California Legislature Passes Bill to Ban Electric Shock Gloves
California lawmakers approved a bill late Monday that would ban the use of electric shock gloves by law enforcement, sending the measure to Governor Gavin Newsom for his signature or veto. The legislation, passed on the night of August 31, is a direct response by Democratic state lawmakers to the Trump administration’s announcement in August that it planned to spend up to US$20 million on the devices.
The bill would prohibit law enforcement officers from using electric shock gloves, which deliver electric shocks to force compliance. It also bars the use of state funds to purchase the devices and requires the California Department of Justice to conduct a study on the safety and community impacts of the electroshock technology. If signed, the ban would take effect through 2030.
Legislative Debate and Opposition
The proposal came as an eleventh-hour measure from Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins, a San Diego Democrat, who argued in a floor speech that “public safety technology must be proven safe and accountable before it is deployed, not after someone is killed or seriously injured.” Sharp-Collins emphasized that the legislation would not affect tasers or other non-lethal devices, including batons.
But the bill faced opposition from some Republican lawmakers and law enforcement groups. A Republican critic accused Sharp-Collins of pushing a "rush job" on a controversial issue. Opponents argued that banning tools of "less than lethal force" could force officers to resort to deadly weapons instead.
Democratic lawmakers who supported the measure warned about the potential impact on vulnerable communities, citing health concerns such as increased heart rates, adrenaline, and blood pressure. "We know that our communities, people who are Black or brown, will be the test subject for these gloves of torment," said Mark Gonzalez, a Los Angeles Democrat, during the floor debate.
LaShae Sharp-Collins, a San Diego Democrat who proposed the bill, argued that "public safety technology must be proven safe and accountable before it is deployed, not after someone is killed or seriously injured." She emphasized that the legislation would not affect other less-lethal devices, including batons and tasers.
Opponents, including local police associations and Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper, whose office has already spent $35,000 on the devices, pushed back. One Republican critic accused lawmakers of rushing a controversial measure through without adequate consideration, calling it a "rush job." Others argued that limiting tools classified as "less than lethal force" could leave officers with no option but to resort to deadly weapons.
Under the bill, law enforcement agencies in California would be barred from using state funds to purchase the gloves. The state Department of Justice would be required to study the safety and community impacts of the technology.
Governor Newsom, a Democrat, has not indicated whether he will sign the legislation. He has until September 30 to decide.