Yes, tasers and stun guns are legal to own and carry in Illinois, but only if you hold a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card issued by the Illinois State Police. Illinois regulates these devices under the same framework it uses for firearms, so where you can take one and how you can use it are both restricted. A 2019 Illinois Supreme Court ruling made public carry possible, but several categories of locations remain off-limits, and federal law adds another layer on top.
Why a FOID Card Is Required
Illinois has no separate statute for stun guns and tasers. They fall under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act, which requires a FOID card for possession, and the unlawful use of weapons statute, which sets out where carrying them is illegal.1Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 430 ILCS 65/2 – Firearm Owner’s Identification Card Required; Exceptions The criminal code covers both projectile devices like a Taser-brand unit and traditional direct-contact stun guns, and it applies the same rules to both.2Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/24-1 – Unlawful Use of Weapons
Without a FOID card, buying or possessing one of these devices is a crime, even in your own home.
Getting a FOID Card
The card costs $10 and is valid for 10 years.3Illinois State Police. Firearms Transportation The application runs through a background check.
You generally need to be at least 21. Applicants under 21 can qualify with written consent from a parent or legal guardian who is not themselves disqualified, provided the applicant has no misdemeanor convictions beyond traffic offenses. Active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Illinois National Guard under 21 can apply by submitting annual proof of service.4Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 430 ILCS 65 – Firearm Owners Identification Card Act
What Disqualifies You
The Illinois State Police will deny or revoke a FOID card if any of the following apply:
- A felony conviction of any kind.
- A conviction for domestic battery or a substantially similar offense.
- Inpatient mental health treatment within the last five years.
- An active order of protection against you.
- If you are under 21, any misdemeanor conviction other than a traffic offense, or a delinquency adjudication.
The statute lists additional grounds, including certain drug convictions, involuntary mental health commitments, and being subject to a firearms restraining order.4Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 430 ILCS 65 – Firearm Owners Identification Card Act
Where You Can Carry
With a valid FOID card, you can keep a stun gun or taser in your home, on your own property, or at your fixed place of business. You can also carry one on someone else’s private property with their permission.2Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/24-1 – Unlawful Use of Weapons
Public carry was effectively banned until the Illinois Supreme Court decided People v. Webb in 2019. The court held that a blanket ban on carrying stun guns and tasers in public violated the Second Amendment because these devices qualify as protected bearable arms.5Illinois Courts. People v. Webb, 2019 IL 122951 The ruling did not wipe out every restriction, though.
Prohibited Locations Under State Law
Even with a valid FOID card, you cannot carry a stun gun or taser in these places:
- Any building, grounds, or parking area of a public or private school, preschool, child care facility, college, or university.
- Buildings owned or controlled by a unit of local government, including courthouses and city halls.
- Establishments licensed to sell alcohol where the primary business is liquor sales, and any public gathering that requires a government permit or charges admission.
- Buses, trains, and platforms operated by public transit authorities.
These prohibited locations overlap heavily with the places where concealed firearms are banned.2Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/24-1 – Unlawful Use of Weapons A useful rule of thumb: if firearms are not allowed somewhere in Illinois, assume your stun gun or taser is not either.
Federal Restrictions That Still Apply
Your FOID card does nothing to protect you on federal property or in federal airspace.
Federal buildings. Bringing a stun gun or taser into any federal building where federal employees regularly work is a federal crime. That includes post offices, federal courthouses, Social Security offices, and IRS offices. The penalty is up to one year in prison, or up to five years if you brought the device intending to use it during a crime.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 930 – Possession of Firearms and Dangerous Weapons in Federal Facilities
National parks. Federal regulations generally prohibit weapons on National Park Service land unless you are hunting in a designated area or hold a superintendent’s permit. Stun guns and tasers fall under that prohibition.7eCFR. 36 CFR 2.4 – Weapons, Traps and Nets
Air travel. Stun guns and tasers are banned from carry-on luggage entirely. You may pack them in checked baggage only if the device is stored so it cannot accidentally discharge. Lithium batteries in many of these devices trigger additional FAA packaging requirements, and the TSA officer at the checkpoint has final authority.8Transportation Security Administration. Stun Guns/Shocking Devices
Transporting a Taser in Your Vehicle
You can transport a stun gun or taser in your vehicle if you hold a valid FOID card, the device is unloaded with no cartridge engaged, and it is enclosed in a case or container. Unless you also hold a valid concealed carry license, the device should not be immediately accessible in a ready-to-use state.2Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/24-1 – Unlawful Use of Weapons Drivers passing through Illinois without a FOID card should keep the device broken down or fully enclosed and check whether one of the narrow transportation exceptions in the statute covers their situation.
Using a Taser in Self-Defense
Illinois applies the general use-of-force standard to stun guns and tasers. You are justified in using one when you reasonably believe it is necessary to defend yourself or someone else against the imminent use of unlawful force.9Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/7-1 – Use of Force in Defense of Person
Two words carry the weight: reasonable and imminent. A verbal argument does not justify deploying a taser. A shove at a bar might, depending on whether you genuinely believed more physical harm was coming. A jury evaluates that belief from the perspective of a reasonable person in your situation, and if they find the threat was not imminent or your response was disproportionate, you face criminal charges for the taser use itself. A successful self-defense argument in criminal court does not automatically block a civil lawsuit from the person you tased.
Penalties for Illegal Possession or Use
Possessing a stun gun or taser without a FOID card, when you would otherwise qualify for one, is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. A second or subsequent offense becomes a Class 4 felony, carrying one to three years in prison.10Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 430 ILCS 65/14 – Firearm Owners Identification Card Act Possession while actually disqualified from holding a FOID card, for example after a felony conviction, brings harsher penalties.
Carrying in a prohibited location is a Class A misdemeanor for a first violation. A second or subsequent violation becomes a Class 3 felony, with a potential prison sentence of two to five years.2Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/24-1 – Unlawful Use of Weapons
Using a taser against someone without legal justification can trigger separate charges such as aggravated battery, which is a felony. The exact classification depends on whether the victim was injured, whether the victim was a protected person like a police officer or an elderly individual, and your prior record.