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California moves to ban shock gloves manufactured in Kentucky

Nelson County, Ky., jailer Justin Hall shows an electric shock glove that is used at his facility, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Bardstown, Ky. (AP Photo/Dylan Lovan)
Dylan Lovan/AP Photo/Dylan Lovan
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AP
Nelson County, Ky., jailer Justin Hall shows an electric shock glove that is used at his facility, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Bardstown, Ky. (AP Photo/Dylan Lovan)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law banning local, state, and federal officers from using gloves that can deliver electric shocks to people. The gloves were purchased by Immigration and Customs Enforcement from Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies in August.

The ban comes weeks after ICE moved to equip its officers with the gloves, which are designed to gain compliance from combative individuals.

Last month, the agency awarded a nearly $17 million contract to buy 6,000 pairs, prompting questions from concerned residents in Kentucky.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear responded to the agreement when the news went public.

"My concern isn't that they exist or that there's a contract for them. It's that they are going to the worst trained, most aggressive law enforcement unit I have ever seen," he said. "Every ICE agent needs to be withdrawn, retrained, and actually taught what the law does and does not allow."

Democratic California Assemblymaker LeShay Sharp Collins, who introduced the anti-shock gloves legislation, cited their use by other officers, including a case in which a Kentucky family alleges a man died after being tased and shocked with the gloves dozens of times while in law enforcement custody in 2024.

Supporters say the devices are generally used in specific jail and transport situations to subdue violent suspects, rather than broadly to patrol on the streets.