|
This may not be a completely accurate listing. This is only what we have heard of. Please check with your local authorities to find out if stunning devices and pepper sprays are legal to carry in your city or community.
MASSACHUSETTS: Illegal Massachusetts State Law. Ann. Laws of Massachusetts.
Chapter 140. Sale of Firearms. Section 131J: Sale or possession of electrical
weapons; penalties. Section 131J. No person shall sell, offer for sale or
possess a portable device or weapon from which an electric current, impulse,
wave or beam may be directed, which current, impulse, wave or beam is designed
to incapacitate temporarily, injure or kill. Whoever violates this provision
of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred
nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not less than six
months nor more than two years in a jail or house of correction, or both.
SUMMARY: Possession and sales of Stunning Devices are banned in Massachusetts.
MICHIGAN: Illegal The Michigan Penal Code Act 328 of 1931. Chapter
750.224a Portable device or weapon directing electrical current, impulse,
wave, or beam; sale or possession prohibited; testing. (1) A person shall
not sell, offer for sale, or possess in this state a portable device or weapon
from which an electric current, impulse, wave or beam is designed to incapacitate
temporarily, injure, or kill. (3) A person who violates this section is guilty
of a felony. SUMMARY: Possession and sales of Stunning Devices are banned
in Michigan.
NEW JERSEY: Illegal New Jersey State Law. New Jersey Stat. Ann.
Title 2C. New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice. Chapter 39-1. Prohibited weapons
and devices. (Section "r" summarized from Chapter 2C:39-1) "Weapon" means
anything readily capable of lethal use or of inflicting serious bodily injury.
The term includes, but is not limited to all (4) stun guns; and any weapon
or (this section refers to tear gas and has been updated in 1995) other device
which projects, releases, or emits tear gas or any other substance intended
to produce temporary physical discomfort or permanent injury through being
vaporized or otherwise dispensed in the air. (t) "Stun gun" means any weapon
or other device which emits an electrical charge or current intended to temporarily
or permanently disable a person. Senate, No. 2871 -- L.1985, c. 360 Senate
Bill No. 2781, as amended by the Senate Law, Public Safety and Defense Committee,
prohibits as a crime of the fourth degree the possession of a stun gun by
any person, including a law enforcement officer. A crime of the fourth degree
carries a penalty of imprisonment for up to 18 months, a fine of up to $7,500,
or both. Prior to being amended the bill classified possession of a crime
in the third degree. {Editor’s Note: According to Len Lawson of NJ Legislative
Council, (609) 292-4625) NJ does not classify crimes in felonies versus misdemeanors.
The highest crimes are in first degree on down to fourth degree. A fourth
degree penalty is a serious charge and is generally considered a misdemeanor
in common terms. It is however an indictable offense. A fourth degree crime
does contain "a presumption of non-custodial sentencing," meaning that there
is not imprisonment if there are no prior convictions. In some cases the sentencing
is obviated from one’s record if there is a period of good behavior following
the charge.} The committee amended the bill to include a provision authorizing
the Attorney General, at his discretion, to exempt law enforcement officers
from the prohibition against possession stun guns. The bill also was amended
by the committee to include stun guns in the definition of "weapon" in paragraph
r. N.J.S. 2C:39-1. (Chapter 2C:39-1) (h) Stun guns. Any person who knowingly
has in his possession any stun gun is guilty of a crime in the fourth degree.
SUMMARY: Possession is banned of Stunning Devices in New Jersey.
NEW YORK: Illegal New York Consolidated Law (McKinney’s) Book 39.
Penal Law. Article 265. Firearms and Other Dangerous Weapons 265.00 15-a.
"Electronic dart gun" means any device designed primarily as a weapon, the
purpose of which is to momentarily stun, knock out or paralyze a person by
passing an electrical shock to such person by means of a dart or projectile.
15-c. "Electronic stun gun" means any device designed primarily as a weapon,
the purpose of which is to momentarily stun, cause mental disorientation,
knock out or paralyze a person by passing a high voltage electrical shock
to such person. Article 265.01 Criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth
degree. A person is guilty of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth
degree when: (1) He possesses any firearm, electronic dart gun, electronic
stun gun ***; or *** SUMMARY: Possession is banned of Stunning Devices in
New York.
RHODE ISLAND: Illegal General Laws of Rhode Island. Title 11, Chapter
47. Statute Subsection 11-47-42. Weapons other than firearms prohibited. -
(A) No person shall carry or possess or attempt to use against another, any
instrument or weapon of the kind commonly known as a *** stun gun ***. Any
person violating the provisions of this subsection, shall be punished by a
fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment for
not more than one (1) year, or both such fine and imprisonment, and the weapon
so found shall be confiscated. SUMMARY: Possession and use of Stunning Devices
are banned.
WISCONSIN: Illegal Wisconsin Sta. Ann. Chapter 939. Crimes - General
Provisions. Chapter 939.22 Words and phrases defined. (10) Dangerous weapon"
means any firearm, whether loaded or unloaded ***; any device designed as
a weapon and capable of producing great harm ***; any electric weapon, as
defined in s. 941.295(4); or any other device or instrumentality which, in
the manner it is used or intended to be used, is calculated or likely to produce
death or great bodily harm. Chapter 941.295 Possession of electric weapon.
Subsection (1) On or after July 1, 1982, whoever sells, transports, manufactures,
possesses or goes armed with any electric weapon is guilty of a Class E felony.
Subsection (4) In this section, "electric weapon" means any device which is
designed, redesigned, used or intended to be used, offensively or defensively,
to immobilize or incapacitate persons by the use electric current. SUMMARY:
Possession and sales of Stunning Devices are banned.
ANNAPOLIS MD
BALTIMORE, MD: Illegal (Including Baltimore County) Baltimore City
Code 115. Stun guns and similar devices. (e) It shall be unlawful for any
person, firm, or corporation to sell, give away, lend, rent or transfer to
any individual, firm or corporation a stun gun or other electronic device
by whatever name or description which discharges a non-projectile electric
current within the limits of the City of Baltimore. It further shall be unlawful
for any person to possess, fire or discharge any such stun gun or electronic
device within the City. Nothing in this subsection shall be held to apply
to any member of the Baltimore City Police Department or any other law enforcement
officer while in the performance of his or her official duty (Ord. 385. 1985
BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD
CHICAGO IL: Illegal Publisher’s Note: The following jurisdictions
require waiting periods or notifications to law enforcement officials before
weapons may be delivered to purchasers: Chicago - application approval/denial
for: (1) Registration : 120 days (2) Re-registration: e.g., by an heir, 365
days) SUMMARY: Possession and sales of Stunning Devices are banned in Chicago.
(More information required on City of Chicago Ordinance)
HOWARD COUNTY, MD: Illegal Sec. 8.404. Sale
or possession of electronic weapons prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any
person, firm, or corporation to sell, give away, lend, rent or transfer to
any individual, firm or corporation an electronic weapon within the limits
of Howard County. It further shall be unlawful for any person to possess,
fire, discharge or activate any electronic weapon within the limits of Howard
County. (C.B. 38 1985).
DENISON, IA.
CRAWFORD COUNTY (*According to Sheriff Tom Hogan*)
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Illegal District of
Columbia Law. DC Code Ann. Title 6, Chapter 23. Firearms Control. Subchapter
I. General Provisions 6-2302. (7) "Destructive device" means: (B) "Any device
by whatever name known which will, or is designed, or may be readily converted
or restored, to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other
propellant through a smooth bore barrel, except a shotgun." (D) Any device
designed or redesigned, made or remade, or readily converted or restored,
and intended to stun or disable a person by means of electric shock. Subchapter
II. Firearms and Destructive Devices. General Provision 6-2311. Registration
requirements: (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person
or organization in the District of Columbia ("District") shall receive, possess,
control, transfer, offer for sale, sell, give, or deliver any destructive
device, and no person or organization in the District shall possess or control
any firearm, unless that person or organization holds a valid registration
certificate for the firearm. Subchapter V. Sales and Transfer of Firearms,
Destructive Devices, and Ammunition. General Provision 6-2351. Sales and transfers
prohibited. No person or organization shall sell, transfer or otherwise dispose
of any firearm, destructive device or ammunition in the District except as
provided in *** 6-2352, or 6-2375. SUMMARY: Possession and sales of Stunning
Devices are banned in Washington, DC.
PHILADELPHIA: Illegal Philadelphia City Ordinance. Statute 10-825
Stun Guns. (1) Definitions. (a) Stun Gun. Any device which expels or projects
a projectile which, upon coming in contact with a person, is capable of inflicting
injury or an electric shock to such person. (2) Prohibited conduct. Nor person
shall own, use, possess, sell or otherwise transfer any "stun gun." (3) Penalty.
Any person violating any provision of this section shall be subject to a fine
or not more than three hundred (300) dollars and /or imprisonment for not
more than ninety (90 days.)
NEW YORK CITY: Illegal Administrative Code
of the City of New York 10-135 Prohibition on sale and possession of electronic
stun guns. a. As used in this section, "electronic stun gun" shall mean any
device designed primarily as a weapon, the purpose of which is to stun, render
unconscious or paralyze a person by passing an electronic shock to such person,
but shall not include an "electronic dart gun" as such term is defined in
section 265.00 of the penal law. b. It shall be unlawful for any person to
sell or offer for sale or to have in his or her possession within the jurisdiction
of the city any electronic gun. c. Violation of this section shall be a class
A misdemeanor. [Exemptions under this section are provided for police officers
operating under regular department procedures or guidelines and for manufacturers
of electronic stun guns scheduled for bulk shipment. NOTE: The electronic
stun gun is not a "firearm" under the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968 because
it does not "...expel a projectile by the action of an explosive..."] SUMMARY:
Possession and sales of Stunning Devices are banned in New York City
COUNTRIES THAT STUN GUNS ARE RESTRICTED:
AUSTRALIA
BELGIUM
CANADA
DENMARK
HONG KONG
INDIA (POLICE USE ONLY)
ITALY
NEW ZEALAND
NORWAY
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND
UNITED KINGDOM
