Self Defense Rules and regulations
Pepper spray laws and regulations
- Pepper spray is one of the most straightforward and most affordable forms of self-defense for people to possess. But before anyone goes out there and purchases one for themselves, it's essential to understand the laws surrounding its possession in each state.
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Alabama
- Alabama has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Alabama.
Alaska
- Pepper spray is legal with some restrictions.
- State law prohibits the sale of pepper spray to individuals under 18 years old.
- State law prohibits carrying pepper spray in a school without permission from school authorities.
Arizona
- Arizona has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Arizona.
- Pepper spray may not be used against verbal provocation alone or to resist arrest.
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Arkansas
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It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Arkansas, but the container cannot exceed 150 cubic centimeters.
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California
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to California, but the container cannot exceed 2.5 ounces.
- It is prohibited for any persons addicted to any narcotic drug or persons under 18 to buy, possess, or use tear gas or tear gas products.
Colorado
- Colorado has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Colorado.
Connecticut
- Connecticut has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Connecticut.
Delaware
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Delaware.
- Individuals must be at least 18 to possess pepper spray.
District of Columbia
- It is legal to buy, carry, and use pepper spray in D.C.; however, an individual must register the spray at a local police station before legally possessing.
- Individuals must be at least 18 to purchase or register pepper spray, but anyone 14 or older may do so as long as they have permission from a parent or legal guardian.
Florida
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Florida, but the container cannot be more than 2 ounces.
- Convicted felons cannot possess pepper spray.
Georgia
- Georgia has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Georgia.
Hawaii
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Hawaii.
- Individuals must be at least 18 to possess pepper spray.
- Mailed containers must be less than .5 ounces.
Idaho
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Idaho.
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Illinois
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Illinois.
- Individuals must be at least 18 to possess pepper spray.
- Chicago prohibits using pepper spray in an enclosed room if more than 20 people are present.
Indiana
- Indiana has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Indiana.
Iowa
- Iowa has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Iowa.
Kansas
- Kansas has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Kansas.
Kentucky
- Kentucky has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Kentucky.
Louisiana
- Louisiana has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Louisiana.
Maine
- It is legal to buy, use, possess, and ship pepper spray to Maine; however, the criminal use of pepper spray and other disabling chemicals is illegal. Use must be in self-defense, as in most other states.
Maryland
- It is legal to buy, use, possess, and ship pepper spray to Maryland.
- Pepper spray is considered a dangerous weapon in Maryland, but individuals have the right to use it in self-defense.
- Minors are prohibited from using pepper spray between one hour before sunset and one hour before sunrise.
Massachusetts
- It is legal to buy, use, possess, and ship pepper spray to Massachusetts.
- It is illegal to ship human formula pepper spray to Massachusetts; however, it is legal to ship animal formula pepper spray.
- Suppose an individual has been convicted of a felony, a misdemeanor punishable by two years imprisonment, a violent crime, or committed to a hospital or mental illness institution. In that case, they cannot buy or possess pepper spray.
- A firearms identification card is required for purchasers 15 to 18 years old.
Michigan
- It is legal to buy, use, possess, and ship pepper spray to Michigan.
- Pepper spray cannot contain more than 35 grams of any combination of orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile and inert ingredients.
- Pepper spray cannot have more than 18% oleoresin capsicum.
- Pepper spray cannot contain an ultraviolet dye and no more than 18% oleoresin capsicum.
- Minors cannot purchase pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, use, possess, and ship pepper spray to Minnesota.
- Individuals must be at least 16 years old to possess pepper spray.
- Any individuals prohibited from possessing a pistol cannot possess pepper spray.
Mississippi
- Mississippi has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Mississippi.
Missouri
- Missouri has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Missouri.
Montana
- Montana has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Montana.
Nebraska
- Nebraska has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Nebraska.
Nevada
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Nevada.
- Minors are not allowed to possess pepper spray.
- Pepper spray containers must be 2 ounces or less.
New Hampshire
- New Hampshire has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to New Hampshire.
New Jersey
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to New Jersey.
- Individuals must be 18 years old to possess pepper spray.
- Felons are prohibited from possessing pepper spray.
- Pepper spray containers must be pocket-sized and cannot release more than 3/4 of an ounce of pepper spray.
New Mexico
- New Mexico has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to New Mexico.
New York
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to New York.
- It is illegal to ship human formula pepper spray to New York; however, it is legal to ship animal formula pepper spray.
- Individuals must be at least 18 to possess pepper spray.
- The paper spray container must be pocket-sized.
- Individuals can purchase a maximum of 2 pepper sprays in a single transaction.
- Individuals convicted of a felony or assault cannot possess pepper spray.
North Carolina
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to North Carolina.
- Pepper spray containers cannot exceed 5 ounces.
North Dakota
- North Dakota has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to North Dakota.
Ohio
- Ohio has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Ohio.
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Oklahoma.
Oregon
- Oregon has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Oregon.
Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island
- Rhode Island has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Rhode Island; however, individuals must be at least 18 years old to possess pepper spray.
South Carolina
- South Carolina has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to South Carolina.
South Dakota
- South Dakota has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to South Dakota.
Tennessee
- Tennessee has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Tennessee.
Texas
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Texas.
- State law says pepper sprays must be a "small chemical dispenser."
Utah
- Utah has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Utah.
Vermont
- Vermont has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Vermont.
Virginia
- Virginia has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Virginia.
Washington
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Washington.
- Individuals must be at least 18 years old to buy or possess pepper spray; however, those who are at least 14 can purchase or possess with parental permission.
West Virginia
- West Virginia has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to West Virginia.
Wisconsin
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Wisconsin.
- Pepper spray containers must be less than 2 ounces.
- Pepper sprays must contain less than 10% of oleoresin capsicum.
- Pepper spray cannot be disguised or camouflaged.
- Individuals must be at least 18 years old to buy or possess pepper spray; however, minors can with parental permission.
Wyoming
- Wyoming has no laws that prohibit individuals from carrying or using pepper spray.
- It is legal to buy, carry, use, and ship pepper spray to Wyoming.
Stun Gun
Stun guns are allowed in all states except the states listed below.
They are currently banned from civilian ownership in Washington DC, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.