Can I keep a taser or an electric stun gun for my safety?
No — tasers and electric stun guns are prohibited weapons in Luxembourg. The Grand-Ducal Police list them explicitly, on the same footing as pepper spray, CS gas and tear gas, in the category of illegal "other weapons." The law of 2 February 2022 on weapons and ammunition provides no authorisation allowing a private individual to hold or carry such a device for personal defence. The "non-lethal" argument changes nothing: the law makes no exception for weapons presented as harmless, and an electric shock can be dangerous for someone with a heart condition. As with the spray, the trap is cross-border: these devices are easily bought online or in some neighbouring countries, but importing them does not make them legal. The myth: "a taser is allowed because it doesn't kill" — false; it is a prohibited weapon, and merely holding it, even without ever using it, is an offence.
📋 The rules
- Prohibited weapon: the taser and the electric stun gun are classified by the Grand-Ducal Police among the illegal "other weapons," together with pepper spray and gases.
- No defence authorisation: the law of 2 February 2022 issues no permit for a private individual to hold or carry such a device for self-protection.
- Possession is enough: the offence is made out by the simple possession or transport of the device, regardless of any use.
- "Non-lethal" has no legal effect: the supposedly harmless nature of the weapon creates no exception in Luxembourg law.
- Import banned: buying a taser online or abroad does not legalise it; it becomes a prohibited weapon again the moment it enters the territory.
🔓 Exceptions
- Authorised state agents: the police and certain forces fall under a separate professional framework that allows, in the exercise of their duties, means forbidden to private individuals.
- Defending your body: if you are attacked, you may defend yourself with a proportionate response, but that right does not legalise having held a taser beforehand.
- Devices that are not weapons: some industrial devices or electric fences exist, but an electric pistol designed as a means of defence remains a prohibited weapon.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The taser shares the fate of pepper spray: a prohibited weapon, therefore an offence. Holding or carrying it falls under the penalties of the law of 2 February 2022, which can reach, in the most serious cases, 3 to 8 years in prison and a fine of EUR 25,001 to 500,000, either applicable on its own. In practice, most cases end in fines and the confiscation of the device, but the offence leaves a mark on the criminal record that can weigh on employment and authorisations. The perverse effect is the same as with the spray: using a taser, even believing yourself threatened, can turn a self-defence situation into assault committed with a prohibited weapon, turn the case against the user and engage their civil liability towards the injured attacker. A routine check is enough to reveal the object and open prosecution.
📎 Official sources
- Grand-Ducal Police · other weapons (legislation page) →
- Legilux · law of 2 February 2022 on weapons and ammunition (official journal) →
- Ministry of Justice · Weapons Service / prohibited weapons →
❓ Frequently asked
Is a taser really banned since it is non-lethal?
Yes, the supposedly non-lethal nature creates no exception in Luxembourg law, which classes the taser among prohibited weapons. An electric shock can in fact be dangerous, especially for someone with a heart condition, and mere possession of the device is already an offence.
Can I buy an electric pistol online for use at home?
No: even bought on a foreign site and kept only at home, an electric pistol remains a prohibited weapon the moment it enters Luxembourg. Importing it does not legalise it, and possession can be prosecuted if it is discovered during a check or a search.
What is the difference from pepper spray under the law?
There is none in principle: the Grand-Ducal Police place both in the same category of illegal "other weapons." Taser and spray are both prohibited weapons, with no authorisation possible for the personal defence of a private individual.
What is the risk if the police find a taser on me?
The device is seized and confiscated, and you face prosecution for possession of a prohibited weapon, most often punished by a fine. The conviction is entered on the criminal record, with possible consequences for employment and for obtaining certain authorisations.
Is there a legal electric self-defence tool?
No, there is no "legal" version of the defensive taser for private individuals in the Grand Duchy. The right approach remains prevention, a loud personal alarm and calling 113, rather than holding an object that would put you in breach of the law yourself.
🔎 Common searches
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