Stun Gun Laws by State: What to Check Before You Buy
Thinking about a stun gun or TASER for personal protection? The first question is simple: is it legal where you live? Stun gun laws by state vary more than most buyers expect, and some cities add their own rules.
This guide explains how laws define these devices, what can limit who buys one, and where carry is restricted, using real statute examples. It is general information, not legal advice.
What Kind of Device Does the Law Cover?
Most stun gun laws cover any device built to stun or incapacitate a person with an electrical charge. The details matter because some states set separate rules for contact devices and devices that fire probes.
New York is a clear example. Its Penal Law § 265.00 defines an “electronic stun gun” as a device designed to stun or disable a person by passing a high-voltage shock, and separately defines an “electronic dart gun” as one that delivers the shock through a dart or projectile.
How Do Contact Stun Guns and TASER-Style Devices Differ?
A contact stun gun has to touch the person to deliver its charge. A TASER-style device fires two probes on wires from a distance. For a deeper look at how each works, see our guide to TASER vs. stun gun differences.
Consumer models can do both. TASER’s own product pages describe the TASER Pulse 2 and Bolt 2 as firing two darts propelled by compressed nitrogen with a 15-foot range, plus a contact stun mode once the cartridge has been fired or removed.
Why Do State Definitions Matter?
Your state’s statute defines which rules apply to your device. A law that only names “dart guns” may treat a contact stun gun differently, while a broad definition may cover both.
Arizona’s A.R.S. § 13-3117 defines a “remote stun gun” broadly, covering devices that work through electrodes on the device, wired probes, or other conductive means. It then sets stricter standards for an “authorized remote stun gun,” including a discharge under 100,000 volts and under 9 joules per pulse, a serial number on each projectile, a tracking system traceable to the buyer, and a manufacturer training program.
Michigan goes further. Its exceptions apply to a “device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology,” which the law defines to include an identification and tracking system tied to the manufacturer’s records. Reading your state’s definition is the only reliable way to know which rules apply to the device you are considering.
How Do Stun Gun Laws by State Compare?
Where civilians can own a stun gun, the conditions range from almost none to licensing, training, and device standards. Courts have also reshaped this area over the past decade, so older lists of “banned states” can be wrong.
Court Rulings Have Changed the Picture
In Caetano v. Massachusetts, decided March 21, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated a Massachusetts ruling that had upheld the state’s ban on stun gun possession and sent the case back for further review.
In 2019, a federal court in New York held in Avitabile v. Beach that the state’s ban was unconstitutional as applied to electronic stun guns and dart guns and blocked the state from enforcing it against those devices. New York’s Penal Law § 265.01 still lists both devices in its text, which shows why you should check both the statute and any court rulings for your state.
States With License or Training Conditions
Michigan makes it a felony to sell or possess most electrical incapacitation devices unless an exception applies, under MCL 750.224a. One exception lets a person with a valid concealed pistol license possess and reasonably use an electro-muscular disruption device after completing the required training.
Massachusetts handles stun guns through regulation. M.G.L. c. 140, § 131J directs the state’s Secretary of Public Safety and Security to write rules restricting access and use by non-licensed persons, along with safety standards, safe storage rules, and civilian training.
States With Age, Buyer, and Sales Rules
Minnesota calls these devices “electronic incapacitation devices.” Under Minn. Stat. § 624.731, a person may possess and use one to defend themselves or their property with reasonable force, but only if the device comes with clear written instructions about its use and dangers.
That same Minnesota law bars anyone under 18 from possessing or using one, and bars certain people already prohibited from possessing a pistol. It also bans sales where intoxicating liquor or on-sale 3.2 percent malt liquor is sold.
What Can Limit Purchase and Ownership?
Age, criminal history, license requirements, and device standards are the most common limits on who can buy or keep a stun gun. They stack on top of whatever your state allows in general.
Age Limits and Prohibited Buyers
Many states set a minimum age, and some bar people with certain criminal records. Minnesota spells out both: no one under 18 may possess or use an electronic incapacitation device, and sellers may not knowingly furnish one to a minor or a prohibited person.
Permits, Licenses, and Other Required Documents
Most buyers will not need a separate stun gun permit, but some states tie possession to another license. In Michigan, a dealer selling an electro-muscular disruption device to a concealed pistol license holder must verify the buyer’s identity and license and provide training on the device’s use, effects, and risks at the time of sale.
Some rules apply to the device itself. Michigan’s tracking system requirement and Arizona’s standards for an authorized remote stun gun mean a specific model may meet one state’s rules and not another’s.
Retail Sales and Online Orders
Sellers can carry their own duties. Arizona requires sellers of an authorized remote stun gun to keep an accurate record of the buyer’s identity with the manufacturer, checked against government-issued ID. That requirement does not apply to secondary resales.
Buying online does not change your state’s rules. TASER’s product pages say purchase requirements vary by state, so confirm what applies where you live before you order.
Where Can You Carry or Travel with a Stun Gun?
Where ownership is legal, general carry is often allowed, but certain places are commonly off-limits. School property is one of the most consistently restricted zones.
Public Carry and Local Ordinances
In some states, cities and counties can add carry limits, and private property owners can post their own rules. Other states block local rules. Minnesota’s statute, for example, makes state law the exclusive regulation of possession and use of these devices, while still letting cities and counties license vendors.
Schools, Government Buildings, and Other Restricted Places
Virginia makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to knowingly possess a stun weapon on the grounds of a child day center or a public, private, or religious preschool, elementary, middle or high school, on a school bus, or on public property used for a school event while the event is under way, under Va. Code § 18.2-308.1.
That law has narrow exceptions. A stun weapon may be kept in a closed container, including a locked trunk, in or on a vehicle, and a concealed handgun permit holder may have one in a vehicle in a school parking lot, traffic circle, or other vehicle route. Courthouses and government buildings often post their own weapons rules too.
Air Travel and Crossing State Lines
TSA screening rules do not allow stun guns or other electroshock devices in carry-on bags. You may pack them in checked baggage so they cannot be activated by accident. Check TSA’s current “What Can I Bring?” list before you fly, since the officer at the checkpoint makes the final call.
Driving across state lines carries its own risk. A device that is legal at home may be restricted where you are going, so check the destination state’s current law before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are stun guns legal in all 50 states?
There is no single nationwide rule, so the answer depends on your state. Court rulings, including Caetano v. Massachusetts in 2016 and a 2019 federal ruling in New York, have pushed back on outright bans. Several states still attach conditions like age limits, licenses, training, or device standards. Check your state’s current statute and any recent court rulings before you buy.
Where is it illegal to carry a stun gun?
Carry limits usually depend on the place more than the state. Schools are among the most common restricted locations. Virginia, for example, bans stun weapons on school grounds, school buses, and school events, with narrow vehicle exceptions. Courthouses, government buildings and private property with posted rules can also be off-limits, and some cities add their own restrictions.
Do I need a permit to buy a stun gun?
In most places, you do not need a stun gun permit, but some states tie possession to another license. Michigan allows civilians to possess an electro-muscular disruption device only with a valid concealed pistol license and the required training, and the dealer must verify the license at sale. Check your state’s statute before you buy.
Is it legal to carry a TASER in New York?
New York’s statute still lists electronic stun guns and dart guns in its criminal possession law, but a 2019 federal court ruling held that the ban was unconstitutional as applied to those devices and blocked enforcement. Because the statute text and the court ruling point in different directions, check the current law and any updated guidance before you buy or carry one in New York.
Can I bring a stun gun on an airplane?
Not in your carry-on. TSA rules do not allow stun guns or other electroshock devices in carry-on bags, but they can go in checked baggage if packed so they cannot be activated by accident. Check TSA’s current guidance and your airline’s battery rules before you fly, since the TSA officer at the checkpoint makes the final decision.
Shop Personal Defense With Confidence
Once you know your state’s rules, Sharp Things OKC can help you choose a device that fits your day. Browse our stun guns and TASER devices, including the TASER Pulse 2 and Bolt 2, or stop by our N May Ave store to ask questions face-to-face. Orders placed before 3 pm usually ship the same day.
