If you want to protect yourself and your family from attacks without having to own a gun, you may want to consider owning a stun gun, Taser, or pepper spray. Each of them is allowed in the state of Ohio, as long as they are only used for self-defense purposes. If you carry a stun gun, taser, or pepper spray with the intention of using them as an offensive lethal weapon, you may face jail time and/or a fine. *Disclaimer: The above laws reflect the best information we currently have and may or may not be complete. This should in no way be considered as the last word on the legal status of narcotic devices, nor should it replace legal counsel or be considered any form of legal advice. Please check with your local authorities for the latest information on the legality of drug devices in your area. As a reminder, it is the responsibility of the end user to review its local and state laws to determine legality. Stun guns and Tasers provide a shock, but the stun gun must touch the body while the TASER fires two darts attached to the gun by tiny wires and must touch the person to administer the shock. The stun gun simply causes pain while the TASER neutralizes the person, leaving them unable to act in a coordinated manner while the electrical current is delivered, Tuttle said. People often use the terms stun gun and TASER interchangeably, but the TASER is not a stun gun and no law enforcement agency in the country uses stun guns, said Steve Tuttle, spokesman for TASER International, which manufactures and sells products for the civilian, military and law enforcement markets.

Megan Thompson is a legal writer at Lawrina. Megan writes about different areas of law, legal innovations and shares her knowledge about her legal practice. A graduate of American University`s Washington College of Law, she is a legal expert on Lawrina`s team and has a slight editorial touch for all content published on the site. “Ohio law does not specifically govern the possession, purchase or use of TASERS or stun guns,” said Jonathan Fulkerson, deputy chief prosecutor for Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. Ohio`s definition of lethal weapons requires that something be capable of causing death to be a lethal weapon. There is a dispute over whether stun guns are capable of causing death. For example, Arizona Code 13-1213 states that no laser pointer, taser or similar device may be pointed at a peace officer. California declares it a criminal offence to use a stun gun or taser against a peace officer. Cal. Penal § 244.5. States: For example, the State of California will not issue a secret license to carry a regular firearm in the State of California to anyone because they want the freedom to transport it. In California, the rules say you have to have a good reason.

People who work as police officers may need to protect themselves from criminals seeking revenge, even when they are not on duty. Volunteers who work as treasurers for an organization or religion and regularly carry money may need it to protect themselves. Members and their families may require a clandestine transportation permit due to the risks inherent in operations. Almost all states criminalize the use of stun guns for attacks or situations other than self-defense. This means that if you own a stun gun or taser, you can`t use it to physically hurt someone else out of anger or no reason. You can only use it for self-defense, and if you use it in any other capacity, you will be prosecuted. The market for firearm-free self-defense products is growing, and women are increasingly targeted by companies that sell stun guns, TASERS, pepper spray and other products. People carry knives all the time, from farmers to hunters to fishermen. Let`s look at the law for carrying a knife. The illegality of stun guns depends on your age, condition, license or not and where you own the stun gun in question. The table below explains in which situations it is legal, what the extenuating circumstances are, and whether you need a permit.

Nance said the government should step in and start settling claims if manufacturers don`t do so voluntarily. He said false claims could give consumers a false sense of security about a stun gun`s ability to stop an attacker. Carrying a stun gun is similar to carrying a firearm because it is a special law. There are various laws for possessing stun guns and carrying them in public, where they could be used to injure people. In Ohio, it is a first-degree offense to carry a stun gun hidden in public if the intent is to use it as a deadly weapon. Penalties include a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months` imprisonment, or both. Carrying a stun gun, openly or secretly, in a school safety zone or courthouse is a fifth-degree felony, and penalties include a fine of up to $2,500, ranging from six to 12 months in jail, or both. In most states, you don`t need a permit for a stun gun. To own a stun gun, you need a license in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. The FBI does not track how often stun guns or TASERS are used in crimes.

“You can shoot someone with a stun gun, but I wouldn`t count on that,” Nance said. “Pepper spray, you`re going to close your eyes from afar.” In Ohio, they have relatively liberal laws regarding stun guns, but the law classifies them as deadly weapons.