Is Stun Gun Legal in India as the Air Gun?

You may already know that carrying any kind of weapon is illegal in India, however, what is a weapon?

• Is it explosives? 
• Is it a Gun?
• A knife?
• Are there categories?

Well, a weapon is a thing that inflicts bodily harm or physical damage. Both in the context to attack someone or in the act of self-defense.

This means unless the intent of the person is of self-defense, using any weapon, including pepper spray also, can land you in jail.

So what do you think will be the legal status of owning a stun gun in India?

In many countries, owning a taser or stun gun isn't illegal, as it can be used for the purpose of self-defense. Stun Gun, however, is an electroshock weapon.

It's an electrical device using a high voltage to stop a person by giving an electric shock, without causing serious injury. This electric shock is there to temporarily disrupt the muscle functions or inflict pain, to immobilize a person without causing significant injury. 

If you still need to talk about the legal aspects of carrying and using a stun gun or air gun, all you need to do is talk to a lawyer, from whom you can ask any legal advice regarding the law. You can avail lawyer with the help of MyAdvo!

Table of Contents:

1. What are Stun Guns & Air Guns?
2. Legal Status of Stun Guns & how to use a stun gun for self defense?
3. Legal Status of Stun Guns & how to use a stun gun for self defense?
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages associated with Stun Guns?
5. Who to ask for help?

What are Stun Guns & Air Guns?

• Stun Gun

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a stun gun is a weapon to stun or immobilize (as by electric shock) rather than kill or injure the one affected. It is a device that can immobilize a person or animal for a short time without causing them serious injury in Collins Dictionary. So from the definitions, we can gather that a stun gun is a device or weapon which immobilizes an attacker without causing any serious hurt from inflicting injury to another person. Such devices are very helpful in cases of self-defense.

• Air Gun

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, an air gun is a gun that uses air pressure to fire a pellet. It will not kill a person but will cause serious hurt and injury to the person at whom the air gun has been fired. An air gun is a weapon that causes injury to another to keep him weak and non-threatening. The air gun is another device which is as useful as a stun gun but more deadly in comparison to the stun guns.

Legal Status of Stun Guns & how to use a stun gun for self-defense?

Stun guns are devices in use for self-defense rather than as a weapon for causing serious injury. They are very helpful when you feel threatened or apprehend serious injury in dire circumstances.

Stun guns generally help in stopping the attacker from causing hurt or injury. Giving you enough time to save yourself either by running or to call the police.

With the help of this, you are able to save yourself and don't need to kill your attacker.

But, not everywhere are stun gun legal.

Now, whether or not is a stun gun legal in your country depends on the law you follow.

So, is stun gun legal in India?

However, to know whether stun gun is legal in India, it is to be noted that laws and rules for using a stun gun are regularised under the Indian Arms Act.

Since stun guns, rules and regulations are monitored and regulated by the Indian Arms Act. Therefore, under this Act, only police officers have permission to use a stun gun and not to the general public yet.

The law is such because, if the general public gets the permission to use and carry a stun gun, then people might use it for serving their own selfish needs, instead of using it for the betterment of the society.

Using a stun gun without proper permission and legal documents will attract penalty and such acts are illegal and count as an offence.

Thus, to keep a check on the use of the stun gun, the law has limited its usage to police officers only. 

However, if one sells stun guns in places where there is a ban on the usage, then the person selling and buying will be liable to punishment with heavy fine and imprisonment.

How to use a stun gun for self-defense?

To survive a situation, self-defense is very important. 

And in the process, if you have no way out but to use a weapon to kill the attacker, in order to protect yourself, even the court allows you under section 304 IPC.

Therefore, by using a non-lethal self-defense weapon, like a stun gun, is an effective way to protect your family and yourself against an aggressor, without inflicting grievous hurt or injury.

Before you know how do you use the stun gun, you should know how it works.

Stun Gun is one of the most popular and effective self-defense weapons today.

So, when you shoot the attacker with a stun gun, all he/she will feel an electric shock running through their body, which will immobilize him/her and disable them from attacking you.

The stun gun works by stopping the electric pulses from the attacker's brain through electric shock produced from the gun. Thereby, stopping all physical functions for a short period of time.

Since it's a type of non-lethal self-defense weapon using powerful voltage of electricity to stop and temporarily paralyze an assailant. You are then able to neutralize any type of target without the risk of killing him/her.

Most stun guns carry between 20,000 and 150,000 volts with an effective range of 15 to 20 feet. Some stun guns have 200,000 – 1,000,000 voltage of power, making it an effective weapon to immobilize any type of aggressor.

This is something you should know before buying a stun gun online. India, however, doesn't permit you to have it in your possession, but with a proper license. 

It is very important to learn how to use a stun gun effectively before using it, following are the steps:

• You have to make sure that you hit the target with the stun gun before pressing its button to allow the electric shock to directly hit him.

• Hold the stun gun against the attacker for 3 to 5 seconds before pulling it away depending on the stun gun’s voltage power.

• Do not be afraid to use the stun gun in close range because the electric voltage from the gun is only powerful enough to enter the target’s body. It will not electrocute you even if you are in contact with the target.

You should always remember to use the safety button of your stun gun to avoid unnecessary accidents.

There are times when stun gun owners accidentally shock themselves when reaching for their gun from pockets or bags/purses.

The lock is also a good safety feature to protect children from your group or family from electrocuted.

Keep from touching the probes in your stun gun. Always handle the gun on the switch and security plate area to avoid shocking yourself.

Remember to only press the button when engaging a target. It sends out powerful electric current until you release the switch so don’t press it if you’re just playing around.

Remember to hit the target first before pressing the button to deliver an electric shock. Never be afraid to use too much voltage because it will not kill the attacker. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Why and how are air guns legal in India?

Whether or not is importing air gun legal in India? You’ll find the answer below.

Generally, one uses an air gun in matters of self-defense. Especially people who have to work or travel to distant places at night. An air gun is a perfect device to install fear in the minds of the attacker. And if fired it gives enough time to call for help or police.

Why are air guns legal in India? 

Using and carrying an air gun is legal in India because it does not cause grievous or fatal injury like a pistol but at the same time, it has a capacity to disarm a person from causing any threat or danger to another person?

Use of an air gun in India is legal but it also comes with certain restrictions and rules. You need to have a license to keep or carry an air gun with you. 

Air guns have found use in competitive sports or hunting small animals as well. It has found its use in pest control and recreational shooting purposes. 

Obtaining a license to carry an air gun is not enough; a person should also know how to use it and the rules which make use of air gun legal in India. 

Indians have permission to use and carry an air gun only if they follow all the rules and guidelines. These are mandatory to follow while using an air gun.

What are the advantages & disadvantages associated with Stun Guns?

All things have both advantages and disadvantages. We have already seen the advantages of having a stun gun. Now let us read about the disadvantage.

Advantages of a Stun Gun:

From the above discussion, it is clear that stun gun is quite useful when it comes to self-defense or to help oneself from immediate danger or attack. Most of the countries have understood the importance of carrying a stun gun. Thus, they have legalised carrying and using a stun gun. But that does not mean it can be used anytime. One has to make sure of the restrictions in your country and make use of it in serious situations. A stun gun is for both the general public and police officers.

1. Advantages to the general public - A stun gun is most useful for the general public, especially women who travel a lot. You can always use a stun gun as a device for self-defense. It is very helpful as it causes minimum injury and less harm. Also, at the same time, you will get enough time to save yourself or call the police. You can buy a stun gun online in India, but its use will remain limited only to police officers. The general public doesn't have the permission to use it. However, keeping a stun gun with oneself is not going to help the purpose of carrying a stun gun. You also need to know how to use a stun gun for self-defense.

2. Advantages to police - A stun gun is not meant only for the general public. Even a police officer can use a stun gun to perform his duties. The police officer can use a stun gun to immobilize the attacker or any person. Such that they can take hold of the attacker without causing any serious injury to the attacker. A police officer should also be careful while using a stun gun in India.

Disadvantage of a stun gun:

If you don't use a stun gun properly then the result will turn out to be different. Since using a stun gun won't cause any grievous hurt, but you can use it when anyone threatens or harms women or aged people. 

What is a stun gun is finally clear from the above discussion along with its usefulness? Since only a police officer has the permission to use it and no ordinary citizen or civilian. Therefore, if anyone uses or carries a stun gun, without proper permission, then it’s illegal and will attract penalty.

Similarly, using an air gun is legal in India when it comes to matters of self-defense and to avoid unnecessary danger. Though the use of air guns is legal in India, one should remember that you need to use it carefully as the consequences of using an air gun might turn fatal in the worst circumstances.         

Who to ask for help?

So if you ever need clarity on the legal aspects dealing with stun guns then, let MyAdvo help you! You can find lawyers near you with just one click of a button.

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