Stun Gun Laws

Legal No Alabama statute specifically regulates civilian purchase, possession, or use of a stun gun or Taser-type device; Title 13A, Chapter 11, Article 3 (weapons offenses) addresses firearms only. A previously-published claim that Mobile requires a separate city permit could not be confirmed against any primary source and has been removed. Statute: Ala. Code Title 13A, Ch. 11, Art. 3 (no dedicated stun gun provision) Source: Alabama Code (via Justia); official state code not independently re-pulled this pass. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Alabama authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Restricted (age 19+) Arkansas law provides that no person who is eighteen years of age or under may purchase or possess a taser stun gun; selling one to a minor is a Class B felony. No permit is required for an eligible adult purchaser. Statute: Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-133 Source: Official Arkansas Code (arkleg.state.ar.us), cross-confirmed via Justia This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Arkansas authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal No dedicated Arizona statute regulates civilian purchase, possession, or use of a stun gun; the state's "deadly weapon" definition (Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 13-3101, 13-3102) does not extend to these devices. A previously-published age/ID requirement could not be confirmed against any primary source and has been removed pending further verification. Statute: Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 13-3101, 13-3102 Source: Official Arizona Revised Statutes (azleg.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Arizona authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal with Restrictions Stun guns are legal to purchase, possess, and use in California under Cal. Penal Code Section 22610, and no state permit or licence is required. Age: A minor may be sold, or may possess, a stun gun only if the minor is at least 16 years of age AND has the written consent of a parent or legal guardian (Section 22610(c)(1) and (d)). A minor under 16 may not be sold one under any circumstances. Written consent alone is not sufficient below age 16. Prohibited persons: Section 22610(a)-(b) bar any person convicted of a felony or of any crime involving an assault, any person convicted of misuse of a stun gun under Section 244.5, and any person addicted to a narcotic drug. Restricted locations, regardless of eligibility: state and local public buildings and meetings required to be open to the public (Section 171b); the grounds of any public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or grades 1 through 12 (Section 626.10); and the sterile area of an airport or passenger vessel terminal (Section 171.5). Product requirements: Each stun gun sold must bear the manufacturer's name and a serial number (Section 22615) and must be accompanied by an instruction booklet (Section 22625). Penalties: Unless otherwise specified, a violation of the stun gun provisions is a misdemeanour (Section 22620). Assault with a stun gun under Section 244.5 is punishable by up to one year in county jail or by 16 months, two, or three years of imprisonment, and by two, three, or four years where the victim is a peace officer or firefighter engaged in official duties. Device classification note: Section 17230 defines a stun gun as an item "except a less lethal weapon" capable of temporarily immobilising a person by the infliction of an electrical charge. A device that propels probes or projectiles to deliver the charge may fall outside that definition and instead under the less lethal weapon provisions at Sections 16780 and 19400-19405, which apply a different age rule. Confirm the classification of a specific device before purchase. Statute date: Section 22610 - "Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. (SB 1080) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711." These sections are the successors to former Penal Code Sections 12650 and 12651, recodified by the Deadly Weapons Recodification Act of 2010. Official source (California Legislative Information): https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=22610. Verified against that source: August 26, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and local ordinances change. Confirm current requirements with California authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Colorado's concealed-weapon statute does not list stun guns among restricted items, and no separate purchase permit or licensing requirement was found. Using a stun gun in the commission of a crime is a separate class 5 felony under state law. Statute: C.R.S. §§ 18-12-105, 18-12-106.5 Source: Colorado Revised Statutes (colorado.public.law); direct legislature.colorado.gov PDF not independently re-pulled this pass This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Colorado authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

It is legal to buy, carry, and use a stun gun in Connecticut, with exceptions. The user must have a valid gun permit and be at least 21 years of age. There is no license required.

Unverified Delaware's statutory definitions treat an "electronic control device" as a type of "dangerous instrument," not a "deadly weapon" (11 Del. C. § 222(5)(c), (11)), but no possession or purchase-permit statute specific to stun guns was located this pass. The previously-published claim of a 21+ age requirement and mandatory background check could not be traced to a primary Delaware statute and may reflect Delaware's separate firearm purchase-permit law rather than a stun-gun-specific rule. Status is Unverified pending a direct statutory or counsel review. Statute: 11 Del. C. § 222(5)(c), (11) (definitions only) Source: Delaware Code (via Justia) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Delaware authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Alaska's concealed deadly-weapon offense expressly excepts a "defensive weapon" — including an electric stun gun not designed to cause death or serious physical injury — from its scope (AS 11.61.220(a); AS 11.81.900(b)). A previously-published 18+ age requirement could not be corroborated against these statutes and is not restated here pending further verification. Statute: AS 11.61.220(a); AS 11.81.900(b) Source: Alaska Statutes (via FindLaw; official akleg.gov did not return section text this pass) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Alaska authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Restricted Florida law defines an "electric weapon or device" at Fla. Stat. § 790.001(7). A felon-possession prohibition is understood to apply via Fla. Stat. § 790.23, though that specific section was not independently re-verified this pass. No statewide age minimum or permit requirement was located for adult civilian purchasers. Statute: Fla. Stat. § 790.001(7); § 790.23 (felon prohibition, not independently re-verified this pass) Source: Official Florida Statutes (flsenate.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Florida authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Georgia's carry-license requirement applies only to the statutory definition of "weapon" (a knife or handgun) under O.C.G.A. § 16-11-125.1, which excludes stun guns — no carry license is required. An 18+ age reference appears only in the school-safety-zone provision (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127.1(c)(19)). Statute: O.C.G.A. §§ 16-11-125.1, 16-11-127.1(c)(19) Source: Official Code of Georgia Annotated This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Georgia authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Restricted (age 21+, seller-administered background check) Hawaii regulates stun guns under Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 134-81 through 134-93 (the prior § 134-16 permit statute has been repealed and no longer applies). Section 134-86 bars possession by fugitives, certain felons, persons subject to a protective order, individuals with qualifying mental-health or substance-abuse history, and anyone under 21. Section 134-84 requires the selling dealer to run a criminal-history check and provide a safety briefing at the point of sale; stun guns cannot be purchased online and shipped directly to a Hawaii resident without going through a licensed in-state dealer. Statute: Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 134-81 to 134-93 (current); former § 134-16 repealed Source: Hawaii Revised Statutes (via Justia) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Hawaii authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Idaho Code § 18-3302(2)(c)(iii) expressly excludes tasers, stun guns, pepper spray, and mace from the state's "deadly weapon" definition, so the licensing framework that applies to deadly weapons does not reach these devices. No age floor or permit requirement was located in this section; a separate general felon-in-possession statute may still apply and was not reviewed this pass. Statute: Idaho Code § 18-3302(2)(c)(iii) Source: Idaho Code (via FindLaw; official site did not return section text this pass) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Idaho authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Restricted — FOID card required A valid Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card, or an Illinois concealed carry license, is required to acquire or possess a stun gun or Taser in Illinois, under 430 ILCS 65/2(a)(2). Stun guns are swept into this requirement as a separately named category — they are not classified as "firearms" under the Act's own firearm definition, which is limited to explosive/gas-expulsion devices (430 ILCS 65/1.1). Statute: 430 ILCS 65/1.1, 65/2(a)(2) Source: Illinois Compiled Statutes (via Justia; ilga.gov was not reachable this pass) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Illinois authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Restricted (age 18+) Indiana law provides that a person eighteen years of age or older may purchase or possess a stun gun (Ind. Code § 35-47-8-4); furnishing one to a minor is a Class B misdemeanor (§ 35-47-8-5). No purchase permit is required — Indiana is a permitless-carry state for these devices. Statute: Ind. Code §§ 35-47-8-4, 35-47-8-5 Source: Indiana Code (official site had an error this pass; confirmed via Justia) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Indiana authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Stun guns are not listed among Iowa's statutory "offensive weapons" (Iowa Code § 724.1), and no adult purchase permit is required. A minor who carries a stun gun commits a simple misdemeanor (§ 724.4E(3)). A previously-published claim of a local ban in Denison or Crawford County could not be traced to any ordinance or primary source and has been removed. Statute: Iowa Code §§ 724.1, 724.4E(3) Source: Official Iowa Code (legis.iowa.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Iowa authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Kansas's enumerated list of prohibited weapons (K.S.A. § 21-6301) does not include stun guns. A previously-published 18+ age requirement could not be confirmed against this or any other located statute and is not restated here pending further verification. Statute: K.S.A. § 21-6301 Source: Kansas Statutes Annotated (via FindLaw; official site had a redirect issue this pass) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Kansas authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Kentucky's statutory "deadly weapon" definition (KRS § 500.080) is an enumerated list that omits electronic control devices, so the licensing and carry restrictions tied to that definition do not apply. No permit is required and no age floor was located in this statute. Statute: KRS § 500.080 Source: Kentucky Revised Statutes (via FindLaw) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Kentucky authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal No Louisiana statute specifically regulates civilian purchase or possession of a stun gun. The state's general "dangerous weapon" definition (La. R.S. 14:2(3)) is broad and has not been tested against stun guns specifically in the sources reviewed; this is a silence-based finding rather than an affirmative exemption. No permit or license requirement was located. Statute: La. R.S. 14:2(3); § 14:95 Source: Louisiana Revised Statutes (official site and Justia) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Louisiana authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Maine law (17-A M.R.S. § 1004) criminalizes directing an electronic weapon's charge at another person, but does not restrict civilian possession or carrying of the device itself — no permit is required. A previously-published 18+ age requirement could not be confirmed against a located Maine statute and is not restated here pending further verification. Statute: 17-A M.R.S. § 1004 Source: Official Maine Revised Statutes (legislature.maine.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Maine authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Restricted (age 18+, seller-run background check) Maryland law provides that a person may not possess or use an electronic control device unless they have attained the age of 18, and bars possession by anyone convicted of a crime of violence (Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-109). The selling dealer is required to run a criminal-history background check at the point of sale; no separate carry permit is required. Statute: Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-109 Source: Official Maryland Code (mgaleg.maryland.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Maryland authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal, with restrictions — License to Carry (LTC) required Massachusetts exempts stun guns from several of its general weapons-licensing sections but directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Security to regulate access and use by non-licensed persons (M.G.L. c. 140 § 131J). In practice this requires a Massachusetts License to Carry (LTC) to purchase or possess a stun gun. Whether the 2024 Massachusetts Firearms Act changed any of these requirements has not been independently confirmed. Statute: M.G.L. c. 140 § 131J; licensing requirement set by implementing regulation under that section Source: Massachusetts General Laws (via Justia) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Massachusetts authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Restricted Michigan law generally prohibits sale, transport, and possession of a stun gun (a portable device that discharges an electrical current, impulse, wave, or beam designed to incapacitate) under MCL 750.224a(1). An exception applies to any individual who holds a valid Michigan Concealed Pistol License (CPL) and who has completed device-specific training under subsection (5) — that person may lawfully possess and reasonably use a stun gun. Age minimum: CPL floor is 21. Seller obligation: Michigan law places a duty on the seller to verify the buyer's CPL and deliver point-of-sale training on the device's use, effects, and risks before completing the sale. Carry/use restriction: use limited to reasonable, lawful purposes; general Michigan weapons-carry location restrictions (schools, courts, etc.) apply as they would to any CPL-gated device. Statute: MCL 750.224a(1), (2)(b) Source: Michigan Legislature (official) — legislature.mi.gov This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Michigan authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Restricted (age 18+) Minnesota law provides that no person under the age of 18 may possess or use an electronic incapacitation device (Minn. Stat. § 624.731). A related prohibited-persons provision elsewhere in the same statute references a separate 16-plus-with-parental-permission standard that was not fully reconciled with the 18+ floor this pass. A previously-published background-check requirement could not be confirmed against this statute and is not restated here. Statute: Minn. Stat. § 624.731 Source: Official Minnesota Statutes (revisor.mn.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Minnesota authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Restricted — license required for concealed carry Open carry of a stun gun is exempt from Mississippi's licensing requirement, but concealed carry requires a license under Miss. Code § 45-9-101 (21+, or 18-20 with a qualifying military ID). A previous claim of "no statewide restrictions" is not accurate as a blanket statement and has been corrected here. Statute: Miss. Code § 45-9-101 Source: Mississippi Code (via Justia; official Lexis-hosted MS Code was not reachable this pass) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Mississippi authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal No Missouri statute defines or restricts an "electric weapon" or stun gun; the relevant weapons chapter (RSMo Ch. 571, including §§ 571.010, 571.030, 571.107) contains no such provision. No permit is required based on the sections reviewed. Statute: RSMo Ch. 571 (no dedicated stun gun provision found) Source: Official Missouri Revised Statutes (revisor.mo.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Missouri authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal No electronic-weapon or stun-gun-specific language was found in the definitions reviewed under Montana Code Annotated, Title 45, Chapter 8, Part 3 (§ 45-8-302 and related sections); no permit requirement was located. This section was not reviewed exhaustively. Statute: MCA Title 45, Ch. 8, Pt. 3 (§ 45-8-302) Source: Official Montana Code Annotated (mca.legmt.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Montana authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Unverified Neither Nebraska's weapons definitions (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1201) nor its concealed-weapon statute (§ 28-1202) specifically names stun guns; an untested "any other deadly weapon" catch-all exists that has not been construed against this device type. A previously-published age/background requirement could not be traced to a primary source. Status is Unverified pending a fuller review of Chapter 28, Article 12. Statute: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-1201, 28-1202 Source: Official Nebraska Revised Statutes (nebraskalegislature.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Nebraska authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Restricted (age 18+, self-defense use only) Nevada law (NRS 202.357) bars use of an electronic stun device for any purpose other than self-defense, and bars possession by convicted felons, fugitives, certain mental-health subjects, individuals unlawfully present in the U.S., and anyone under 18. Statute: NRS 202.357 Source: Nevada Revised Statutes (via Justia; official page did not render full text this pass) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Nevada authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Restricted (age 18+ for sale) Under New Hampshire law, selling a stun gun to a person under 18 is a violation (RSA 159:22), and a person with a prior felony conviction who possesses one away from the premises where they reside commits a Class B felony (RSA 159:20-21). No license is required for an eligible adult purchaser. Statute: RSA 159:20, 159:21, 159:22 Source: Official New Hampshire Revised Statutes (gc.nh.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with New Hampshire authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal (age 18+) New Jersey's stun gun possession ban (N.J.S. 2C:39-3(h)) was declared unconstitutional by consent order in Second Amendment Society and Cheeseman v. Porrino, No. 16-4906 (D.N.J. 2017) (Shipp, J.), and the New Jersey Attorney General has directed all state and local law enforcement not to enforce it as it pertains to possession or sale. The prohibition remains enforceable against possession by, or sale to, anyone under 18. Statute: N.J.S. 2C:39-3(h); enforcement enjoined per consent order, Second Amendment Society v. Porrino, D.N.J. No. 16-4906 (2017); N.J. Attorney General directive, Oct. 22, 2017 Source: U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey; New Jersey Attorney General's Office This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with New Jersey authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal New Mexico's "deadly weapon" definition (NMSA 1978 § 30-1-12(B)) is an enumerated list of edged and blunt-force weapons plus a "dangerous wounds" catch-all that, by its terms, appears aimed at cutting, piercing, or blunt-trauma weapons — stun guns are not listed. This is an inference from the statute's scope rather than an explicit exemption. No age or permit statute was located. Statute: NMSA 1978 § 30-1-12(B) Source: New Mexico Statutes (via Justia; official nmonesource.com not reachable this pass) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with New Mexico authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Illegal New York Penal Law § 265.01(1) lists "electronic stun gun" among prohibited weapons and this has not been repealed by the legislature. A 2019 federal district court ruling (Avitabile v. Beach, 368 F. Supp. 3d 404 (N.D.N.Y. 2019)) held the ban unconstitutional, but New York's own courts have stated that ruling is not binding on state courts, so a real prosecution risk remains under state law. New York City separately prohibits stun guns under its own ordinance (NYC Admin. Code § 10-135). Statute: N.Y. Penal Law § 265.01(1) Source: New York Consolidated Laws; New York State Unified Court System library guidance on Avitabile v. Beach This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with New York authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Restricted — concealed carry and school-property limits North Carolina restricts concealed carry of a stun gun off one's own premises (Class 2 misdemeanor) and possession on K-12 educational property, with narrow exceptions (Class 1 misdemeanor), under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-269(a), (c) and § 14-269.2(d)-(e). No statewide purchase-age statute was located; open carry and possession are otherwise unrestricted. Statute: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-269(a), (c); § 14-269.2(d)-(e) Source: Official North Carolina General Statutes (ncleg.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with North Carolina authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal (single-application devices) North Dakota excludes single-application stun guns and Tasers from its "dangerous weapon" definition (N.D.C.C. § 62.1-01-01); no license is required for these. The North Dakota Attorney General's office has indicated multi-application Taser-type devices may fall under the concealed-weapon licensing framework instead — confirm the specific device model before publishing a blanket answer for multi-application units. Statute: N.D.C.C. § 62.1-01-01 Source: Official North Dakota Century Code (ndlegis.gov); ND Attorney General guidance This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with North Dakota authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Ohio has no stun-gun-specific permit requirement. Concealed carry of a "deadly weapon other than a handgun" relies on an affirmative lawful-purpose defense under R.C. § 2923.12, not a license, and stun guns are not separately named in R.C. § 2923.11. A previously-published "valid permit" claim was not supported by these statutes and has been removed — it likely reflected confusion with Ohio's separate concealed handgun license (CHL) system. Statute: R.C. §§ 2923.11, 2923.12 Source: Official Ohio Revised Code (codes.ohio.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Ohio authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Oklahoma's enumerated unlawful-carry list (21 O.S. §§ 1272, 1272.3 — pistol, revolver, shotgun, rifle, blackjack, and similar items) does not include stun guns. A previously-published "valid permit" claim was not supported by these statutes and has been removed — it likely reflected the same confusion with a separate concealed-handgun permit system seen in Ohio. Statute: 21 O.S. §§ 1272, 1272.3 Source: Oklahoma Statutes (via Justia) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Oklahoma authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Oregon law (ORS 163.212, 163.213) criminalizes recklessly discharging an electrical stun gun against another person, but does not restrict civilian possession or purchase of the device itself. Statute: ORS §§ 163.212, 163.213 Source: Official Oregon Revised Statutes (oregon.public.law) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Oregon authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Pennsylvania law expressly permits possession and use of an electric or electronic incapacitation device in the exercise of reasonable force in defense of person or property (18 Pa.C.S. § 908.1). A felon-possession bar applies via a separate statute (§ 6105); no age minimum was stated in § 908.1 itself, and no license is required. Statute: 18 Pa.C.S. § 908.1; § 6105 (felon bar) Source: Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (via Justia) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Pennsylvania authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal — statute unenforced under federal court order R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-42(a)(1) still lists "stun-gun" among prohibited weapons, but a federal court permanently enjoined its enforcement in O'Neil v. Neronha, 594 F. Supp. 3d 463 (D.R.I. 2022), after the State itself conceded the ban unconstitutional. No permit or registration scheme has been enacted to replace it, and no statutory age minimum currently applies to stun guns specifically; Zarc applies an 18+ commercial policy regardless. Statute: R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-42(a)(1); enforcement permanently enjoined, O'Neil v. Neronha, 594 F. Supp. 3d 463 (D.R.I. 2022) Source: U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Rhode Island authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal South Carolina's former stun-gun restriction (S.C. Code § 16-23-460) was repealed effective March 7, 2024; the current version of Chapter 23 has no dedicated stun-gun provision. This is a recent statutory change worth noting, since older sources may still describe the repealed restriction. Statute: Former S.C. Code § 16-23-460 (repealed eff. 3/7/2024) Source: Official South Carolina Code (scstatehouse.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with South Carolina authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal South Dakota's "controlled weapon" definition (silencers, machine guns, short shotguns, and similar items) is defined separately from, and does not include, stun guns (S.D.C.L. § 22-1-2(8), (50); § 22-14-6). No age or permit requirement was located. Statute: S.D.C.L. § 22-1-2(8), (50); § 22-14-6 Source: South Dakota Codified Laws (via Justia) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with South Dakota authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Stun guns, Tasers, and electronic control devices are not named in Tennessee's weapons definitions, prohibited-weapons list, or carrying statute (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-17-1301, -1302, -1307). A general, untested "no common lawful purpose" catch-all exists in this chapter but has not been construed against this device type. Statute: Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-17-1301, 39-17-1302, 39-17-1307 Source: Tennessee Code Annotated (via Justia) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Tennessee authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal The term "stun gun" does not appear in either the definitions section or the prohibited-weapons list of the Texas Penal Code (§§ 46.01, 46.05). No minor-sale-specific provision was located. Statute: Tex. Penal Code §§ 46.01, 46.05 Source: Texas Penal Code (official/Justia) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Texas authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal for possession; concealed carry fact-dependent Utah's "dangerous weapon" definition (Utah Code § 76-10-501(6)) uses a manner-of-use test rather than a fixed list, so a stun gun could theoretically be treated as a dangerous weapon in a concealed-carry context under § 76-10-504, depending on the circumstances. No stun-gun-specific age or permit requirement was located, but a prior claim that concealed carry requires no permit is Unverified against this fact-dependent standard. Statute: Utah Code § 76-10-501(6); § 76-10-504 Source: Utah Code (via Justia; official le.utah.gov did not render text this pass) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Utah authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal statewide; banned on school property Washington law bans possession of "any portable device manufactured to function as a weapon and which is commonly known as a stun gun" on public or private school premises (RCW 9.41.280(1)(f)(i)); no other statewide restriction was found. A previously-published claim of a local ban in Ruston, Washington could not be traced to any ordinance or primary source and has been removed. Statute: RCW 9.41.280(1)(f)(i) Source: Revised Code of Washington (via Justia) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Washington authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Likely legal — incomplete review West Virginia Code § 61-7-2 expressly defines and carves out pepper spray for self-defense use, but does not define "stun gun" or "electronic device" in this section. Whether the state's general "deadly weapon" catch-all (which carries a 21+ concealed-carry age floor, or 18+ under certain conditions) extends to stun guns was not resolved this pass. Statute: W. Va. Code § 61-7-2 (partial review; §§ 61-7-3, 61-7-4 not yet reviewed) Source: Official Code of West Virginia (code.wvlegislature.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with West Virginia authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Restricted — concealed-carry license required Wisconsin law makes selling, possessing, or carrying an electric weapon without a qualifying license a Class H felony (Wis. Stat. § 941.295), subject to exemptions including a valid Wisconsin (or reciprocal out-of-state) concealed-carry license, keeping the device on one's own property, or a specific statutory exemption (law enforcement, military, etc.). Statute: Wis. Stat. § 941.295 Source: Wisconsin Statutes This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Wisconsin authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal Wyoming's "deadly weapon" definition (Wyo. Stat. § 6-1-104(a)(iv)) is functional/use-based and does not name stun guns. No age or permit requirement was located. Statute: Wyo. Stat. § 6-1-104(a)(iv) Source: Wyoming Statutes (via Justia) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Wyoming authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal No section of Vermont's Weapons chapter (13 V.S.A. §§ 4001-4027) references electronic control devices or stun guns specifically, so no dedicated restriction was found; no permit is required. A previously-published 18+ age requirement and felony-conviction bar could not be confirmed against a located Vermont statute and are not restated here pending further verification. Statute: 13 V.S.A. §§ 4001-4027 (no ECD-specific provision found) Source: Official Vermont Statutes (legislature.vermont.gov); full-text search was blocked by robots.txt this pass This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Vermont authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal, with location and felon restrictions Virginia's general concealed-weapons statute (Va. Code § 18.2-308) does not list "stun weapon" among restricted items, but stun weapons are separately named and banned on school property and for persons convicted of certain felonies (§§ 18.2-308.1, 18.2-308.2). No general statewide age or permit requirement was located; additional location restrictions apply in courthouses (§ 18.2-283.1) and air-carrier airport terminals (§ 18.2-287.01). Statute: Va. Code §§ 18.2-308, 18.2-308.1, 18.2-308.2, 18.2-283.1, 18.2-287.01 Source: Official Code of Virginia (law.lis.virginia.gov) This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Virginia authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.

Legal with Restrictions Civilian possession of stun guns and TASER-type electronic control devices is legal in the District of Columbia, and no registration certificate is required. D.C. Code Section 7-2501.01(9)(E) expressly excludes a stun gun from the definition of firearm, so the registration requirement in Section 7-2502.01(a) does not apply. Note on older sources: DC did prohibit civilian stun guns before 2017, by treating an electric-shock incapacitating device as a destructive device. That provision was repealed by D.C. Law 21-281, the Stun Gun Regulation Amendment Act of 2016, effective May 19, 2017. Sources describing a DC ban are out of date. Age: 18 or older. Brief possession by a minor for self-defense against an immediate threat of harm is not a violation (Section 7-2502.15(a)). Use: Limited by statute to the exercise of reasonable force in defense of person or property (Section 7-2502.15(b)). Restricted locations: Possession is prohibited, absent specific permission, in buildings or offices occupied by the DC government, its agencies or instrumentalities; penal institutions, secure juvenile residential facilities, and halfway houses; buildings occupied by a children's facility, preschool, or public or private elementary or secondary school; and any building or grounds clearly posted by the owner or occupant to prohibit carrying a stun gun (Section 7-2502.15(c)). Training: None required. Dealers: A vendor selling more than five stun guns in any 12-month period must obtain a stun gun endorsement on its basic business license (Section 7-2502.16). Statute date: May 19, 2017 (Section 7-2502.15 credits: added May 19, 2017, D.C. Law 21-281, Sec. 2(d), 64 DCR 1648). No amendment since; D.C. Law 24-347 (April 21, 2023) amended Section 7-2501.01 only and did not touch the stun gun provisions. Official source (Council of the District of Columbia): https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-2502.15 Verified against that source: August 26, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with District of Columbia authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.