California’s ban on some non-lethal self-defense gear is now the target of a federal lawsuit from a company that says the state went too far. Byrna, which makes CO2-powered launchers that fire pepper-gel rounds, says a 2021 law aimed at police crowd-control tactics ended up blocking ordinary people from buying the devices or their ammo. The company argues the ban shuts down a safer option for self-defense, especially since the launchers are legal in 48 other states.