To own a Taser or stun gun in Massachusetts, you need a License to Carry (LTC). A Firearms Identification Card is not enough, even though it costs the same and is easier to get. The state’s own guidance is explicit that FID holders may not purchase or possess stun guns.1Mass.gov. Firearms License and Transaction Frequently Asked Questions Massachusetts Taser laws also require locked storage, restrict where you can carry, and impose criminal penalties on anyone who possesses a device without the right license.
Getting the License to Carry
You apply for an LTC through the police department in the city or town where you live. You must be at least 21 and a lawful resident of that municipality.2General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Part I, Title XX, Chapter 140, Section 131 First-time applicants sit for an in-person interview with the licensing authority. The fee is $100.3Mass.gov. Apply for or Renew a Firearms License
You also submit a basic firearms safety certificate.2General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Part I, Title XX, Chapter 140, Section 131 Starting in April 2026, new applicants will need to complete a course that includes live-fire training. If you were licensed before August 1, 2024, the live-fire requirement does not apply to you, and it does not apply at renewal either.4Mass.gov. Section 152 Live Firearms Report
Who Gets Denied
The licensing authority runs a background check and will deny the LTC if you are a “prohibited person” or judged “unsuitable.”2General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Part I, Title XX, Chapter 140, Section 131 Federal disqualifiers also apply. Under 18 U.S.C. 922, you cannot possess a firearm if you have a felony conviction, a domestic violence misdemeanor conviction, an active restraining order protecting an intimate partner, a dishonorable military discharge, or a record of being adjudicated as mentally defective or committed to a mental institution, among other categories.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 922 – Unlawful Acts Massachusetts screens Taser applicants through the same framework.
How You Have to Store It
A stun gun must be kept in a locked container accessible only to the owner.6General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Part I, Title XX, Chapter 140, Section 131L That is the same standard the state applies to firearms. A gun safe, a lockbox, or a hard-sided case with a key or combination lock all qualify. An unlocked drawer, glove compartment, or nightstand does not. The statute makes no exception for people who live alone.
Penalties for Possession Without a License
Possessing a Taser without an LTC is a criminal offense under Chapter 140, Section 131J. The penalty range includes a fine of $500 to $1,000, imprisonment of six months to two and a half years, or both.7General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 131J – Sale or Possession of Electrical Weapons, Penalties The $500 figure is the floor, not the ceiling.
A conviction also leaves a permanent record that can follow you into employment, housing, and any future firearms license application. If you already hold an LTC and violate the conditions of possession, the licensing authority can revoke the license, which pulls your firearms rights with it.
Where You Cannot Carry
A valid LTC does not open every door. Several categories of places are off-limits regardless of your license.
Federal Buildings and Courthouses
Federal law prohibits bringing any dangerous weapon into a federal facility, with penalties of up to one year in prison. In a federal courthouse the maximum is two years, and if prosecutors show you intended to use the weapon in a crime, the maximum rises to five.8GovInfo. 18 U.S.C. 930 – Possession of Firearms and Dangerous Weapons in Federal Facilities The definition of “dangerous weapon” reaches Tasers and stun guns, and a state permit does not override it.
Schools, State Courts, and Government Buildings
Massachusetts restricts weapons in schools, courthouses, and certain other government buildings. Assume any building with a security checkpoint or a posted weapons prohibition includes electronic weapons.
National Parks
Rules vary by park. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, for example, explicitly ban “tasers, stun guns, shocking devices” from both the ferries and the grounds.9National Park Service. Security Standards and Prohibited Items Check the specific park before you go.
Traveling With a Taser
By Air
Tasers are banned from carry-on luggage. You may transport one in checked baggage only if it is packed to prevent accidental discharge.10Transportation Security Administration. Complete List (Alphabetical) Remove the cartridge, disable the battery from activating the device, and use a hard-sided case. If TSA finds one at a checkpoint, the civil penalty runs from $450 to $2,570, on top of any criminal charges the local jurisdiction pursues.11Transportation Security Administration. Civil Enforcement
Many Tasers use lithium batteries. Spare lithium batteries must always fly in carry-on, never in checked bags.12Federal Aviation Administration. PackSafe – Portable Electronic Devices Containing Batteries The device goes below; a spare battery comes into the cabin.
Across State Lines
Taser laws vary sharply by state. Some ban civilian possession outright, some require no permit, and some require a permit that will not recognize your Massachusetts LTC. Check the rules for your destination and every state along the route before you travel. Nothing in federal law preempts state Taser rules for people in transit.
Using a Taser in Self-Defense
Owning a Taser legally is not a license to use it freely. Massachusetts applies its general self-defense principles: you may use non-deadly force when you reasonably believe it is necessary to defend yourself against an imminent attack. Use force when it was not justified and you face assault charges, license or no license.
In public, Massachusetts generally imposes a duty to retreat, meaning you must take a safe way out if one is available. The Castle Doctrine lifts that duty inside your own home. Using a Taser on someone who is retreating, who poses no imminent threat, or who is only verbally aggressive will be treated as a crime rather than as self-defense.