TASER® Laws By State – The Home Security Superstore

TASER® is a brand of stun gun that has shooting prongs and can quickly protect you from an attacker, even at a distance. While TASER® law enforcement laws are nearly universal and lenient, personal TASER laws vary significantly from state to state. Before you buy a TASER®, you should make sure they’re legal in your area and that you obtain all the necessary paperwork when required. Also keep in mind that sometimes a TASER® is legal in a state, such as Illinois, but a major city has outlawed them, like Chicago. Let’s take a look at which states have open TASER laws and which states have restrictions on the sale of TASERs and their use. 

Legal with No Major Restrictions

The majority of states let civilians use stun guns, including shooting a TASER®, without any major restrictions. That translates to no training requirements, background checks, or other red tape. Because TASER® is not classified as a firearm, most states permit residents to buy them pretty freely for the purpose of self-defense. States where TASER® is legal with no major restrictions are:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• Wyoming

Background Checks Required

In some states, you can own a TASER® only if you pass a background check. In Illinois, stun guns and TASER® are legal only if the operator has a valid FOID card and concealed weapons permit in addition to passing a background check. Stun guns (including a TASER®) are also not sold in Chicago, and residents must get permission from law enforcement to carry a TASER® purchased elsewhere in the city. Only three (3) states require a background check as of 2019:

• Illinois
• Maryland
• Minnesota

Permit Required

If your state requires a permit for TASER® use, be sure to keep a copy of your paperwork on hand. Permits vary from a permit for ownership, such as in Wisconsin and Michigan, to permits for concealed carry, like in New Mexico. Permits help the state keep track of the number of stun weapons in use in their borders and allow them to regulate certain perimeters like age restrictions. There are currently six (6) states where you need a permit to carry a TASER®:

• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• New Mexico
• West Virginia
• Puerto Rico
• Wisconsin

Illegal for Civilian Use

There are currently two (2) states where TASER® and all stun guns are completely banned for use for anyone other than law enforcement:

Until recently, New Jersey also banned the weapons but they legalized stun guns in late 2017. Some other major cities, like Baltimore and Philadelphia, also reversed previous bans on stun guns in 2017. New York legalized stun guns in 2019. If TASERs are illegal in your state, don’t look online for a TASER® Pulse for sale and have it shipped to another address. There could be serious penalties for deploying a shooting TASER gun in a state where they are banned. You can always turn to a TASER alternative like pepper spray or expandable batons when you can’t use stun guns in your home state. 

The Home Security Superstore has a wide array of self-defense weapons, including TASERs and other stun guns. Browse our collection of stun guns to find a TASER®  gun for sale that meets your needs, get a great deal on the price, and then have it on your doorstep in just a few days. If you still have questions about any of our products, contact us today to learn more. 

Frequently Asked Questions