A federal judge in San Diego has ruled that billy clubs are protected by the Second Amendment. The ruling was by Judge Roger Benitez, in a case known as Fouts v. Bonta:
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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 judge declared the California law unconstitutional, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2016 decision in Caetano v. Massachusetts, which implied that stun guns are “arms” protected by the Second Amendment. The judge’s ruling contains a historical analysis that is too long to post in its entirety (you can read it at this link). Below is the judge’s conclusion:
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