California Lawmakers Advance Ban on Electric Shock Gloves

California Democratic lawmakers advanced Assembly Bill 2760, a measure designed to prohibit state and local officers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from using electric shock gloves. The legislation also prevents California police departments from using state funds to purchase the devices.

LaShae Sharp-Collins, a San Diego Assemblymember, introduced the bill following a $16.7 million contract awarded by ICE to Compliant Technologies for 6,000 pairs of Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter devices. Sharp-Collins and the California Immigrant Policy Center argue the gloves are inhumane and pose a public safety risk. Sharp-Collins stated that waiting for a tragedy to act would be something that California could not handle.

The California State Sheriffs Association opposes the ban, claiming the restriction limits de-escalation capabilities. At the federal level, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and other congressional Democrats have urged Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to cancel the contract. Legal experts note the bill may face court challenges because federal courts have previously ruled that states cannot regulate the conduct of federal officers.