In most states, you have to be at least 18 to buy or possess a taser, but a small group of states set the minimum at 21, and at least one allows possession at 16 with a parent’s written consent. There is no single federal age to own a taser because the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives does not regulate most commercial tasers as firearms. Your state, and sometimes your city, decides.
The Age Rules State by State
Because Washington sets no floor, every state picks its own. The patterns fall into four groups:
- 18 and older. The most common threshold. Most states that spell out an age let anyone 18 or older buy and possess a taser or stun gun.
- 21 and older. A smaller group, including Connecticut and Delaware, raises the minimum to 21.
- 16 with parental consent. At least one state allows minors as young as 16 to possess a stun gun with written permission from a parent or legal guardian.
- No explicit age statute. Some states have no law that specifically names electronic weapons. In those places, general weapons statutes or the state’s age of majority controls.
If you are 18, you can legally own a taser in most of the country. If you are under 18, the answer is almost certainly no unless your state has a specific parental-consent carve-out. And in a 21-and-older state, parental permission does not help.
One state sits outside these patterns entirely. Rhode Island broadly prohibits civilian possession of stun guns and tasers, so age is beside the point there.
Why There’s No Federal Age
Federal firearm laws cover weapons that use an explosive to launch a projectile. Most commercial tasers fire their probes with compressed nitrogen gas rather than gunpowder, which puts them outside the definition of a “firearm” under the Gun Control Act.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 921 – Definitions The ATF has historically treated these devices as unregulated consumer products at the federal level, so there is no federal background check, age floor, or purchase permit for them.2Criminal Legal News. Penal Codes Regarding Air Taser and Advanced Taser
There is one narrow exception. At least one non-commercial taser model uses an explosive propellant to fire its electrodes and is classified as a firearm under both the Gun Control Act and the National Firearms Act.3United States Congress. Stun Guns, TASERs, and Other Conducted Energy Devices For the tasers and stun guns actually sold to civilians, though, federal firearms restrictions do not set an age.
Age Isn’t the Only Qualifier
Meeting your state’s age minimum does not automatically make you eligible. The federal felon-in-possession statute technically covers only firearms and ammunition, but most states have extended similar prohibitions to tasers and stun guns.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 922 – Unlawful Acts The most common disqualifiers are:
- A felony conviction, meaning any crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment.
- A qualifying misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence. Federal law bars anyone with such a conviction from possessing firearms, and many states apply the same rule to electronic weapons.5Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Misdemeanor Crimes of Domestic Violence Prohibitions
- An active restraining order issued after a hearing where you had notice and a chance to participate, if the order includes a finding of credible threat or expressly prohibits physical force.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 922 – Unlawful Acts
Some states require background checks at the point of sale, which catches these disqualifiers. In states that don’t, the responsibility falls on you. Buying a taser you are prohibited from owning does not become legal just because no one checked at the register.
Permits and Training in Some States
Most states let adults buy and carry a taser without any special license. Roughly 33 states plus the District of Columbia impose no permit requirement at all. A smaller group requires a concealed carry permit if you plan to carry the device hidden. Delaware, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Wisconsin all fit that category, and carrying a concealed taser without the right permit in those states is a criminal offense even when you bought the device legally.
Some jurisdictions also require a safety training course before you can get a permit or legally carry. Certified courses cover handling, storage, and the legal limits of using the device, and typically run from about $30 to over $250 depending on the state and how thorough the program is.
Your City May Add More
State law sets the floor, not the ceiling. Cities, counties, and municipalities can add their own restrictions on top. A state might allow adult ownership with no permit, while a city inside that state bans possession outright or limits where you can carry. This is the most common trap for people who check state law and assume they are covered everywhere within the state’s borders.
Local ordinances vary widely and change more often than state statutes. Before buying, check both your state law and any local weapons rules that apply where you live, work, and travel regularly. Your city’s municipal code or a call to local law enforcement will give you the most current answer.