Before you buy a stun gun or a TASER® device, it’s worth knowing that the legal picture isn’t the same everywhere in the US. The good news is that civilian ownership is legal in the overwhelming majority of states. The catch is that a handful of states add licensing requirements, and cities or counties can layer on restrictions that are stricter than state law.
A quick disclaimer: we’re a retailer, not a law firm, and this is general information, not legal advice. Laws in this area change fairly often, so treat this as a starting point and confirm the current rules for your specific city and state before you buy or carry a device.
The general landscape
As of this writing, the large majority of states allow adults to own a stun gun or TASER® device for self-defense with minimal requirements — typically just being 18 or older with no disqualifying felony convictions.
States with added requirements
A smaller group of states require a permit or ID card before you can legally possess one:
Illinois requires a FOID (Firearm Owner’s Identification) card.
Massachusetts requires a valid permit.
Connecticut, Delaware, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Oklahoma have historically required some form of permit as well.
Hawaii legalized stun gun ownership in 2021, but with licensing requirements and a minimum age of 21.
The one state with an outright ban
Rhode Island is generally cited as the only state that prohibits civilian possession of stun guns entirely. If you live there or are shipping there, this is worth confirming directly before purchasing.
What about pepper spray?
Pepper spray is treated differently under the law than stun guns and TASER® devices — it’s legal for civilian self-defense use in all 50 states, and no state bans it outright. That said, a few states regulate it more tightly than others: New York has the strictest rules in the country, with canister size and concentration caps and sales generally limited to licensed dealers; New Jersey and Michigan apply their own size or formulation restrictions; and Washington, DC adds rules of its own.
Because of this, we currently can’t ship pepper spray to New Jersey, New York, Michigan, or Washington, DC, and we can’t use Parcel Select shipping to Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico. Check our shipping restrictions page for the full, up-to-date list — it also covers stun guns, TASER® devices, and other restricted items.
If you’re in a state without added restrictions, browse our pepper spray lineup to find the right option for your situation.
City and county rules can be stricter than state law
This is the part people miss most often. Even in states where stun guns and TASER® devices are broadly legal, individual cities have added their own restrictions — for example, some municipalities require a local permit on top of meeting the state’s requirements, and a few major cities restrict or prohibit possession within city limits even though the surrounding state allows it. Always check your city and county rules in addition to your state’s law.
Laws change — recently, more than once
Hawaii’s 2021 legalization is a good example of how quickly this area of law can shift. Court decisions have also reshaped stun gun law in the past; a New York court decision in 2019 struck down that state’s long-standing ban. Don’t assume a law you read about a few years ago is still current.
What this means for shipping
Because of this patchwork of state and local rules, we’re not able to ship certain self-defense products to every address. Check our shipping restrictions page for the specific locations we currently can’t ship stun guns, TASER® devices, or other restricted items to.
Bottom line
Stun guns and TASER® devices are legal to own in the vast majority of the country, but “legal in my state” isn’t always the end of the question — check your city and county too, and double-check current law rather than relying on something you read a while back. Once you’ve confirmed your local rules, you can browse our stun guns and TASER® products to find the right option.
If you’ve settled on a TASER device specifically, see our TASER Pulse 2 vs. TASER X2 comparison to pick between the compact and backup-shot options. And if you’re weighing a stun gun flashlight combo instead, our guide to stun gun and TASER flashlight combos explains how those differ from a true TASER device.
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