ChernobylShadow
Newbie
Hey everyone, I'm posting here today because I'm interested in learning about the legality of carrying an extendable baton, and using it in self defense if need be. Everywhere else I've looked I've found conflicting information.
I've been told:
A: It's legal to carry and use in self defense.
B: It's illegal to carry or use in self defense.
C: It's all a legal grey area.
D: It's legal to carry, illegal to use in self defense.
E: It's legal to carry, a grey area to use in self defense.
Some backstory real quick. I'm a photographer living in SE Michigan, and I spend a lot of my time in less than safe areas. For example, I do a lot of Ruins photography in Detroit. I usually go do photography with 1 or 2 other urban explorers who enjoy exploring abandoned buildings with me. We carry a variety of weapons for self defense. Some carry knives, mace, or in the case of a couple of veterans, concealed firearms. Personally, I carry a spring-assisted knife and pepper-gel spray for self protection. A couple of the people I explore with, including myself, are interested in carrying batons for self protection. One already does, doubling as a monopod for his camera (he attached a tripod screw to the back on the base.) Since I'm sure someone will ask, we do understand that batons are tools which require a fair amount of practice to use in an effective manner. We're all actually somewhat experienced with the basics of baton usage thanks to one of the veterans we explore with, although none of what you might call proper training.
So here are my questions in a nutshell:
1. Can I legally carry my baton in Michigan?
2. Can I use my baton in self defense against an assailant?
3. If legal to carry, must the baton be carried openly, in full sight, or may it be concealed, placed inside my jacket for example? What if it's on my belt and partially covered by a shirt or jacket.
4. As I mentioned in my post, I know a photographer who carries a baton which has been modified to fit a second use, other than as a weapon. Does this make the baton any more legal to carry, as he claims?
5. Where can my friends and I receive proper training with baton, so as to be able to use them as effectively as possible?
The batons we own:
I've been told:
A: It's legal to carry and use in self defense.
B: It's illegal to carry or use in self defense.
C: It's all a legal grey area.
D: It's legal to carry, illegal to use in self defense.
E: It's legal to carry, a grey area to use in self defense.
Some backstory real quick. I'm a photographer living in SE Michigan, and I spend a lot of my time in less than safe areas. For example, I do a lot of Ruins photography in Detroit. I usually go do photography with 1 or 2 other urban explorers who enjoy exploring abandoned buildings with me. We carry a variety of weapons for self defense. Some carry knives, mace, or in the case of a couple of veterans, concealed firearms. Personally, I carry a spring-assisted knife and pepper-gel spray for self protection. A couple of the people I explore with, including myself, are interested in carrying batons for self protection. One already does, doubling as a monopod for his camera (he attached a tripod screw to the back on the base.) Since I'm sure someone will ask, we do understand that batons are tools which require a fair amount of practice to use in an effective manner. We're all actually somewhat experienced with the basics of baton usage thanks to one of the veterans we explore with, although none of what you might call proper training.
So here are my questions in a nutshell:
1. Can I legally carry my baton in Michigan?
2. Can I use my baton in self defense against an assailant?
3. If legal to carry, must the baton be carried openly, in full sight, or may it be concealed, placed inside my jacket for example? What if it's on my belt and partially covered by a shirt or jacket.
4. As I mentioned in my post, I know a photographer who carries a baton which has been modified to fit a second use, other than as a weapon. Does this make the baton any more legal to carry, as he claims?
5. Where can my friends and I receive proper training with baton, so as to be able to use them as effectively as possible?
The batons we own: