California Bans Law Enforcement Use of Electric-Shock Gloves

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law on Tuesday banning local, state, and federal law enforcement officers from using electric-shock gloves. The ban takes effect next year and remains in place until 2030, requiring the state justice department to study the safety of the devices and report findings by 2029.

The legislation follows a nearly $17 million contract awarded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to purchase 6,000 pairs of the gloves. The move is part of a broader effort by Democratic-led states to resist the immigration enforcement policies of President Donald Trump. Supporters of the measure describe the ban as a necessary step to protect communities from what they call a "secret police terror campaign."

Opponents of the law, including Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper, argue that removing non-lethal tools hinders law enforcement operations. Legal experts have noted that the law may face court challenges under the U.S. Constitution's supremacy clause, as California has limited authority to dictate the equipment used by federal officers.