You have a right to defend yourself in every state of the United States. That said, there are limits to the weapons you can legally own. Keep reading to make sure that the self-defense weapons you have are legal to own. If you are facing weapons or firearms charges in California, contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 for a consultation.

What weapons are lawful to employ in self-defense in California?

The following are some of the self-defense weapons that are permitted in California: personal alarms (which are frequently connected to a keychain and emit extremely loud sounds when activated), shock guns or tasers, certain knives, and certain guns.

California law authorizes you to buy, acquire, and carry stun guns or tasers for legitimate self-defense. However, you cannot legally own or possession one if you are a convicted felon, have a past conviction for assault or abuse of a stun gun, are addicted to narcotics, or are under the age of 16.

In terms of knives, persons in California are allowed to carry folding knives (other than switchblades) as long as they are folded. Examples of folding knives include pocketknives, Swiss army knives, box cutters, and other "utility" knives.

As to guns, please keep in mind that California has a slew of firearms regulations. These regulations limit the kind of firearms you can have, the activities you can do with them, and the regulations for storing and transporting them. In general, most individuals aged 21 and above are allowed to purchase, acquire, and possess legal firearms (like handguns and shotguns).

Are there any state laws prohibiting the use of certain firearms in self-defense?

Yes. Some firearms are prohibited from being used in self-defense under California law. Penal Code 16590 PC, for example, is a California legislation that forbids the manufacture, sale, possession, and use of certain dangerous weapons, such as leaded canes, blackjacks, specific martial arts weapons like shurikens, and brass knuckles.

Possession or use of certain knives and weapons is likewise illegal under California law. Carrying hidden dirks and daggers is against the law under Penal Code 21310 PC. Possession of an assault weapon is also illegal under Penal Code 30605. It is also illegal for persons to possess zip guns, short-barreled shotguns, undetectable firearms, and short-barreled shotguns.

When is it permissible to defend yourself in California?

It is allowed to stand your ground and act in self-defense under California's self-defense laws if you reasonably believe they are in "imminent danger" of physical harm, reasonably believe the use of force is necessary to protect themselves from that reasonable fear, and use no more force than is reasonably necessary to protect themselves from that risk.

If you have been accused of or charged with a crime related to self-defense methods or weapons, contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 for a free legal consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney.