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Went into Academy today ( actually had some ammo for sale) and was looking for a gift for a friend and noticed that they had S&W batons for sale, pink and black. Asked the clerk if it was legal to sell these as it was my understanding that it was not in Texas. He seemed very surprised about my question. I returned the baton to the rack and left. If legal I would have bought one as I like to have something to ward off dogs when I take my dogs for a walk. Has something changed making these legal or is Academy not following the current law? Not sure exactly where to post this question but I know that many here will know the answer.

Lots of things fall under this description. People get into trouble when they think just because something is for sale at Academy or CTD that they can have it off their property. A friend told me many years ago he got a UCW charge because he bought a knife at CTD and used it on his stocking job opening boxes for a long time. An officer saw it on the seat during a traffic stop and informed him because it had a sharpened edge on both sides it was illegal. CTD forgot to mention that when ringing up the sale.

a nice mag light so that you may clean up after your dog is perfectly legal....

texanjoker wrote:a nice mag light so that you may clean up after your dog is perfectly legal....

^ This.

And there are plenty of new large CREE LED flashlights that put out well over 500 lumen. In the dark, that much output could be a very effective non-lethal deterrent (Original 3D cell Krypton mag light only put out ~75 lumen).

And if you use that maglight as a club to defend yourself what happens next. Can George Z's lawyers practice in Texas?

I bought an ASP baton quite awhile ago and then read up on the law. The baton doesn't leave my property since the law seems to frown upon these being carried in an unofficial capacity.

They're overrated. Only time I ever needed it was to pry a fat lady's arm loose.

gigag04 wrote:They're overrated. Only time I ever needed it was to pry a fat lady's arm loose.

They may be overrated while having to adhere to a deparment's use of force policy, but they can be nice when not restricted by them. I used to live on an island in the Carribbean and with no leash laws there were small bands of dogs that would roam in places. I liked to take shortcuts from road to road (walked everywhere) and luckyly a few times I had my expandable baton in my backpack to ward off such unwanted advances. It would have been quite useful for the human predators too, especially since there the carrying of machetes is quite common. With training it can be a good tool. I would much more prefer a cane these days.. not that I need it, but it is very low key and has even more uses than a baton.

^ True..

But as an LEO I always just shot stray dogs...

TexasVet wrote:

gigag04 wrote:They're overrated. Only time I ever needed it was to pry a fat lady's arm loose.

They may be overrated while having to adhere to a deparment's use of force policy, but they can be nice when not restricted by them. I used to live on an island in the Carribbean and with no leash laws there were small bands of dogs that would roam in places. I liked to take shortcuts from road to road (walked everywhere) and luckyly a few times I had my expandable baton in my backpack to ward off such unwanted advances. It would have been quite useful for the human predators too, especially since there the carrying of machetes is quite common. With training it can be a good tool. I would much more prefer a cane these days.. not that I need it, but it is very low key and has even more uses than a baton.

I have used the ASP many times in fights.

rotor wrote:And if you use that maglight as a club to defend yourself what happens next. Can George Z's lawyers practice in Texas?

As a LEO I was taught to use my flashlight as an impact weapon. Some agencies do not teach that. But you have to remember that the flashlight is what is in your hands. But then I am old skool and carry the full size light vs. a little light when making contacts.

The difference is that when I carry a flashlight off duty I am carrying it for illumination. I do not carry it as a weapon. If I were the victim of a crime I would have to use whatever tool that I had available to protect myself and if by some reason I used the flashlight then that is what I used. Remember you are NOT carrying the flashlight as a weapon. Those words are important.

gigag04 wrote:^ True..

But as an LEO I always just shot stray dogs...

Gigag wins!!

gigag04 wrote:^ True..

But as an LEO I always just shot stray dogs...

Well played, sir.