Properly used, a baton is a less than lethal force option. If you are worried about it being light, you aren't using properly- an escrima stick is only a few ounces, and in the hands of someone who been given a few hours of instruction and then practices for a while, it starts at "ouch" and moves very quickly up to broken ribs. It isn't a club or mace, it doesn't rely brute force, but selectively applied and controlled force.

And unless they have a gun or knife, it's really hard to justify shooting to a civil jury. And in a lot of places, it's easier to carry a baton than a pistol.