Taser Gun and Stun Gun State & Local Law Statutes Summary

Stun weapons are not considered firearms. They can be legally carried in most states. Below you'll find a summery of the state laws concerning the possession and use of stun weapons. At the bottom of this page, you'll find more detailed information on state and local laws.
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State

Police Use

Consumer Use

State Statute

Restriction(s)

Alabama

Legal

Legal

13A-1-2 Dangerous instrument or deadly weapon definition

 

Alaska

Legal

Legal

11.81.900 Defensive weapon = electric stun gun not designed to cause death or serious physical injury

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

Legal

Legal

13-105 Dangerous instrument or deadly weapon definition

 

Arkansas

Legal

Legal

5-1-102 Deadly weapon definition

 

California

Legal

Legal

244.5 Assault with a stun gun or taser [stun gun and tasers are different]

Cannot possess taser in state or local public building or public open meeting (171b (a) (5)) or in sterile area of airport (171.5)

Colorado

Legal

Legal

18-12-101 Stun gun = device capable of temporarily immobilizing a person by the infliction of an electrical charge; 18-12-106.5 Use of stun guns during crime

Use of stun gun in commission of criminal offense is a Class 5 felony (18-12-106.5)

 

Connecticut

Legal

Legal in home

53a-3 Electronic defense weapon = a weapon which by electric impulse or current is capable of immobilizing a person temporarily, but is not capable of inflicting death or serious physical injury.

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 vehicle (29-38);

Criminal use of electronic defense weapon is Class D felony (53a-216);

Criminal possession of electronic defense weapon is Class D felony (53a-217)

Delaware

Legal

Legal

222 Dangerous instrument or deadly weapon or firearm definition

 

District of Columbia

Legal

Prohibited unless can get firearm registration

7-2501.01 Destructive device = any device intended to stun or disable a person by means of electric shock

No person/organization may possess unless they hold a valid registration (7-2502.01)

No manufacturing of destructive device within District and dealer must have license (7-2504.01)

LE and military permitted use

Florida

Legal

Legal with restrictions as to type

790.001 Electric weapon or device = through use of electrical current; intended for offensive or defensive purposes, destruction of life, or infliction of injury
Remote stun gun = nonlethal device with tethered range less than 16 feet

Cannot carry electric weapon or device in concealed manner but can carry for self-defense purposes a nonlethal remote stun gun (790.01)

License to carry concealed electric weapon or device (790.06)

Open carrying of weapons allowed for nonlethal electric weapons that do not fire a dart or projectile (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

Legal

Legal

16-11-106 For this section, the term "firearm" includes 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

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

Legal

Prohibited

134.1 Electric gun = any porTABLE device electrically operated to project a missile or electromotive force

Electric guns are not to be possessed, sold, given, or delivered except to law enforcement (134.16)

Unlawful possession of electric gun is a misdemeanor (134.17)

Idaho

Legal

Legal

Use 18 USC 930 Dangerous weapon definition

 

Illinois

Legal

Legal in home

720 ILCS 5/24-1 Stun gun or taser = any device powered by electrical charging units which fires barbs and upon hitting a human sends out a current disrupting normal functioning

Cannot carry/possess with unlawful intent or concealed unless at home or principal place of business - handgun license required (5/24-1)

More unlawful use limitations listed punishable at various levels (5/24-1)

More aggravated unlawful use limitations listed punishable as Class 4 felony (5/24-1.6)

Indiana

Legal

Legal

35-41-1-8 Deadly weapon = taser or electric stun weapon readily capable of causing serious bodily injury;  35-47-8-3 Taser = designed to emit electronic charge or shock through use of projectile and used to temporarily incapacitate a person

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

Legal

Legal

702.7 Dangerous weapon definition

 

Kansas

Legal

Legal

21-4201 Criminal use of weapons defined

Weapons as to schools includes electronic devices designed to discharge immobilizing levels of electricity aka stun gun (72-89a01)

Kentucky

Legal

Legal

500.080 Dangerous instrument and deadly weapon definition

 

Louisiana

Legal

Legal

Title 14 §2 Dangerous weapon definition

 

Maine

Legal

Legal

17 AMRS §2 Dangerous weapon definition

 

Maryland

Legal

Legal

4-101 Dangerous weapon definition

 

Massachusetts

?

Prohibited

Ch. 140 § 131J Electrical weapons

No person shall sell or possess electrical weapons; punishable by fine between $500-1000 or 6mos-2yrs in prison or both

Michigan

Legal

Prohibited

750.224a PorTABLE device/weapon directing electrical current

Device capable of electro-muscular disruption must contain identification and tracking system that is traceable to the purchaser through the manufacturer

Permitted possession and use by a peace officer, employee of department of corrections authorized by director, local corrections officer authorized by county sheriff, probation officer, court officer, bail agent, license private investigator, or properly trained aircraft pilot or crew.

Minnesota

Legal

Legal

624.731 Electronic incapacitation devices = porTABLE device designed to temporarily immobilize or incapacitate persons by means of electric pulse or current

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

Devices must be according to local licensing requirement

Mississippi

Legal

Legal

97-37-1 Deadly weapons definition

 

Missouri

Legal

Legal

556.061 Dangerous instrument and deadly weapon definitions

 

Montana

Legal

Legal

45-2-101 Weapon definition

 

Nebraska

Legal

Legal

28-109 Deadly weapon definition

 

Nevada

Legal

Legal

202.253 Firearm definition

 

New Hampshire

Legal

Legal

159:20 Electronic defense weapon = an electronically activated non-lethal device producing an electrical charge sufficient to immobilize or incapacitate a person temporarily

Felon 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 intent to commit a crime is punishable as a misdemeanor or felony (159:23)

New Jersey

Prohibited

Prohibited

2C:39-1 Weapon = Stun gun, emits an electrical charge or current intended to temporarily or permanently disable a person

Any person who knowingly has in his possession any stun gun is guilty of a crime of the 4th degree (2C:39-3

New Mexico

Legal

Legal

30-1-12 Deadly weapon definition

 

New York

Legal

Prohibited

265.00 Electronic dart gun = designed to momentarily stun, knock out or paralyze a person by passing an electrical shock by means of a dart or projectile;
Electric stun gun = designed to stun, cause mental disorientation, knock out or paralyze a person by passing a high voltage electrical shock

Possession is a Class A misdemeanor (265.01)

Possession by person with any previous conviction is a Class D felony (265.02)