Stun Guns – What Are the Packaging Rules for Bringing a Stun Gun aboard an Airplane?

Stun guns are simple electrical devices that emit a debilitating shock. Some models resemble brass knuckles and others are flashlights, but all function the same way.

According to TSA guidelines, travelers can pack stun guns in checked luggage as long as they are rendered inoperable from accidental discharge and lithium batteries have been removed. Some airlines may have additional restrictions.

Liquid Stun Guns

Many stun guns use a high-voltage electric shock to deter and subdue an attacker. These weapons are popular among people who want to defend themselves without having a firearm, including law enforcement officers. These devices are also reusable and compact, making them an attractive option for travelers.

Liquid stun guns typically have a tank of highly-conductive liquid filled to a set level. They transfer that liquid to electrodes when the trigger is pulled, which then generates an electrical charge. The electrodes are then pressed against the skin, which completes the circuit. This sends a jolt to the target, disrupting nerve signals and causing muscles to spasm.

While some people may view electroshock weapons as torture devices, death usually does not occur from one burst of current, even when the targets are shocked multiple times. Most stun gun designs work by targeting specific body areas, such as the upper shoulder or below the rib cage. They also do not leave the telltale marks that a conventional beating would.

Lithium Ion Stun Guns

Stun guns emit 50,000 volts through projectile electrodes or two metal probes that require direct contact to work. The current jolts the body, causing skeletal muscles to seize up. While the pain can be excruciating, it is less lethal than gun use, according to law enforcement experts. It also doesn’t leave the telltale marks that a conventional beating might.

Though stun guns have caused some deaths, coroners have attributed those deaths to factors like drug intoxication or heart disease rather than the electroshock itself. The 50,000 volts are enough to cause pain and paralysis, but not enough to kill someone, Ohio State University notes.

The TSA says you can bring a stun gun in checked luggage as long as it is transported in a way that renders it inoperable from accidental discharge and its lithium battery has a power rating no higher than 100 watts. However, the airline you’re flying with may have its own restrictions, so check with them before you travel.

Taser Stun Guns

Unlike firearms, stun guns do not fire projectiles, instead they send high voltage electrical pulses through two electrode barbs that a user sticks against an aggressor. They are designed to incapacitate an attacker long enough for them to get away or call the police.

The level of pain experienced with a stun gun depends on the voltage, current and duration. The higher the charge weight, the more powerful the weapon is. However, voltage alone isn’t enough, it must be delivered in a large enough quantity for a sufficient length of time to create the necessary effects.

There is also a newer variety of stun “gun” that uses liquid electrolyte to conduct the current rather than a wire. This could make them less bulky and allow for a multi-shot capacity that current wire-launching stun weapons lack. It may also enable them to be more effective at greater distances. Some of these weapons are designed to have built in shooter identification that dispenses dozens of serial numbered microdots with each use to prevent criminal misuse as torture devices.

Other Stun Guns

Stun guns are a great way to deter and subdue an attacker. They work by delivering a sharp electric shock, which incapacitates the assailant and provides you with time to escape or call for help. Some stun guns look like lipstick, cell phone cases or even a walking cane to make it less likely that an assailant would suspect that your self-defense tool is actually a weapon.

You can bring a stun gun aboard an airplane as long as it is not loaded and packed in a hard-sided, locked case to prevent accidental discharge. Nevertheless, stun gun laws differ from state to state and you must familiarize yourself with your destination’s regulations before you travel.

Individuals who violate the TSA’s strict rules regarding traveling with stun guns can face civil penalties and may have their Trusted Traveler status or TSA PreCheck expedited screening benefits revoked for a period of time. Contact an Atlanta weapon crime lawyer to defend your rights if you are accused of violating Georgia’s stun gun laws.