States where stun guns are illegal
HAWAII (BAN LIFTED; NOW LEGAL but has some requirements)
MASSACHUSETTS (BAN LIFTED; NOW LEGAL but requires MA and LTC ID)
MICHIGAN (TASERs are LEGAL but require CCW authorization; Stun guns are ILLEGAL as of April 2022)
NEW JERSEY (BAN LIFTED; NOW LEGAL)
NEW YORK (BAN LIFTED; NOW LEGAL)
RHODE ISLAND (BAN LIFTED; NOW LEGAL)
WISCONSIN (LEGAL but requires a CCW permit)
ILLINOIS (LEGAL but requires a FOID card)
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CITIES WHERE ELECTRIC ARGUMENTS ARE ILLEGAL:
ANNAPOLIS, MD (CANCELED;NOW LEGAL)
BALTIMORE, MD (CANCELED;NOW LEGAL)
BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD (CANCELED;NOW LEGAL)
DENISON / CRAWFORD COUNTY, IA (AUFGEHOBEN;NOW LEGAL)
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COUNTRIES RESTRICTED TO PARALLEL GUNS:
AUSTRALIA
BELGIUM
YOU HAVE
DENMARK
HONGKONG
INDIA (FOR POLICE USE ONLY)
ITALY
JAPAN
NEW ZEALAND
NORWAY
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND
United Kingdom
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Air Tasers, Stun Guns and StunBatons
STATE RESTRICTIONS:
HAWAII: Illegal
Law of the State of Hawaii. Rev Statistics. Title 10, Chapter 134. Firearms, Ammunition and Dangerous Weapons. Part 1. General Provisions. Chapter 134-1 Definitions.
"Shotgun" means any electrically powered portable device for firing a missile or electromotive force.
Chapter 134-16 Restriction on Possession, Sale, Gift, or Supply of Electric Weapons.
(a) It is unlawful for any person, including a licensed manufacturer, licensed importer or licensed dealer, to possess, offer for sale, hold for sale, sell, give, lend or supply electric weapons.
(b) Any electric weapon found in violation of subsection (a) will be confiscated and disposed of by the Chief Constable.
SUMMARY: Possession and sale of stun equipment is illegal in Hawaii.
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MICHIGAN: Illegal (Amended Law; CCW permit required)
Michigan Penal Code Law 328 of 1931. Chapter 750.224a Portable device or weapon that conducts electric current, pulse, wave or beam; sale or possession prohibited; Exams.
(1) A person in this condition shall not sell, offer for sale, or possess any portable weapon or device, the electrical current, pulse, wave, or beam of which is designed to temporarily incapacitate, injure, or kill.
(3) Anyone who violates this section is guilty of a criminal offense.
SUMMARY: The possession and sale of stun equipment is illegal in Michigan.
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RHODE ISLAND: Illegal
General Laws of Rhode Island. Title 11, Chapter 47. Articles of Incorporation 11-47-42. Weapons other than firearms are prohibited. - (A) No one may carry or possess an instrument or weapon of the type commonly known as a ***Stun Gun*** or attempt to use it against another person. Any person found in violation of the provisions of this subsection shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one (1) year or a fine and imprisonment, and the weapon so found shall be confiscated.
SUMMARY: The possession and use of stunning equipment is prohibited.
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WISCONSIN: Legal with Restrictions (requires CCW approval)
Under CCW (Concealed Carry) laws, the prohibition on possessing or being armed with an electric weapon does not apply to the following:
• A CCW licensee or an out-of-state licensee.
• Anyone armed with an electric weapon in his own home or business, or on property he lawfully owns, leases or occupies.
Wis. Stat. § 941.295(2g).
The ban on carrying an electric weapon does not apply to:
• A Licensee or an Out-of-State Licensee.
• A person who is not licensed or from another state and is transporting an electric weapon when the electric weapon is in a case.
Wis. Stat. § 941.295(2r).
Unless you are specifically permitted to carry an electric weapon (see above), you may carry an electric weapon only in your own home or place of business, or on property that you lawfully own, lease or occupy. Wis. Stat. § 941.295(2g). You can also transport the gun when it is in a carry case. Wis. Stat. § 941.295(2r). Possessing or carrying an electric weapon in any other situation is a criminal offense. Wis. Stat. § 941.295(1m).
Electric weapons may not be sold to any person in Wisconsin, except for law enforcement agencies, armed forces on official duty, or persons without a recognized out-of-state CCW license or Wisconsin CCW license. Wis. Stat. § 941.295(2)(d). Violating this law is a criminal offense. Wis. Stat. § 941.295(1m).
SUMMARY: You must have a CCW license or a recognized out-of-state license to legally carry stun guns in Wisconsin. However, you can keep a stun gun at home or in a store, and even take it with you in your vehicle if it's in a locked case. Trick 22 is that if you don't have a CCW license, no one can sell you.
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ILLINOIS: Legal, con tarjeta FOID
a. In order to own a taser or stun gun, a person must possess a valid FOID card of the kind currently required for firearms.
b. Sellers of tasers or stun guns must verify the buyer's FOID card and retain sales records for ten years, the same requirements for firearm sales.
C. If a licensed firearms dealer sells a taser or stun gun, they must request a background check on the buyer.
i.e. The 24-hour waiting period required for long guns, shotguns, and rifles also applies to the purchase of stun guns and tasers.
SUMMARY: Possession and sale of stun equipment is illegal in the state of Illinois without the proper license.
CITY/COUNTY RESTRICTIONS:
CHICAGO: Illegal (CANCELLED; NOW LEGAL WITH FOID CARD)
Editor's Note: The following jurisdictions require waiting times or notifications to law enforcement before weapons can be turned over to buyers:
Chicago - Approval/Rejection of Application for:
(1) Registration: 120 days
(2) Description: e.g. by an heir, 365 days)
SUMMARY: Possession and sale of stun equipment is illegal in Chicago. (More information is required in the Chicago City Ordinance)
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ANNAPOLIS: Illegal (CANCELLED; NOW LEGAL)
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BALTIMORE: Illegal (PEAKED; NOW LEGAL)
Baltimore City Code 115. Stun Guns and Similar Devices. (e) It is unlawful for any person, firm or entity to sell, give away, lend or rent a stun gun or other electronic device of any name or description that fires a projectile to any person, firm or entity or to transmit electric current within the city limits of Baltimore. Additionally, it is unlawful for any person to possess, fire, or discharge a stun gun or electronic device within the city. Nothing in this subsection shall apply to a member of the Baltimore City Police Department or other law enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties (Order 385. 1985).
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HOWARD COUNTY, MD: Illegal(CANCELLED; NOW LEGAL)
Second. 8,404. The sale or possession of electronic weapons is prohibited. It is unlawful for any person, firm or entity to sell, give away, lend, lease or transfer an electronic weapon to any person, firm or entity within the boundaries of Howard County. In addition, it is unlawful for any person to possess, fire, discharge, or activate electronic weapons within Howard County boundaries. (CB 38 1985).
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NEW YORK CITY: Illegal (LIFTED; NOW LEGAL)
New York City Administrative Code 10-135 Prohibiting the sale and possession of electronic stun guns.
a. As used in this section, “stun gun” means any device designed primarily as a weapon and the purpose of which is to stun, incapacitate, or paralyze a person by delivering an electric shock, but does not include an “electronic dart gun " a. “as such term is defined in Section 265.00 of the Criminal Code.
b. It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale or possess electronic weapons within the city's jurisdiction.
C. Violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor. [Exceptions under this section are granted to law enforcement officers operating under regular Department procedures or guidelines and manufacturers of electronic stun guns intended for bulk mailing. NOTE: The electronic stun gun is not a "firearm" under the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968 because it "...does not expel a projectile by the action of an explosive..."]
SUMMARY: Possession and sale of stun equipment is illegal in New York City
FAQs
Can you defend yourself with a taser? ›
Under Penal Code § 22610 PC, it is generally legal in California to purchase, possess or carry a stun gun or taser for lawful self-defense. However, you are not allowed to have a taser if you are a convicted felon, a narcotics addict, a minor, or if you have a prior conviction for assault or misuse of a stun gun.
What happens if you get hit with a stun gun? ›Injuries from a stun gun usually occur because the person shooting the electrodes will not disengage before the victim has too much electricity coursing through his or her body. This often leads to burns, heart attacks and improper heartbeat issues.
Do stun guns make you pass out? ›Complications related to the brain or nervous system are rare, but do occur, including loss of consciousness, seizures, abnormal brain activity and confusion.
Do you have to touch a person with a stun gun? ›Stun Guns are a Direct Contact Weapon
Stun guns are an effective contact weapon but you must physically touch the person with the prongs of the stun gun. It is also best to hold it on them for many seconds.
It is a brand of conducted electroshock weapon sold by Axon, formerly TASER International. Axon has identified increased risk in repeated, extended, or continuous exposure to the weapon; the Police Executive Research Forum says that total exposure should not exceed 15 seconds.
When can you use a taser on someone? ›309.4.2 APPLICATION OF THE TASER
(a) The subject is violent or physically resisting. (b) A subject who, by words or action, has demonstrated an intention to be violent or to physically resist and who reasonably appears to present the potential to harm officers, him/herself or others.
While a TASER device is just as painful as a normal stun gun, it's more effective at incapacitating muscle functions so an attacker can't move. The projectile prongs on TASERs make them ubiquitous among law enforcement agencies with police TASER devices offering more range than consumer models—up to 35 feet.
How long will a stun gun incapacitate someone? ›They are activated by pulling a trigger, which releases electricity between two metal prongs at the end of the device. Stun guns deliver a painful shock when electrified prongs touch the target. They can stun and briefly incapacitate a person for up to five seconds.
Can stun gun break bones? ›Can stun gun break bones? Fractures may result from falls. Vertebral compression fractures have been reported as a result of a Taser discharge. Barbs may penetrate bone.
Where is the most effective place to taser someone? ›The neck, under the arms, stomach, thighs, and groin area will have the most impact as points of contact. The face and neck are effective and painful targets as well. Think large muscle groups or places with lots of nerves, that is the ideal place to shock an attacker.
Can you be knocked out by a taser? ›
Loss of consciousness, abnormal brain function, and even seizures can result from being hit by a taser. In addition, a victim may suffer permanent damage from falling. Also, a taser can cause permanent damage in the form of scarring at the place of impact of the taser.
Can a stun gun shock you? ›Stun guns and tasers are called "electronic weapons." They are handheld weapons that use electricity to stun a person. The electricity causes uncontrollable muscle contractions. After being stunned with electricity, the person usually falls to the ground.
What damage can a taser do? ›Because electricity is being used, tasers can indeed cause serious injury or even death. The electrical currents may disrupt brain or heart function, leading to seizures, abnormal brain function and even a potentially fatal heart irregularity.
Are Tasers illegal to carry around? ›There are only two states that have laws prohibiting the possession of stun guns. In Hawaii and Rhode Island, it is illegal to possess a stun gun, even for self-defense purposes.
What happens if you taser someone in the head? ›This report shows that a taser shot to the head may result in a brain-specific complication such as generalized tonic-clonic seizure. It also suggests that seizure should be considered an adverse event related to taser use.
When should a Taser not be used? ›into contact with flammables or in environments where flammables are obviously present. Never deploy the Taser in highly flammable environments such as methamphetamine labs. 4.
What happens if you tase someone in the eyes? ›The darts are barbed, enabling them to grip onto clothing or tissue while the TASER delivers electrical impulses. The probe itself may cause significant injury to the eye on impact, and the barbs make removal of the dart a potential source for further damage to the globe [4], [5].
Where should you not taser someone? ›Taser "recommended officers avoid tasing suspects in the chest area, citing the potential for cardiac arrests, lawsuits and effectiveness of the device".
Where are Tasers illegal in the US? ›Tasers are legal for consumer use and ownership in 49 states, with the states of Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts being the most recent to authenticate the use of tasers by citizens. Rhode Island is the only state where taser purchase, possession, and use are illegal.
What is the best stun gun for a woman? ›- VIPERTEK VTS-881. Offering a rechargeable battery that boasts longevity, the VIPERTEK VTS-881 is a great taser for women. ...
- Taser Pulse+ Self-Defense Tool. ...
- VIPERTEK VTS-195 Flashlight Taser. ...
- VIPERTEK VTS-989. ...
- FIGHTSENSE Mini Stun Gun & Pepper Spray Combo.
Which is better stun gun or pepper spray? ›
While the irritant effect of being hit by pepper spray lasts for around 30 minutes, a stun gun can leave your assailant incapacitated for anywhere between 5 and 60 minutes. Once again, the taser proves to be the superior self-defense weapon in this category.