Stun guns, also called and interchanged with names like tasers, tazer, and tazor, are portable weapons emitting low current and high voltage electrical charges for temporary incapacitation of an individual. When handled correctly, stun guns are viewed as non-fatal personal security tools.
However, there is some controversy surrounding their safety and regulation. Laws concerning the possession and use of stun guns differ significantly between states and local jurisdictions. This article will give a general view of stun gun legal states where civilians can legally possess them.
States Where Stun Guns Are Legal
In most states, adults with no criminal records are allowed to possess and carry stun guns for self-protection. Certain jurisdictions prohibit possession or use; nevertheless, in the main, stun guns are lawful in 41 states without any license or restriction. The following is a presentation of the laws on stun guns in the states where it is legal:
Alabama
Alabama has no laws restricting possession of stun guns by civilians over 18. They are legal to own and carry for self-defense without a permit.
Alaska
Alaska allows civilian possession of stun guns. There are no state laws regulating ownership, carry, or use, but local municipalities may have regulations.
Arizona
Arizona has no laws prohibiting civilian ownership of stun guns. Adults over 18 can legally purchase and carry them for self-defense without a permit.
Arkansas
Arkansas has no state restrictions on stun gun ownership or carry. They are legal for adults over 18 to possess without a permit, but some local jurisdictions may regulate their use.
California
As of January 1, 2017, stun guns are legal for civilian use in California. Adults over 18 can possess and carry stun guns for self-defense without a permit.
Colorado
Stun guns are legal in Colorado for adults over 18. No permit or firearms registration is required to purchase or possess them. Open carry is allowed.
Connecticut
Connecticut allows civilian possession of stun guns. Adults over 18 can own, carry, and use them for lawful self-defense without a permit or license.
Delaware
Delaware has no laws prohibiting the ownership or carrying of stun guns. Adults 18 and over can legally purchase, possess, and take them for self-defense without a permit.
Florida
Florida allows possession and carrying of stun guns for self-defense by those over 18. No permit, registration, or background check is required to purchase or own them.
Georgia
Georgia allows “electroshock weapons” like stun guns for adults over 18. No license or permit is required to purchase, possess, transport, or carry stun guns.
Idaho
Idaho has no restrictions on stun gun ownership by civilians over 18 years old. They are legal to purchase and carry without a permit for self-defense purposes.
Iowa
Iowa allows civilian ownership of stun guns for self-defense. Adults 18 and over can legally purchase and carry them without a permit or license.
Kansas
In Kansas, stun guns are legal for adults over 18 to purchase, possess, and carry without a permit or license for self-defense purposes. No state permit is required.
Kentucky
Kentucky allows possession of stun guns, tasers, and other “electronic weapons” for civilians over 18 years old. No license or registration is required to purchase or carry them.
Louisiana
Louisiana allows civilian possession of stun guns by those over 17. Adults can legally buy, own, transport, and carry stun guns for self-defense without a permit.
Maine
Maine has no laws prohibiting possession of stun guns for civilians over 18 years old. They can be legally purchased and carried concealed for personal protection.
Massachusetts
Stun guns are legal in Massachusetts for civilians over 18 years old. No firearms license or permit is required to purchase, possess, or carry them for self-defense.
Minnesota
In Minnesota, stun guns and tasers are legal for civilians over 18 to purchase, possess, and carry without a permit for personal security.
Mississippi
Mississippi does not prohibit or regulate civilian stun gun ownership. Adults over 18 can legally purchase and carry them for self-defense without a permit.
Missouri
Missouri allows people over 18 to possess stun guns and tasers for lawful self-defense. No permit or registration is required to purchase or carry them.
Montana
Montana allows adults over 18 to possess stun guns. They can be legally purchased and concealed for self-defense without a permit or license.
Nebraska
Nebraska does not prohibit civilian possession of stun guns. Adults over 18 can legally buy and carry them for personal protection without a permit.
Nevada
Nevada allows possession of stun guns for self-defense by those over 18. No permit, license, or registration is required to purchase or carry concealed stun guns.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire has no restrictions on stun gun ownership by adults over 18. They can be legally purchased and carried concealed for defense without a permit.
New Mexico
New Mexico allows adults over 18 to possess stun guns. No permit or registration is required to purchase or carry them for lawful self-defense.
North Carolina
North Carolina permits possession of stun guns for civilians over 18. They can be legally purchased and carried concealed without a permit for protection.
North Dakota
North Dakota has no laws prohibiting ownership of stun guns for defense purposes. Adults over 18 can legally buy and carry them without a permit.
Ohio
Ohio allows possession of stun guns for adults over 18. No license or permit is required to purchase or carry them for personal security.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma allows people over 18 to possess stun guns without a permit. They can be legally purchased and carried concealed for self-defense.
Oregon
Oregon allows adults over 18 to purchase, possess, and carry stun guns for personal safety without a permit or license. No state registration is required.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania permits stun gun ownership for those over 18. No license is required to purchase or possess a gun, but carrying it concealed requires a permit.
South Carolina
South Carolina has no laws prohibiting civilian stun gun possession. Adults over 18 can legally purchase and carry them for protection.
South Dakota
South Dakota allows possession of stun guns by adults over 18. No permit or registration is required to purchase or carry them for defense.
Tennessee
Tennessee allows ownership of stun guns for civilians over 18. No permit or registration is required to purchase or carry them for self-defense.
Texas
Texas allows civilian possession of stun guns by those over 18. They can be legally purchased and concealed for personal protection without a permit.
Utah
Utah has no restrictions on stun gun ownership for self-defense purposes. Adults over 18 can legally purchase and carry them concealed without a permit.
Vermont
Vermont does not prohibit or regulate civilian stun gun possession. Adults over 18 can legally buy and carry them for personal security.
Virginia
Virginia allows adults over 18 to possess stun guns. No permit or background check is required to purchase or carry them for self-defense.
Washington
Washington permits stun gun ownership for those over 18. No license is required to purchase or possess them. Carrying concealed requires a permit.
West Virginia
West Virginia has no laws prohibiting civilian stun gun possession. Adults over 18 can legally purchase and carry them for protection.
Wyoming
Wyoming has no restrictions on stun gun ownership. Adults over 18 can legally purchase and carry concealed stun guns without a permit.
Rhode Island
As of 2024, Rhode Island is the only state in the US that strictly prohibits the sale, use, and ownership of stun guns by civilians.
Conclusion
A majority of states allow civilians to have and carry stun guns. Nonetheless, some stun gun legal states heavily restrict or prohibit such ownership by citizens. It is, therefore, essential to know the regulations governing these at your local and state levels before buying one for personal protection. You can reference all stun gun laws by state at UGuardSecurityProducts.com.
Where allowed, stun guns can be used as non-lethal means of self-protection during dangerous situations when exercised responsibly and in accordance with the law. Proper training on how to use and keep stun guns safely is important, as with any other form of personal defense weapon.
