Are Stun Guns and Taser legal in your state?

• HAWAII
• MASSACHUSETTS
• MICHIGAN
• NEW JERSEY
• NEW YORK
• RHODE ISLAND
• WISCONSIN

• ANNAPOLIS, MD
• BALTIMORE, MD
• BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD
• CHICAGO, IL
• DENSION / CRAWFORD COUNTY, IA (*According to Sheriff Tom Hogan*)
• DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
• PHILADELPHIA

State Statutes Summary

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Below is a summary of state statutes pertaining to TASER® devices, stun guns or electronic control devices. This chart is not all inclusive and is merely a summary of various state statutes. Because state and local laws may change, please be sure to research your applicable state and local laws prior to possessing, transporting or using a TASER device. 

State LE Use Consumer Use Main Citation Restriction(s) 

Alabama Legal 
Ala. Code § 13A-1-2. Dangerous instrument or deadly weapon definition

Alaska Legal
Alaska Stat. § 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) 

Arizona Legal
Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3117. Remote stun gun sale and definitions. Unlawful to sell an authorized remote stun gun without keeping accurate records (§13-3117)

Arkansas Legal
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-133. Possession of a taser stun gun
• No one 18 or under can purchase or possess a taser stun gun (§ 5-73-133)
• Any law enforcement officer using a taser stun gun shall be properly trained and informed (§ 5-73-133)

California Legal
Cal. Penal § 244.5. Assault with a stun gun or taser [“stun gun” and “taser” 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) or school grounds (§ 626.10) 

Colorado Legal
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-101. Stun gun = device capable of temporarily immobilizing a person by the infliction of an electrical charge. Use of stun gun in commission of criminal offense is a class 5 felony (§ 18-12-106.5)

Connecticut Legal only in home
Conn. Gen Stat. § 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 unless under specific circumstances (§ 29-38)
•Criminal possession of electronic defense weapon is Class D felony (§ 53a-217) 

Delaware Legal
Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 222. Dangerous instrument, deadly weapon and firearm definition 

District of Columbia Prohibited unless can get firearm registration
D.C. Code § 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 (§ 7-2502.01)

Florida Legal with restrictions
Fla. Stat. § 790.001. Electric weapon or device = use of electrical current; intended for offensive or defensive purposes, destruction of life, or infliction of injury; Dart-firing stun gun = one or more darts that are capable of delivering an electrical current
•Can carry nonlethal stun gun or dart-firing stun gun in concealed manner but only for self-defense purposes (§ 790.01)
•License to carry concealed electric weapon or device (§ 790.06)
•Open carrying of weapons allowed for nonlethal stun gun or dart-firing stun gun (§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)
•Use of dart-firing stun guns by law enforcement officers (§ 943.1717)

Georgia Legal 
Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-106. Taser = powered by electrical charging units and emits an electrical charge in excess of 20,000 volts or is otherwise capable of incapacitating a person by an electrical charge. TASER and Electronic Weapons Act and law enforcement use (§ 35-8-26)

Hawaii Prohibited
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 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 
Idaho Code Ann. § 18-3302D. Use 18 USC 930 Dangerous weapon definition

Illinois Legal in home/business with Firearm Owner’s ID Card
Ill. Comp. Stat. § 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 unless at home or principal place of business (§ 5/24-1 and 5/24-1.6)
•Sale restrictions (§ 5/24-3)

Indiana Prohibited unless properly licensed as handgun
Ind. Code § 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 but may be carried in the home or personal place of business without a license (§§ 35-47-8-4 and 35-47-2-1)

Iowa Legal
Iowa Code § 702.7. Dangerous weapon definition 

Kansas Legal
Kan. Stat. Ann. § 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
Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 500.080. Dangerous instrument and deadly weapon definition

Louisiana Legal
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 14:2. Dangerous weapon definition

Maine Legal
Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 17, § 2. Dangerous weapon definition

Maryland Legal in all but Howard County Legal only in some Counties
Md. Code. Ann., Crim. Law § 4-101. Dangerous weapon definition Prohibited in Howard County for both law enforcement and citizens (Howard County Code Sec. 8.404.). Prohibited in Baltimore and Anne Arundel Counties for citizens (Baltimore County Code § 17-2-104; Anne Arundel County Code § 9-1-603).

Massachusetts Prohibited
Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 140, § 131J. Electrical weapons

Michigan Prohibited
Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.224a. Portable device/weapon directing electrical current
•LE, private investigator and private security police officers permitted possession and reasonable use after being trained (§ 750.224a) 

Minnesota Legal
Minn. Stat. § 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 only if the device is labeled with or accompanied by instructions as to its use and dangers (§624.731)
•Devices must be according to local licensing requirements (§ 624.731) 

Mississippi Legal 
Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1. Deadly weapons definition

Missouri Legal
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 556.061 Dangerous instrument and deadly weapon definitions

Montana Legal
Mont. Code Ann. § 45-2-101 Weapon definition

Nebraska Legal
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-109 Deadly weapon definition

Nevada Legal
Nev. Rev. Stat. §202.357. Electronic stun device = emits electrical charge or current and is designed to disable
•Only use for self-defense (§ 202.357)
•Under 18 cannot possess an electronic stun device (§ 202.357)

New Hampshire Legal
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:20. Electronic defense weapon = an electronically activated non-lethal device producing an electrical charge sufficient to immobilize or incapacitate a person temporarily
•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
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 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
N.M. Stat. § 30-1-12. Deadly weapon definition

New York Prohibited
N.Y. Penal Law § 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)
•Exemption for LE (§ 265.20)

North Carolina Legal
 No definition statute •Unlawful to carry stun gun in a concealed manner (except on own premises) (§ 14-269)
•Stun guns generally not allowed on educational property (§ 14-269.2)

North Dakota Legal
N.D. Cent. Code § 62.1-01-01. Dangerous weapon includes stun gun
•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 to carry concealed dangerous weapon (§ 62.1-04-03)

 Ohio Legal
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2923.11. Deadly weapon definition

Oklahoma Legal
No definition statute •Use of electronic dart gun while committing felony shall be guilty of separate offense (§ 1287)
•Electric dart gun not listed in Unlawful Carry statute (§ 1272)

 Oregon Legal
Or. Rev. Stat. § 161.015. Physical force includes the use of an electrical stun gun
•Reckless discharge of electrical stun gun against another person is a Class A misdemeanor (§ 163.212)
•Knowing discharge of electrical stun gun against a LE officer, EMT… is a Class C felony (§ 163.213)

Pennsylvania Legal in all except Philadelphia Legal in all except Philadelphia
Pa. Cons. Stat. § 908. Offensive weapon = any stun gun, Taser or other electronic or electric weapon Pa. Cons. Stat. § 908.1. Use or possession of electronic incapacitation device
•Possession or use of electronic incapacitation device for unlawful purpose constitutes a 2nd degree felony with intent or 1st degree misdemeanor otherwise (§908.1)\
•A person possess and 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)
•Prohibited in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Code § 10-825)

Rhode Island Unclear Prohibited
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-42. Stun gun prohibited •No person shall carry or possess or attempt to use against another (§ 11-47-42)
•No person shall carry concealed upon his person (§ 11-47-42)
•Punishable by fine not less than $1,000 or imprisonment for not less than 1 year or both and weapon shall be confiscated (§ 11-47-42)
•No express exceptions for law enforcement (§ 11-47-43)

South Carolina Legal
S.C. Code Ann. § 16-23-10. Definition of handgun •Individual who takes a stun gun or Taser device from a law enforcement officer is guilty of a felony (§ 16-23-415)

South Dakota Legal
S.D. Codified Laws § 22-1-2. Stun gun = 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; Dangerous weapon = stun gun
•Prohibited on elementary and secondary school premises by other than LE officer (§ 13-32-7)
•Prohibited in county courthouse (§ 22-14-23)

Tennessee Legal
Tenn. Code Ann. §39-11-106. Deadly weapon definition
•Applicants for private security officer/guard registration who will carry stun gun must obtain certified training (§§ 62-35-118 and 62-35-125)

Texas Legal
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 38.14. Stun gun = device designed to propel darts or other projectiles attached to wires that, on contact, will deliver an electrical pulse capable of incapacitating a person
•Individual who takes a stun gun from a law enforcement officer is guilty of a felony (§ 38.14)

Utah Legal
Utah Code Ann. § 76-10-501. Dangerous weapon definition

Vermont Legal
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13, § 4003. Dangerous weapon definition

Virginia Legal
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.1. Stun weapon = emits an electronic charge exceeding 5 milliamp 60 hertz
shock and used for temporarily incapacitating a person; Taser = emits electronic charge or shock through use of projectile and used to temporarily incapacitate a person
•Individual who takes a stun gun from a law enforcement officer is guilty of a felony (§ 18.2-57.02)
•Prohibited in a courthouse, airport terminal, and on school property – does not apply to LE officer (§§ 18.2-283.1, 18.2-287.01, and 18.2-308.1)
•Possession or transportation of stun weapon or Taser (except in own residence) by convicted felon is felony (§ 18.2-308.2)

Washington Legal
Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.110. Projectile stun gun = electronic device that projects wired probes attached to the device that emit an electrical charge and that is designed and primarily employed to incapacitate.

West Virginia Legal
W. Va. Code § 61-7-2. Deadly weapon definition

Wisconsin Prohibited
Wis. Stat. § 941.295. Electric weapon = intended to be used, offensively or defensively, to immobilize or incapacitate persons by the use of electric current
•Selling, transporting, manufacturing, possessing, or going armed with electric weapon is a felony – not applicable to LE officers (§ 941.295)
•Any person who sells, loans or gives electric weapon to person under 18 is guilty of a felony (§ 948.60)

Wyoming Legal
Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-1-104. Deadly weapon definition