Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Rules Governing The Usage Of Stun Guns

By Trasi I Irby


As soon as I initially learned about stun guns, I was interested in purchasing one for myself. Pickpockets as well as muggers have always been a problem for me, and I was in the market for a remedy which would offer me some protection towards them.

Since these are fairly powerful weapons, each state and city in America has laws and regulations that limit and control their use. I checked online resources for information about stun gun laws relevant to my home state of New York.

Unfortunately for me, stun guns are banned within New York. According to Article 265 of the New York Consolidated Law, electronic weapons whose purpose is to stun are prohibited, and the possession of such is considered a criminal offense.

Thanks to that ban, I needed to find another way to defend myself. I found that pepper spray is restricted although not disallowed inside the state of New York, thus I visited a local pharmacy and bought some for private use.

Other states have laws just like this one. In the state of Wisconsin, you need to have a license that enables you to bring concealed weaponry in order to obtain a stun gun. Stores are not allowed to sell stun guns to anyone without such a license.

Within the state of Illinois, things are a bit more complicated. State law mandates that people acquiring stun guns must have an FOID card and be subject to a necessary background check and also a 24-hour waiting period.

They have to also keep the records of purchase as well as sale for up to 10 years. In the state's capital of Chicago, however, the acquisition and ownership of stun guns is disallowed outright, by city ordinance.

When dealing with stun guns, it is crucial to inquire about stun gun laws relevant to the city and state that you reside in. In a worst-case scenario, you could end up in jail together with your assailant for having a prohibited weapon.




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