State Laws - Self Defense Weapons
Stun guns are not considered as firearms. They can be legally owned by citizens in 49 states. The most recent states to legalize stun guns for citizen are Hawaii, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
State Laws
Stun Guns
Pepper Sprays
Stun Guns
Alabama
13A-1-2 Dangerous instrument or weapon definition
Legal
Alaska
11.81.900 Defensive weapon. Electric stun gun not designed to cause death or serious physical injury
Legal
- Under 18 and On school grounds, if under 21 without permission from school prohibited (11.61.210)
- Class C felony if carried when violating a protective order (11.61.200)
Arizona
13-105 Dangerous instrument or weapon definition
Legal
Arkansas
5-1-102 Weapon definition, but legal
Legal
California
171b Legal, but restricted in government buildings and school grounds
Legal – Cannot possess TASER device in state or local government building or public open meeting (171b (a) (5)) or in the sterile area of the airport (171.5), or on public school grounds (626.10)
Colorado
18-12-101 Stun gun definition: Device capable of temporarily immobilizing a person by the infliction of an electrical charge
Legal – Use of a stun gun in the commission of a criminal offense is a Class 5 felony (18-12-106.5)
Connecticut
53a-3 Electronic defense weapon definition: A weapon that by electric impulse or current is capable of immobilizing a person temporarily, but is not capable of inflicting death or serious physical injury.
Legal in home;
- Carrying of electronic defense weapon unless peace officer is punishable by fine of less than $500 or less than 3 years in prison or both (53-206);
- Cannot have in the vehicle (29-38);
- Criminal use of an electronic defense weapon is Class D felony (53a-216);
- Criminal possession of an electronic defense weapon is Class D felony (53a-217)
Delaware
222 Dangerous instrument or weapon definition, but legal
Legal
District of Columbia
7-2501.01 Destructive device definition: Any device intended to stun or disable a person by means of electric shock
Legal
Florida
790.001 Electric weapon or device through use of electrical current; intended for offensive or defensive purposes
Legal
- Cannot carry electric weapon or device in concealed manner unless licensed to do so (790.01)
- License to carry concealed electric weapon or device (790.06)
- Open carrying of weapons allowed for nonlethal electric stun guns for self-defense purposes (790.053)
- Must be authorized to have on school ground or at school functions (790.115)
- Use by under 16 only with adult supervision; adult subject to penalty (790.22)
Georgia
16-11-106 Definitions: Stun guns and tasers which are powered by electrical charging units such as batteries and emit an electrical charge in excess of 20,000 volts; capable of incapacitating a person by an electrical charge
Legal
- Not expressly mentioned in concealed weapons statute (16-11-126)
- Expressly mentioned to be prohibited from being carried in school safety zones, at school functions, or on school property (16-11-127.1)
Hawaii
134.1 Electric gun definition: Any portable device electrically operated to project a missile or electromotive force
Legal, but must be purchased from a local dealer
- Must be at least 21 years of age, take a taser use training class and a background check is required.
Idaho
Use 18 USC 930 Listed as dangerous weapon but legal
Legal
Illinois
720 ILCS 5/24-1 Stun gun or TASER definition: Any device powered by electrical charging units which fires barbs and upon hitting a human sends out a current disrupting normal functioning
Legal
- Handgun license required to own a Taser device in state. Legal for citizen use, with exception of city of Chicago – Click here for legal models
Indiana
35-47-8-3 TASER device definition: Designed to emit electronic charge or shock through use of projectile and used to temporarily incapacitate a person
Legal
- Electric stun weapons and tasers are subject to different laws than stun guns; tasers subject to requirement of handgun license (35-47-8-4)
Iowa
702.7 Dangerous weapon definition, but legal
Legal
Kansas
21-4201 Defined as weapon, but legal
Legal
- Weapons as to schools includes electronic devices designed to discharge immobilizing levels of electricity aka stun gun (72-89a01)
Kentucky
500.080 Dangerous instrument and weapon definition but legal
Legal
Louisiana
Title 14 §2 Dangerous weapon definition, but legal
Legal
Maine
17 AMRS §2 Dangerous weapon definition, but legal
Legal
Maryland
4-101 Defined as dangerous weapon, but legal
Legal
- Legal throughout entire state (formerly was banned in Baltimore & Annapolis – Ban lifted
Massachusetts
N.J.A.C. 13:54-5.8 Electrical weapon ban lifted
Legal
- Legal throughout entire state. Owner must be at least 18 years old possess a valid ID, a Massachusetts Firearms License and a Massachusetts Basic Firearms Safety Course certificate.
Michigan
750.224a Definition: Portable device/weapon directing electrical current
Legal
- Legal throughout entire state. Owner must be at least 18 years old and possess a firearms license. Click here for instructions on how to obtain a Michigan Firearms License.
Minnesota
624.731 Electronic incapacitation device definition: Portable device designed to temporarily immobilize or incapacitate persons by means of electric pulse or current
Legal
- A person may use with reasonable force in defense of person or property
- Device must be labeled with or accompanied by instructions as to its use and dangers
Mississippi
97-37-1 Weapons definition, but legal
Legal
Missouri
556.061 Dangerous instrument and weapon definition, but legal
Legal
Montana
45-2-101 Defined as weapon, but legal
Legal
Nebraska
28-109 Defined as weapon, but legal
Legal
Nevada
202.253 Not considered firearm
Legal
New Hampshire
159:20 Electronic defense weapon definition: An electronically activated non-lethal device producing an electrical charge sufficient to immobilize or incapacitate a person temporarily
Legal
- If user has committed a felony, possessing shall be guilty of Class B felony (159:21)
- Sales are restricted to persons 18 and over (159:22)
- Use against a LE officer or another person with the intent to commit a crime is punishable as a misdemeanor or felony (159:23)
New Jersey
No definition statute
Legal as of Oct 2017. Must be 18 years of age or older. Must not have any felonies on record, even though a background check is not required for purchase.
New Mexico
30-1-12 Defined as weapon, but legal
Legal
New York
265.00 Both Projectile and direct contact stun guns are legal as of May of 2019
- Electronic dart gun definition: Designed to momentarily stun, knock out or paralyze a person by passing an electrical shock by means of a dart or projectile.
- Electronic stun gun definition: Designed to momentarily stun, knock out or paralyze a person by pressing weapon against body and pulling trigger
- Legal in state of New York as of May 2019. Must be 18 years of age or older. Must not have any felonies on record, even though background check is not required for purchase.
North Carolina
No definition statute
Legal
- Unlawful to carry stun gun in a concealed manner punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor (14-269)
- Stun guns not allowed on educational property (14-269.2)
- Stun guns not allowed to be carried by felons (14-415.1)
North Dakota
62.1-01-01 Considered dangerous weapon, but legal
Legal
- Possession in liquor establishment or gaming site prohibited (62.1-02-04)
- Other than LE, cannot carry in concealed manner (62.1-04-02)
- License required to carry concealed (62.1-04-03)
Ohio
2923.11 Weapon definition, but legal
Legal
Oklahoma
No definition statute
Legal
- Use of an electronic dart gun while committing a felony shall be guilty of a separate offense (1287)
- Electric dart gun not listed in Unlawful Carry statute (1272)
Oregon
161.015 Physical force includes the use of an electrical stun gun
Legal
- Knowing discharge of electrical stun gun against a law enforcement officer is a Class C felony
Pennsylvania
908 Con sidered an offensive weapon – Definition: Any stun gun, TASER device or other electronic or electric weapon
908.1 Electronic incapacitation device
908.1 Electronic incapacitation device
Legal
- Legal throughout entire state (formerly was banned in Philadelphia – Ban lifted)
- A person may use with reasonable force in defense of person or property (908.1)
- No person prohibited from possessing firearm may possess electronic incapacitation device (908.1)
Rhode Island
11-47-42 Stun weapons prohibited
Prohibited
- No person shall carry or possess or attempt to use against another
- No person shall carry concealed upon his person
- Punishable by fine less than $1,000 or imprisonment for less than 1 year or both and weapon shall be confiscated
South Carolina
No definition statute
Legal
South Dakota
22-1-2 Stun gun definition: Battery-powered, pulsed electrical device of high voltage or low/no amperage that can disrupt the central nervous system and cause temporary loss of person’s voluntary muscle control
Legal
- If committing a felony while armed with stun gun is Class 5 felony (22-14-13.1)
Tennessee
39-11-106 Defined as dangerous weapon, but legal
Legal
- Legal for regular citizen use with no training certificate required. Applicants for private security officer/guard registration who will carry stun gun to use in the line of duty must obtain certified training (62-35-118)
Texas
46.01 No applicable definition
Legal
Utah
76-10-501 Dangerous weapon definition, but legal
Legal
Vermont
4003/4016 Dangerous weapon definition, but legal
Legal
Virginia
18.2-308.1 Stun weapon definition: Emits an electronic charge exceeding 5 milliamp 60 hertz shock and used for temporarily incapacitating a person
Legal
Washington
9.41.250 Dangerous weapon definition, but legal
Legal
West Virginia
61-7-2 Defined as weapon, but legal
Legal
Wisconsin
941-295 Electric weapon = intended to be used and reasonably capable of producing bodily injury
Legal
- Legal for LE and regular citizen. To carry on person concealed a “Carrying Concealed Weapon License” is required.
Wyoming
6-1-104 Defined as weapon, but legal
Legal
Pepper Sprays
Pepper sprays are legal is all states, but there are some restrictions on age, legal issues and chemical composition in following states:-
- New Jersey: Carrier must be minimum age 18 years of age, a non-felon. Can buy, carry, ship and use if not more than 3/4 ounce.
- New York: Carrier must be minimum age 18 years of age, a non-felon, have have no previous assault charges.
- Michigan: Carrier must be minimum age 18 years of age. Can buy, carry, and use if not more than 1 1/5 ounces
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