Can I own a stun gun or taser for self-defence in Lithuania?
It depends on the type — you may own a simple contact stun gun for self-defence, but a real taser that fires darts is banned for civilians. Under the Law on the Control of Weapons and Ammunition, self-defence contact stun devices fall into category D — a person aged 18 or over may buy one without a permit, and it is one of the few devices you are allowed to carry. However, electroshock devices that fire darts on flexible wires connected to a high-voltage source (which is exactly what classic tasers are) are prohibited in civil circulation — only bodies carrying out state environmental control may use them. The key point people miss: the taser seen in films and foreign shops fires darts at a distance, so the myth that such a device can be freely bought in Lithuania too is wrong — only a contact device pressed against the body is legal.
📋 The rules
- A contact self-defence stun gun — category D, bought from 18 without a permit
- A contact stun gun, like a gas canister, may be carried in public
- A dart-firing taser (darts on wires, high voltage) — prohibited
- Dart devices may be used only by state environmental-control bodies
- Carrying any weapon, including a stun gun, while intoxicated (over 0.4 per mille) is banned
🔓 Exceptions
- A stun gun may be used only for necessary defence against an attack, not to attack or take revenge
- Remote (dart) electroshock devices are used for official duties only by authorised bodies
- When travelling abroad, check local rules — electroshock devices are banned in many places
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The essential difference is between a legal contact device and a banned remote taser. If a prohibited electroshock device with fired darts is acquired, kept or carried, it is confiscated, and the person faces administrative liability for handling a banned device. What people miss: even a lawful contact stun gun, if used not for defence but to attack or frighten people, brings administrative or criminal liability for impairing health under the Criminal Code, depending on the consequences. Carrying any weapon, including a stun gun, while intoxicated (over 0.4 per mille) is banned by Article 227 of the Code of Administrative Offences — a fine and confiscation follow. Necessary defence justifies only proportionate force: an electric discharge into an attacker who is already neutralised or fleeing may be found to exceed the limits of defence. Carried across a border, the device is banned in many countries and may be confiscated at customs.
📎 Official sources
- e-seimas · Law on Control of Weapons and Ammunition, Art. 7 (prohibited) →
- Lithuanian Police · devices for self-defence →
- e-tar · Law on Control of Weapons and Ammunition, consolidated →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I own a taser in Lithuania?
A real taser, which fires darts at a distance through wires connected to a high-voltage source, is prohibited in civil circulation. Such devices may be used only by bodies carrying out state environmental control, and they are not available to civilians at all.
Does a contact stun gun need a permit?
No, a self-defence contact stun gun belongs to category D, so no permit is required. It may be bought by anyone aged 18 or over, and the purchase needs neither an exam nor a medical certificate.
Can I carry a stun gun on me?
Yes, a contact stun gun, like a gas canister, is one of the few self-defence devices you are allowed to carry in public. Even so, it may be used only to defend against a real attack, not to threaten or frighten those around you.
From what age can I buy a stun gun?
A contact self-defence stun gun, as a category D device, may be bought once you turn 18. Remote dart tasers are not sold to civilians at all, because they are classed among the prohibited devices under the weapons law.
What is the penalty for keeping a banned taser?
A prohibited dart taser is confiscated, and acquiring, keeping or carrying it brings administrative liability. If any electroshock device is used other than for self-defence and causes harm to health, criminal liability may also apply on top.
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