Stun gun laws by state are not as simple as legal or illegal. Most states allow adults to own a stun gun, but some states have age limits, permit rules, background checks, carry restrictions, or rules for certain types of electronic devices. Local laws can also be stricter than state law.
This guide was reviewed for 2026 using current state laws, government information, court decisions, and federal travel rules. It is general information, not legal advice. Laws can change, so check your state and local rules before you buy, carry, or travel with a stun gun.
Stun Gun Laws by State for 2026
The table below focuses on civilian possession and the most important statewide restrictions. “Generally allowed” does not mean you can carry a stun gun everywhere. Schools, government buildings, private property, public events, and other places may have separate rules.
| State | General Status | Important Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Local and location rules may still apply. |
| Alaska | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Check local and location rules. |
| Arizona | Generally allowed with special sales rules | Arizona has special recordkeeping rules for the sale of certain remote stun guns. The law also restricts unlawful use against law enforcement officers. |
| Arkansas | Age restricted | A person who is 18 or younger may not purchase or possess a taser stun gun under Arkansas law. That makes the minimum age 19 for devices covered by this statute. |
| California | Allowed with restrictions | California generally allows stun guns. People with certain felony or assault convictions and people addicted to narcotic drugs are prohibited. A minor must be at least 16 and have written permission from a parent or legal guardian. |
| Colorado | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Local and location restrictions can still apply. |
| Connecticut | Restricted | Connecticut has special rules for carrying an electronic defense weapon. A person generally must be at least 21 and have one of the qualifying state permits or eligibility certificates required by Connecticut law. |
| Delaware | Allowed with carry restrictions | Delaware law treats an electronic control device as a dangerous instrument. Possession is not banned statewide, but concealed carry and local rules need to be checked before carrying one in public. |
| Florida | Generally allowed with restrictions | Florida allows a nonlethal stun gun or dart firing stun gun to be carried for lawful self-defense. Separate restrictions apply to certain prohibited persons and minors. |
| Georgia | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Location restrictions can still apply. |
| Hawaii | Restricted | You must be at least 21 to own, possess, or control an electric gun. Hawaii also has licensed seller, background check, transfer, storage, and prohibited person rules. |
| Idaho | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Check location and local rules before carrying. |
| Illinois | FOID card required | Illinois requires a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification Card to acquire or possess a stun gun or taser unless a specific exemption applies. |
| Indiana | Allowed with device specific rules | Indiana law allows adults to possess stun guns, but the law distinguishes between different electronic devices. Projectile and electronic stun devices can fall under additional rules. |
| Iowa | Age and location restrictions | Iowa restricts possession of high voltage immobilizing electric devices by minors. Separate rules can apply to carrying and prohibited locations. |
| Kansas | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Carry and location laws should still be checked. |
| Kentucky | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Local and location restrictions may apply. |
| Louisiana | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Check local rules and prohibited locations. |
| Maine | Generally allowed | Possession is generally allowed, but Maine law restricts unlawful use of electronic weapons. Self-defense and other lawful use rules still matter. |
| Maryland | Allowed with restrictions | You must be at least 18. People with certain violent crime or drug convictions are prohibited. Maryland also requires a criminal history check for the original purchaser when an electronic control device is sold and activated in the state. Local governments may adopt stricter rules. |
| Massachusetts | License required | Stun guns are legal but regulated. Massachusetts currently requires a valid License to Carry, commonly called an LTC, to possess a stun gun. An FID card by itself is not enough. |
| Michigan | Device type matters | Michigan does not treat every electric device the same. Traditional stun guns covered by the state’s prohibition are restricted, while qualifying electro muscular disruption devices can be possessed under specific legal conditions. Check the exact device before buying or carrying it. |
| Minnesota | Allowed with restrictions | Electronic incapacitation devices may be possessed and used for lawful defense when the device is labeled or comes with written instructions. Minors and certain prohibited persons face restrictions. |
| Mississippi | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Check carry and location rules. |
| Missouri | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Local and location restrictions can still apply. |
| Montana | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Check restricted locations before carrying. |
| Nebraska | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Local and location rules may apply. |
| Nevada | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Check prohibited person, local, and location rules. |
| New Hampshire | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Location restrictions can still apply. |
| New Jersey | Allowed for adults | New Jersey’s former blanket stun gun ban was found unconstitutional. State rules permit possession and sale to people age 18 and older, while possession by minors remains restricted. Other use and location laws still apply. |
| New Mexico | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Check local and location rules before carrying. |
| New York | Legally complicated | Do not assume stun guns are simply legal throughout New York. Penal Law still lists electronic dart guns and electronic stun guns as prohibited weapons. Court decisions have disagreed about whether the ban can be enforced. New York City also has its own rules. Check current state and local authority before possessing or carrying one. |
| North Carolina | Possession allowed with carry restrictions | North Carolina generally allows possession, but state law restricts carrying a stun gun concealed away from your own premises. Stun guns are also restricted on educational property. |
| North Dakota | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Check carry and location rules. |
| Ohio | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Schools and other locations can have separate restrictions. |
| Oklahoma | Generally allowed | Possession is generally allowed. Oklahoma law separately prohibits unlawful discharge or use of a stun gun against another person in certain situations. |
| Oregon | Generally allowed | Statewide adult possession is generally allowed, but Oregon restricts dangerous weapons, including electrical stun guns, in certain public buildings and other locations. |
| Pennsylvania | Allowed with restrictions | Electronic incapacitation devices may be possessed and used with reasonable force for lawful defense when the device is labeled or comes with written instructions. A person prohibited from possessing firearms under Pennsylvania law may not possess one. |
| Rhode Island | Old ban blocked by federal court | Rhode Island’s old statewide stun gun prohibition still causes confusion because the statutory language may appear in older references. A federal court ruled the prohibition unconstitutional and permanently blocked the state from enforcing it as it relates to stun guns. Check current state rules before purchasing or carrying because the legislature can adopt new regulations. |
| South Carolina | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Check prohibited locations and local rules. |
| South Dakota | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Location restrictions may apply. |
| Tennessee | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Check location and local rules. |
| Texas | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Property owners and certain locations can still restrict possession. |
| Utah | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Check location rules before carrying. |
| Vermont | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Location restrictions can still apply. |
| Virginia | Generally allowed with location restrictions | Virginia generally allows civilian possession, but stun weapons are restricted at schools and other protected locations. Certain prohibited persons can also face restrictions. |
| Washington | Generally allowed with location restrictions | Washington generally allows civilian possession. State law restricts stun guns at schools, child care centers, and certain other locations. |
| West Virginia | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Check local and location rules. |
| Wisconsin | Restricted | Wisconsin generally prohibits possession or carrying of an electric weapon unless an exception applies. Important exceptions include qualifying concealed carry license holders, possession in your own dwelling or business, and certain transportation in a carrying case. Read the current statute before carrying one. |
| Wyoming | Generally allowed | No special statewide adult possession restriction is listed in this guide. Check location and local rules. |
| District of Columbia | Allowed with restrictions | You must generally be at least 18. Stun guns are prohibited in several locations, including certain government buildings, schools, correctional facilities, and property clearly posted against stun guns. Use is limited to reasonable force in defense of a person or property. |
Owning a Stun Gun and Carrying One Are Not the Same Thing
A state may allow you to own a stun gun at home while placing more rules on carrying it in public. North Carolina is a good example. State law generally allows possession, but carrying a stun gun concealed away from your own property is restricted.
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Wisconsin also have rules that make a simple legal or illegal label misleading. Your age, permit or license, location, criminal history, and the exact type of device can matter.
Stun Guns and TASER Devices Can Have Different Rules
A contact stun gun and a TASER type device do not always fall under the same part of a state’s law. A contact stun gun works when the device touches someone. A TASER type device may fire probes from a distance.
Some states use broad terms such as electronic control device or electronic incapacitation device. Other states make a legal distinction based on how the device works. Michigan is one state where the exact device type matters.
Check the law for the device you actually plan to own or carry. Do not assume a rule for one type automatically applies to another.
If you want to learn more about how contact stun guns work, safe handling, and their limits, read our Complete Stun Gun Safety Guide.
Where You Can Carry a Stun Gun
Legal ownership does not mean you can take a stun gun everywhere. States commonly have separate rules for schools, courthouses, government buildings, correctional facilities, and other protected places. Private property owners can also have rules about what may be carried on their property.
Local laws matter too. A city or county may have rules that are different from the general statewide rule when state law allows local regulation.
Can You Take a Stun Gun on a Plane?
You cannot bring a stun gun, TASER device, or other shocking device in your carry on bag. TSA lists these devices as prohibited in carry on baggage.
TSA does allow stun guns and shocking devices in checked baggage with special instructions. The device must be packed in a way that prevents accidental discharge. Battery rules can also apply.
TSA does not say that every stun gun battery must be removed. Spare or removed lithium batteries must be carried in the aircraft cabin and protected from short circuits. Airlines may have rules that are stricter than TSA requirements.
Read our Can You Bring a Stun Gun on a Plane guide for the full packing rules. You can also check the current TSA stun gun rules before you fly.
Important Official Sources
Legal information is strongest when you can check the actual law or government source. These are some of the sources used to review states with important restrictions or recent legal changes.
- Arizona Revised Statutes, remote stun guns
- California Penal Code 22610
- Connecticut weapons statutes
- Hawaii Act 183
- Illinois FOID Act
- Maryland Criminal Law 4-109
- Massachusetts firearms and stun gun FAQ
- Minnesota Statute 624.731
- New Jersey Attorney General stun gun rule
- New York People v. Taylor, 2025
- North Carolina General Statute 14-269
- Pennsylvania 18 Pa.C.S. 908.1
- Wisconsin Statute 941.295
- District of Columbia stun gun law
Want to Compare Stun Guns?
Once you have checked the laws where you live, you can browse our stun gun selection. Check your state and local laws before buying or carrying any stun gun.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are stun guns legal in all 50 states?
A simple yes or no answer can be misleading. Blanket statewide bans have been challenged or changed in several states, but states still have different rules for age, possession, carrying, permits, prohibited persons, locations, and device types. New York is especially complicated because the statute and court decisions do not give consumers a simple statewide answer.
Do I need a permit to own a stun gun?
Usually not, but some states have special requirements. Illinois requires a FOID card. Massachusetts requires a current LTC. Connecticut has qualifying permit or certificate rules for carrying an electronic defense weapon. Wisconsin also has important licensing and possession rules.
Can a convicted felon own a stun gun?
It depends on the state. California, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and other states restrict possession by people with certain criminal histories. Do not assume a stun gun is allowed just because it is not a firearm.
Can I carry a stun gun concealed?
That depends on state and local law. Ownership and concealed carry are separate questions. North Carolina, for example, specifically restricts concealed stun gun carry away from your own premises.
Can I bring a stun gun into a school?
Many states restrict stun guns and other devices on school property. Check the law for the specific state and school before bringing one onto educational property.
Can I travel through another state with my stun gun?
You need to check the laws for every state where you will possess or carry the device. A stun gun that is legal for you at home may be subject to different age, carry, permit, or location rules after you cross a state line.
Can I put a stun gun in checked baggage on a flight?
TSA currently permits stun guns and shocking devices in checked baggage when packed so they cannot accidentally discharge. They are prohibited in carry on baggage. Battery and airline rules also apply.
Legal notice: This page provides general information and is not legal advice. State statutes, court decisions, local ordinances, airline policies, and federal rules can change. Check current state and local law before buying, carrying, using, or traveling with a stun gun.