Are Tasers and stun guns illegal in Michigan? What the law says

Is it authorized to hold a Taser in Michigan? What a few stun gun?

They don’t seem to be the identical, though an web search could yield a unique reply… which makes understanding state legislation troublesome.

In Michigan, it’s authorized for residents to hold and use one for self-defense, however not the opposite. Here is what state legislation says.

Stun weapons, Tasers? What is the distinction?

Stun weapons are transportable gadgets that ship electrical present at shut vary, that means the system should contact the pores and skin to ship a shock.

Tasers, a particular model of weapon, are meant to work at a distance and emit an electrical shock when two small darts are fired throughout the room. The darts are linked to chains that shoot from the Taser.

What’s authorized?

Stun weapons are unlawful in Michigan, in line with lawyer Donald Smith of Kalamazoo-based Willis Legislation.

So had been Tasers, till the Michigan Court docket of Appeals dominated in 2012 {that a} state legislation that imposed a complete ban on Tasers and stun weapons was unconstitutional.People against Yanna). Later that yr, the Michigan Legislature modified state legislation to permit residents with a Michigan Hid Pistol license to hold Tasers. Stun gunsnonetheless, are nonetheless banned in Michigan.

Why are Tasers authorized in Michigan, however not stun weapons?

A August 2012 Legal Update from Michigan State Policeissued after legislative motion, notes that for a tool to qualify below the amended statute, it should comprise monitoring data that legislation enforcement can use to trace the consumer. Tasers adjust to this requirement, capturing small items of what seems to be confetti, encoded with a serial quantity “traceable to the purchaser by means of information maintained by the producer.” The system producer should have “a coverage to supply that identification and monitoring data to a legislation enforcement company upon written request from that company (e.g., Taser),” the memo mentioned. “Due to this fact, it’s not permitted to own gadgets that don’t emit this materials (e.g., stun weapons, stun batons, stun batons, stun flashlights).” In different phrases, Tasers are authorized as a result of police can use these serial numbers to trace the consumer of the weapon, a obligatory criterion below Michigan statute.

There have been makes an attempt within the legislature to legalize stun weapons, however they haven’t been profitable.

Is it authorized?

“Is it authorized?” a recurring article revealed every week on freep.com goals to assist readers perceive the legal guidelines in Michigan and their communities.

Have a query about what’s authorized and what’s not in Michigan? Ship an electronic mail to isitlegal@freepress.com and we are going to look into it for you.

Jalen Williams is a trending reporter on the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.