The concept of "one whack stops" is a bunch of hooey. It's all about bat placement.a bat carries a lot "stop right now" power. You can stab someone until they wander off to die, but a slugger to the bean says "Sit Ubu, sit", in a more immediate fashion.
When I was a kid my friends and I would play Conan the barbarian. This was hours of fun and many weeks of recovery from various bruises and lacerations. My own invention was a machete blade attached to an axe handle. The handle was cut to insert the tang of the blade and then bolted and duct taped to reenforce it. The thing is in my attic somewhere, and after this discussion I seem to have the urge to bring it back down again.
I think thats worth repeating again as I believe Illinois has a similar law. I'd be interested to know historically how many bats in cars its been used against though.Check your State laws.
In Michigan, for example, a club is an unlawful weapon (felony) even in carried for the purpose of lawful self defense That includes lengths of pipe, billy clubs, "tire checkers", or a baseball bat if carried as a club.
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The concept of "one whack stops" is a bunch of hooey. It's all about bat placement.
Just remember you only get one good swing with a bat before the BG can probably grab you, grab it etc. So it needs to be a good one. I'd rather have something lighter and thinner that I can return to hitting position faster.