It is greatly amusing to me that the first comment on our Instagram account was from 2A diehard who seemed to think the very act of looking up laws around sap and blackjack carry is a form of bending the knee. This person also thought this website was selling something so reading comprehension was lacking… We are fortunate in America to have the 2nd Amendment and some do believe that is all the justification they need, I understand that sentiment but believe we live in a more complex world.

Whilst I do not agree with some of the legal positions the States have taken, taken them they have and there is good precedent that they can enforce weapon law. My own personal beliefs and yours have to be put to one side when we discuss or consider the legality of carrying such tools. In an ideal world every State would have laws basically akin to Idahos – that is adult citizens of the United States can carry what they need to defend themselves, unless they are a prohibited person of some kind. 

That is not the case and this blog post is to highlight a few thoughts and interesting findings I made doing the research to produce a rough guide to sap and blackjack legality. This will be the first of a few posts on the topic.

No means no.

Whilst I think these tools should be legal all over I have to begrudgingly admit that some states like California are incredibly clear in their legislation. These tools are illegal to own, posses, or manufacturer in that State unless you are an LEO. Simple and to the point. They do not mince their words or intent.

A number of States have this kind of clear language, places like Michigan, Rhode Island, Virginia and others also outright forbid these tools. Where it became frustrating are the States with vagueness.

Colorado is a great example of an attempt to define but even within that there is room for argument. Other States are even more vague instead relying on generic classification of anything that is capable of being deadly. Such vagueness is confusing to the end user and places one at the mercy of vindictive DAs (potentially…).

A Gun is fine, a Sap – go to jail!

Another ridiculous fact becomes obvious when you research these laws. Whilst in every State there is now a provision for a law abiding Citizen to carry a handgun, and increasing numbers of states allowing ‘constitutional carry’, a lot of these States are explicit in these licenses of laws ONLY applying to handguns.

You can carry a handgun just fine, but carry a leather bound piece of lead and you’re in big trouble. The whole purpose one might carry one of these tools is because they offer an alternative to deadly force. Breaking an arm with a strike or knocking someone out, arguably better than shooting them dead…

It is with surprise then that some States are also at pains to grant ‘weapon licenses’ but explicitly keep impact tools out of that definition. In Georgia you can conceal carry huge knives but again extreme vagueness and likely illegality around a 6 inch blackjack. 

Wisconsin oddly enough makes it very clear that CCW holder IS entitled to carry a ‘billy club’ as a licensee. Not a State that I would have first thought of being as forward thinking in this area.

Whilst forever grateful to those who fought for the 2A right to carry a gun I wonder if perhaps a degree of myopia was present when some of these laws were being written up.

There will be times when shooting someone is not the best option and giving citizens an alternative seems prudent. How silly it is that these tools are restricted due to outdated archaic thinking.

Check out our Legality Matrix