| State |
Police Use |
Consumer Use |
Main Citation
|
Restriction(s) |
| Alabama |
Legal |
Legal |
13A-1-2 Dangerous instrument or deadly weapon definition |
|
| Alaska |
Legal |
Legal |
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)
•Class C felony if carried when violating a protective order (11.61.200)
|
| Arizona |
Legal |
Legal |
13-105 Dangerous instrument or deadly weapon definition |
|
| Arkansas |
Legal |
Legal |
5-1-102 Deadly weapon definition |
|
| California |
Legal |
Legal |
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) |
| Colorado |
Legal |
Legal |
18-12-101 Stun gun = device capable of temporarily immobilizing a person by the infliction of an electrical charge; 18-12-106.5 Use of stun guns during crime |
Use of stun gun in commission of criminal offense is a Class 5 felony (18-12-106.5) |
| Connecticut |
Legal |
Legal in home |
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 (29-38);
•Criminal use of electronic defense weapon is Class D felony (53a-216);
|
| Delaware |
Legal |
Legal |
222 Dangerous instrument or deadly weapon or firearm definition |
|
| District of Columbia |
Legal |
Legal with firearm registration
|
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
|
| Florida |
Legal |
Legal |
790.001 Electric weapon or device = through use of electrical current; intended for offensive or defensive purposes, destruction of life, or infliction of injury Remote stun gun = nonlethal device with tethered range less than 16 feet |
•Cannot carry electric weapon or device in concealed manner but can carry for self-defense purposes a nonlethal remote stun gun (790.01)
•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)
|
| Georgia |
Legal |
Legal |
16-11-106 For this section, the term "firearm" includes stun guns and TASER®s which are powered by electrical charging units such as batteries and emit an electrical charge in excess of 20,000 volts; capable of incapacitating a person by an electrical charge |
•Not expressly mentioned in concealed weapons statute (16-11-126)
•Expressly mentioned to be prohibited from being carried in school safety zones, at school functions, or on school property (16-11-127.1)
|
|
Hawaii
|
Legal |
Prohibited |
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 |
Legal |
Use 18 USC 930 Dangerous weapon definition |
|
| Illinois |
Legal |
Legal in home |
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 with unlawful intent or concealed unless at home or principal place of business (5/24-1)
•More unlawful use limitations listed punishable at various levels (5/24-1)
|
| Indiana |
Legal |
Legal |
35-41-1-8 Deadly weapon = TASER® or electric stun weapon readily capable of causing serious bodily injury; 35-47-8-3 TASER® = designed to emit electronic charge or shock through use of projectile and used to temporarily incapacitate a person |
•TASER®s are subject to requirement of handgun license (35-47-8-4) |
| Iowa |
Legal |
Legal |
702.7 Dangerous weapon definition |
|
| Kansas |
Legal |
Legal |
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 |
Legal |
500.080 Dangerous instrument and deadly weapon definition |
|
| Louisiana |
Legal |
Legal |
Title 14 §2 Dangerous weapon definition |
|
| Maine |
Legal |
Legal |
17 AMRS §2 Dangerous weapon definition
|
|
| Maryland |
Legal |
Legal |
4-101 Dangerous weapon definition |
|
| Massachusetts |
? |
Prohibited |
Ch. 140 § 131J Electrical weapons |
•No person shall sell or possess electrical weapons; punishable by fine between $500-1000 or 6mos-2yrs in prison or both |
| Michigan |
Legal
|
Legal for bail agent, private investigator, or properly trained aircraft pilot or crew
|
750.224a Portable device/weapon directing electrical current |
•Device capable of electro-muscular disruption must contain identification and tracking system that is traceable to the purchaser through the manufacturer
•Permitted possession and use by a peace officer, employee of department of corrections authorized by director, local corrections officer authorized by county sheriff, probation officer, court officer, bail agent, license private investigator, or properly trained aircraft pilot or crew.
|
| Minnesota |
Legal |
Legal |
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
•Devices must be according to local licensing requirement
|
| Mississippi |
Legal |
Legal |
97-37-1 Deadly weapons definition |
|
| Missouri |
Legal |
Legal |
556.061 Dangerous instrument and deadly weapon definitions
|
|
| Montana |
Legal |
Legal |
45-2-101 Weapon definition |
|
| Nebraska |
Legal |
Legal |
28-109 Deadly weapon definition |
|
| Nevada |
Legal |
Legal |
202.253 Weapon definition |
|
| New Hampshire |
Legal |
Legal |
159:20 Electronic defense weapon = an electronically activated non-lethal device producing an electrical charge sufficient to immobilize or incapacitate a person temporarily |
•Felon possessing shall be guilty of Class B felony (159:21)
•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
|
Prohibited
|
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 |
Legal |
30-1-12 Deadly weapon definition |
|
| New York |
Legal |
Prohibited |
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)
•Possession by person with any previous conviction is a Class D felony (265.02)
•Exemption for LE (265.20)
|
| North Carolina |
Legal |
Legal |
No definition statute |
•Must be carried openly
•Stun guns not allowed openly on educational property (14-269.2)
•Stun guns not allowed to be carried openly by felons (14-415.1)
|
| North Dakota |
Legal |
Legal |
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)
|
| Ohio |
Legal |
Legal |
2923.11 Deadly weapon definition |
|
| Oklahoma |
Legal |
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 |
Legal |
161.015 Physical force includes the use of an electrical stun gun
|
•Knowing discharge of electrical stun gun against a LE officer, EMT… is a Class C felony |
| Pennsylvania |
Legal |
Legal |
908 Offensive weapon = any stun gun, TASER® or other electronic or electric weapon 908.1 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 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)
|
| Rhode Island |
? |
Prohibited |
11-47-42 Stun gun |
•No person shall carry or possess or attempt to use against another
•No person shall carry concealed upon his person
•Punishable by fine less than $1,000 or imprisonment for less than 1 year or both and weapon shall be confiscated
|
| South Carolina |
Legal |
Legal |
16-23-10 Definitions of pistol and crime of violence |
|
| South Dakota |
Legal |
Legal |
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
|
•Commission of felony while armed with stun gun is Class 5 felony (22-14-13.1) |
| Tennessee |
Legal |
Legal |
39-11-106 Deadly weapon definition |
|
| Texas |
Legal |
Legal |
46.01 No applicable definition |
|
| Utah |
Legal
|
Legal
|
76-10-501 Dangerous weapon definition |
|
| Vermont |
Legal
|
Legal
|
4003/4016 Dangerous weapon definition |
|
| Virginia |
Legal
|
Legal
|
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 |
•Possession or transportation of TASER® by convicted felon is Class 6 felony (18.2-308.2) |
| Washington |
Legal
|
Legal
|
9.41.250 Dangerous weapon definition
|
|
| West Virginia |
Legal |
Legal |
61-7-2 Deadly weapon definition |
|
| Wisconsin |
Legal |
Prohibited |
941-295 Electric weapon = intended to be used and reasonably capable of producing death or serious bodily injury |
•Selling, transporting, manufacturing or going armed with electric weapon is a Class H felony
•Not applicable to peace officers, military, and corrections personnel
|
| Wyoming |
Legal |
Legal |
6-1-104 Deadly weapon definition |
|