Can I own a taser or stun gun for defence?
No — tasers and stun guns are banned in Iceland; they are on the Weapons Act ban list. In Article 30(c) of the Weapons Act no. 16/1998, electric weapons are listed among the striking weapons that it is banned to import, manufacture, acquire or keep in your possession — in the same class as knuckledusters, spiked clubs and concealed batons. This is an absolute ban: there is no licensing scheme for the public that opens the door to owning a taser. The myth going around is that a taser is "milder" and therefore allowed as an alternative to a firearm, or that it is legal for self-defence because it "does not kill". That is wrong: the legislature classes electric weapons with dangerous weapons and gives no discount because they are meant for defence. In any case the Weapons Act reaches any device that can be used to harm a person's health temporarily or permanently (Art. 1). A taser ordered online is stopped at customs, and breaches carry fines or up to 4 years in prison (Art. 36).
📋 The rules
- Article 30(c) of the Weapons Act no. 16/1998 lists electric weapons among banned weapons — in the class of knuckledusters, spiked clubs and concealed batons.
- The ban is absolute: it is forbidden to import, make, acquire or keep in possession a taser or stun gun, and no licensing scheme opens it for the public.
- Article 1 defines a weapon as any device that can harm a person's health temporarily or permanently — a taser clearly falls under it even though it is "non-lethal".
- Private imports are stopped: a taser ordered from abroad is seized at customs and not delivered.
- Breaches carry fines or up to 4 years in prison (Art. 36) and the weapon is confiscated.
🔓 Exceptions
- Police and other holders of special authority under police command fall outside the ban — the permission is tied to the role, not to the individual.
- The ban targets electric weapons; ordinary electrical devices and tools not intended as weapons fall outside it.
- Self-defence under Art. 12 of the Penal Code can justify defensive action in imminent danger, but it does not permit owning or carrying a banned electric weapon in advance.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Importing, acquiring or carrying a taser or stun gun breaches the Weapons Act and falls under Article 36: fines or up to 4 years in prison, unless a heavier penalty applies elsewhere. The weapon is confiscated and the case recorded, but the fine amount is not set out in a fixed table and so is not stated here. The hidden cost is the same as with other banned defence weapons: an online order is stopped at customs, the payment is lost and the buyer's name goes on a report. A recorded offence can affect your criminal record, applications for a firearms licence and jobs that require a clean history. If the taser is used against a person the case gets more serious: the Penal Code assault provisions are added, and an electric shock can be especially dangerous to people with heart conditions or others in a vulnerable state, which makes the consequences unpredictable. The argument that the weapon is "non-lethal" changes nothing about the fact that both possession and use are punishable.
📎 Official sources
- Althingi · Weapons Act no. 16/1998 (Art. 30, electric weapons) →
- Government of Iceland · weapons, explosives and fireworks →
- Police (Lögreglan) · weapons and carrying →
❓ Frequently asked
Is a taser legal for self-defence in Iceland?
No, electric weapons such as tasers and stun guns are on the ban list in Article 30(c) of the Weapons Act, so neither import, ownership nor possession is allowed for the public. There is no licensing scheme that opens a taser for self-defence, and the ban applies regardless of whether the weapon is considered lethal or not.
Why is a taser banned if it does not kill?
The legislature classes electric weapons with dangerous striking weapons in Article 30 and gives no discount because they are meant for defence or considered milder than firearms. The weapon concept in Article 1 reaches any device that can be used to harm a person's health, so the fact that a shock is rarely lethal does not change the classification.
Can I order a taser online for personal use?
No, importing electric weapons is banned and the shipment is seized at customs before it reaches you. You lose the payment, the case can be recorded as attempted unlawful import and the weapon is confiscated, so an online order does not get around the ban but instead creates an offence.
Who may use electric weapons then?
Only the police and other holders of special authority working under police command fall outside the ban, and then on the basis of special rules and training. The permission is tied to the role and to oversight, unlike the unrestricted possession by the public that the Weapons Act bans absolutely.
What is the penalty for owning a taser?
Breaches of the Weapons Act carry fines or up to 4 years in prison under Article 36, and the weapon is confiscated. If the taser is used against a person, the Penal Code assault provisions are added, which can increase the sentence considerably, especially if the victim is in a vulnerable state of health.
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