do you believe it?)
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To: ansel12

Well, there were tough little bastards too.

I had a buddy, a little New York Irish guy, an orphan, boxer and a Korean War paratrooper that was about 5’5” and 150 ringing wet, raised by “the brothers” in parochial school, that was NYPD from about ‘53 to ‘78.

He had an extensive collection of saps, jacks, brass knuckles, come alongs and weighted leather gloves that he had carried and used as well as stuff he took off toughs on the streets.

Anything would do in a pinch, one story involved clocking a resistant suspect by using a walkie-talkie, their first radios, replacing the corner c all boxes.


29 posted on 02/24/2024 8:05:57 AM PST by skepsel ("A cat is more intelligent than people believe, and can be taught any crime", Mark Twain.)
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To: CFW

Come after my billy club and I’ll beat you to death with it.

Next, they’ll ban possession of baseball bats outside of “approved” ballparks.


30 posted on 02/24/2024 8:33:19 AM PST by TBP (Decent people cannot fathom the amoral cruelty of the Biden regime.)
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To: 1of10

Just an attitude adjustment, it’ll work every time.


31 posted on 02/24/2024 8:53:10 AM PST by The Bishop (Forgive me Lord, for sometimes I do speak my mind.)
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To: TBP

Yeah, I feel really safe, I’m in a “bat free zone”.


32 posted on 02/24/2024 8:58:18 AM PST by kawhill (kawhill)
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To: kawhill

Oakland?


33 posted on 02/24/2024 9:00:57 AM PST by TBP (Decent people cannot fathom the amoral cruelty of the Biden regime.)
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar
Last time I checked you could still buy “Tire Thumpers” at some truck stops.

I purchased three of them from Amazon, one for our car and one for each of my kids.

Big Rig Defense: Hickory Stick Tire Thumper - Made in USA - Fish Bat Tire Knocker - Truckers Tool for Checking Tire Pressure - Weighted Wood Stick with Extra Grip

34 posted on 02/24/2024 9:14:08 AM PST by BlueLancer (Think of it as evolution in action. [Oath of Fealty - Pournelle and Niven])
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To: BlueLancer

“””I purchased three of them from Amazon, one for our car and one for each of my kids.”””

I understand wanting one to permanently keep in the car but couldn’t you have used the same one on both of the kids?


35 posted on 02/24/2024 9:36:37 AM PST by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: HartleyMBaldwin; Ruy Dias de Bivar

I’ve only known one guy who could actually use nunchaku and have even seen a stage performance where I had to laugh at the expert.

My buddy could actually use them and blocking efforts would only redirect him as his recovery was instant and fluid, of course, he didn’t carry them in real life because they weren’t as effective as the sawed-off shotgun he carried inside his shirt hanging from his neck.


36 posted on 02/24/2024 9:43:55 AM PST by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: ansel12

Brilliant,Brilliant! You deserve a Guinness.
Great catch.


37 posted on 02/24/2024 9:50:26 AM PST by GOYAKLA
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To: 9422WMR

So was a ‘claw’.
My grandfather was a police officer for 25 years in a city suburb of a major city. He was also on vice squad..1920’ 30’s thereabouts.

I was an adult woman with children before I ever knew he had weapons of any kind, and I lived with them!

He gave all of it to the chief of police...they were close friends..as a donation for a museum of police weaponry. Some of what he had was no longer used by police due to high injury rate. That ‘claw’ in my opinion should be back and available if police are going to use dogs and guns. That thing will immobilize a person!


38 posted on 02/24/2024 10:01:19 AM PST by PrairieLady2 (USA: Land of the free, Because of the Brave.)
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To: bert
The Po-Po have caught me more times than I can count with my 4 d-cell billy club and have never said "Boo!" to me about it.


FREE photo hosting by Host Pic.Org - Free Image Picture Photo Hosting

Of course this old dinosaur has had an 800 Lumen LED upgrade so now it also can be used to soften asphalt and start campfires.

39 posted on 02/24/2024 10:10:14 AM PST by Paal Gulli
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To: CFW

California was in high dudgeon
Against every form of truncheon.
The judge overturned their law,
Locked Newsom up in a dundgeon.
And then proceded to his luncheon.


40 posted on 02/24/2024 10:21:55 AM PST by x
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