The following is a video transcript.
Today, I’d like to talk to you about non-lethal weapons in New Jersey..
What self defense weapons are legal in NJ?
The answer is very few. The only non-lethal weapon specifically authorized under New Jersey law is pepper spray; but only if it is under three quarters of an ounce. Other than that, there’s no specific law authorizing the carrying of a non-lethal weapon in New Jersey.
Stun guns and tasers – legalized?
You may have heard that stun guns and tasers have been ‘legalized.’ Recently, the law prohibiting stun guns and tasers proved unconstitutional in Massachusetts. There was a change in the law: stun guns and tasers are now allowed to be possessed, but only in your home. Due to caselaw, you may not preemptively arm yourself with a taser or stun gun when you leave your home. If you do preemptively arm yourself with a taser or stun gun and are caught, you could be facing criminal charges. So, do not carry a stun gun or a taser outside of your home.
Loopholes
Now, you can carry other non-lethal weapons outside of your home, but you can’t use them to preemptively arm yourself for self-defense purposes. For example, while you can have a Maglite in your car, you can’t have it in your car for the purpose of arming yourself, even though a Maglite would be a fine impact weapon. The purpose of possessing the item must be solely for the item’s intended use. Here, the purpose of possessing the Maglite would be to use it as a flashlight, not to use it as a weapon.
Now, if you use it as a weapon in an emergency, that’s a whole other story, and there are defenses that can be raised regarding your use of the non-lethal weapon in self-defense. Essentially, you cannot just carry weapons, even non-lethal weapons, with the exception of pepper spray that is under three quarters of an ounce, in New Jersey for self-defense.
If you have any other questions about non-lethal weapons, feel free to give a call to U.S. LawShield and ask for your Independent Program Attorney.
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Is the Pepper Ball Bynra Gun legal to carry in New Jersey? What type of ammo is can be used in it?
OC, CS, and PAVA – solid plastic balls?
JUST PURCHASED ONE IM IN SOUTH JERSEY IF YOU GET AN ANSWER ON THAT PLEASE CONTACT ME I GUESS ON THIS WEBSITE
Nj better wake up and allow people to protect themselves. A Byrna gun sounds great.
It’s not about “New Jersey,”and her waking up it’s about the citizens waking up hopefully that’s what you mean.
I agree
I DO KNOW YOU CAN NOT HAVE A PELLET GUN DELIVERED IN JERSEY THRU THE MAIL BUT THE BYRNA CAN
😆
N.J. ,IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL PROTECTION . OH WOW ,YOU CAN USE PEPPER SPRAY IN A MINIMAL 3/4 OUNCE, THANKS A LOT …I LIVE IN PA. I HAVE A GUN CARRY PERMIT FOR OVER 25 YRS…….. PEACE OF MINE, SECURITY,…NOT DEPENDING ON POLICE, TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF……N.J. YOUR TAKING PEOPLE’S RIGHTS , AND PUTTING LIVE’S IN DANGER ……WISE UP !
“Peace of mind”….”You’re”….”lives”
Oh crap, the Grammar Cops are here !!
Wow 25 years carrying a gun, how many times did you have to use it?
This is fn abuse of my GD constitutional rights!!!
I wanted it for my WIFE. WHO TEACHES ADULT ED. WITH CONVICTS, AND I HAVE TO DRIVE EVERY NIGHT TO SEE HER HOME SAFE/
Bc.., no “peppy blasty” when a GD ex con follows her to her car. ????
I’ve worn a seatbelt for 42 years and have never needed it, but that’s not going to stop me from using it in preparation for the day I finally do
Where in writing did you find the case law about stun guns? More importantly legal to possess only in the home?
I can’t find anything saying what’s stated above. I’ve only seen it’s legal to buy possess.
Are Tasers legal? Can I carry one?
Yes, an October 20, 2017 Memorandum from the State of New Jersey Office of Attorney General reviewed the findings of a Supreme Court decision and a Consent Order signed into effect by the State of New Jersey states that Stun Guns in New Jersey are legal for sale and possession with only two restrictions. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase or possess and you must not be a certain persons prohibited against purchasing or possessing one as per N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7(a).
Yo compre una Byrna pepper ball gun y necesito saber si es legar portar mi byrna en la calle ya que trabajo haciendo entregas de comida y me intentaron asaltar una vez.
I ordered a second stun gun to keep in my wife’s car I have one in my work truck we live in New Jersey. I would never play around with it but if my life was in jeopardy I will use it as well as my wife. Its a crime not being able to protect yourself. So I guess what I’m getting at is I’d rather be alive and in court then dead and some person getting off on some technicality.
YES SIR
Is it legal to use a Byrna for self defense when in your home and on your property in New Jersey?
Yes but you can’t carry open or concealed
Wrong
Not wrong!
If talking about firearms …it is almost impossible to carry a firearm unless you are active / retired LEO & if not for HR218 NJ would try and keep retired from carrying
Yes you can, the attorney generals office confirmed it
Actually even if your armed, new jersey law wants you to vacate your property before confronting a home invader or you become the criminal. Our Governor & his Communist AG will prosecute the home owner before they prosecute the Criminal.
Wrong
Murphy sucks. I need to get out of Jersey.
So since you cannot carry weapons to defend yourself, then it’s the responsibility of the state to protect you at all times. And if you are hurt and New Jersey did not defend you can you hold them responsible?
Right??
I sure hope so
I carry a stun gun on a belt when I walk my dog for protection against loose aggressive dogs. Is that legal in NJ?
Why is New Jersey such a trashy unconstitutional place? Has to be top 3 worst States in the country.
My NJ town has one of their detectives hunting around after me for a few fireworks set off during 4th. NJ will go after you regardless big or small and covid or not. Be careful next time your jaywalking…these detectives might look to lock you up if they spot you!
New Jersey is a cess Poole and Murphy is a moron. Just received my Byrna self defense package and I plan on carrying it every where I go.
If Antifa and the animals can carry what ever they want then so can I and I have no fear in using it if confronted
Its good to be stupid johnny boi, real good !!
Well I am going to follow n.j law to the fullest. If someone breaks into my home with a gun , I am going to advise him on his rights to have a gun and my non rights to have it for self protection, I then will tell him where to shoot me and also offer him extra money for his bail and defense lawyer. I also should tell him to make sure that he gives a proper police report stating that he shot me into my own home because the law in n.j allowed him.
The people of New Jersey voted for their own chains .
Americans can’t get along with people like this.
It’s time for a divorce and to forget that they were our countryman.
I just moved to NJ i had nothing to do with voting rights away, and I believe my next move will be to TX if they actually succeed from the Union and become thier own Sovereign Nation. To hell with Murphy and Biden and Harris and everyone after our constitutional rights!
Sickboy, your handle is well-chosen. Good luck in Texas. I’m sure you will be much happier there, especially if you are overweight.
Most of the posts on this page appear to be written by individuals with language proficiency at the sixth grade level or less. Your grammar is–in a word–atrocious.
How about putting all of that gun money into buying some books to weaponize your mind? And while you’re at it, learn how to identify credible, fact-based news. Be skeptical of idiots peddling ridiculous conspiracies. Haven’t you noticed that the internet hacks who are proselytizing conspiracies and paranoia are also peddling emergency food rations and bug-out gear on the side?
Finally, stop blaming your misery and your miserable existence on elected officials. You are wholly responsible for your life and your own happiness.
Peter, it is preferred to educate oneself to weaponize the mind, however, it is no use when animals and mentally unstable and dangerous individuals attack you.
Well said Peter. I couldn’t agree more.
Peter, your response is just an opposite extreme. Your mean-spirited personal attacks are also indicative of your own misery and miserable existence; one in which you cannot tolerate anyone having an opposing view or being critical of the elected officials for whom you voted and engage in apologetics. I’m not saying the sky is falling or advancing any particular “conspiracy theory” and I thought you made an interesting observation about the connection between people who promote these theories and their plugging for emergency food rations, whoever they are. However, you also display a degree of denialism or ignorance about the realities of the world in which we live. Just because you choose to sit around and do nothing while waiting until it punches you in the mouth doesn’t give you the right to force others to do the same nor does it justify your vain attempts to shame people into your worldview by belittling them and insulting their intelligence merely to stroke your ego and validate your self-perceived moral and intellectual superiority. Your last sentence is also interesting as there is a movement going on in this country that claims outside forces and the economic system under which we operate are responsible for the ills and unhappiness of certain segments of the population. Maybe you can tell them that.
I think that everybody realizes that the law abiding Citizen in the state of New Jersey is a sitting duck.
It may change in ny and nj due to a case now in.front of the us supreme court due this year
As I understand , NJ is horrible . The law states you cannot carry a weapon preemptively . So , even though the byrna hd is not a firearm (in law) it is still a weapon and cannot be carried. It really doesn’t matter how unreasonable the laws are they can still charge you and in doing so take away your right to own a gun for your home. I agree with those that think the law is stupid but as long as it stays this way we are stuck. Also it was mentioned that the supreme court will take up a case later this year, and that is true but if they rule in favor of the plaintiff it will only change the state of fire arm carry restrictions , nothin else so nothing with the byrna hd or any other form of protection will change . In a few short years I will leave this place for good.
Yes, you can carry a stun gun in NJ. I wrote the attorney general. This was his response. Read carefully and entirely.
Thank you for contacting Attorney General Grewal.
As of October 22, 2017, in accordance with a Consent Order entered in the United States District Court, prior statutory prohibitions against selling or possessing stun guns in New Jersey have been declared unconstitutional. By virtue of this ruling, New Jersey is now on similar footing as 39 other states that allow stun guns with limited or no restrictions so, unless there is a change to the law, no permit or license will be required to obtain or possess a stun gun. However, the State Police have adopted a rule effective January 2, 2018 prohibiting minors under the age of 18 from obtaining or possessing stun guns. In addition to the this regulation, current statutory provisions that establish restrictions on stun guns remain in force and effect, including laws that prohibit felons and incompetent persons from possessing stun guns, possession on school grounds, possession for an unlawful purpose, and possession under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for such lawful uses as a stun gun may have.
This response is not intended as legal advice but is offered for informational purposes only. Unless the law is changed, New Jersey law contains no permitting or similar requirement that must be satisfied in order to possess a stun gun (whether at home or in public). And, as previously indicated, there are limitations under the current law which are not affected by the Consent Order. You may wish to consult a private attorney should you require legal advice on this issue.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Pantano
Citizens Services and Relations
Office of the Attorney General
I am thinking about purchasing the Byrna SD Launcher, their website describe it as “The Byrna SD shoots .68 caliber projectiles that are filled with a powerful chemical irritant. The projectiles are designed to burst upon impact and disperse a cloud of powerful pepper and tear gas powder.” Is this legal in New Jersey? Thank you in advance!
Pepper spray 3 oz max only thing that can be carried legally in nj for self defense in 2022.
Please clarify with sources. Everywhere I’ve seen has been .75 oz or 3/4 oz maximum for legal pepper spray self defense in NJ.