Georgia Stun Gun Laws 2026 | College Student & Campus Guide

Campus Policies at Major Georgia Colleges

⚠️ Campus policies change annually. Always verify with your school's student handbook or Dean of Students office before carrying any device.

College	City	Stun Gun	Personal Alarm	Notes & Policy
University of Georgia	Athens	⚠️ Verify	✅ Allowed	UGA follows the University System of Georgia (USG) policy. While Georgia law creates a stun gun exemption for enrolled students 18+, the USG prohibits all weapons on owned or leased property. Verify current policy with UGA Police — the USG ban may override the state exemption on USG property. View policy →
Georgia Tech	Atlanta	⚠️ Verify	✅ Allowed	Georgia Tech follows USG weapons policy. Georgia Tech Police has documented that electroshock devices are governed by the state exemption — verify current enforcement with Georgia Tech PD before carrying. View policy →
Georgia State University	Atlanta	⚠️ Verify	✅ Allowed	GSU follows USG weapons policy. The state law exemption for electroshock devices technically applies to enrolled students 18+. Confirm with GSU Police before carrying. View policy →
Emory University	Atlanta	❌ Banned	✅ Allowed	Emory is a private university and is not subject to Georgia's public campus electroshock exemption. Emory prohibits all weapons on campus. View policy →
Mercer University	Macon	❌ Banned	✅ Allowed	Mercer is a private university and prohibits weapons on campus regardless of state law exemptions for public institutions. View policy →

Georgia stands out nationally as one of the few states with an explicit law permitting electroshock weapons on public college campuses. For enrolled students at public Georgia universities, a stun gun is technically legal under state law. The complication is how the University System of Georgia's own weapons policy interacts with that exemption.

What Georgia Law Actually Says

Georgia Code § 16-11-127.1(b)(19) creates a specific carve-out: any person 18 years of age or older, enrolled in classes at the campus in question, may carry an electroshock weapon on public college or university property — as long as any use is in defense of self or others.

This was established by House Bill 792 as an alternative to a broader campus carry bill. The Georgia legislature specifically chose to allow electroshock weapons while vetoing the campus handgun bill.

The USG Complication

The University System of Georgia's weapons policy prohibits all weapons on USG-owned or leased property. UGA Police and Georgia Tech Police have both confirmed that the state law electroshock exemption creates legal complexity with the USG ban. Until the USG clarifies its position, carrying a stun gun on campus involves real legal ambiguity.

For a definitive answer on your specific campus, contact your campus police department directly.

What to Carry Instead

Even with Georgia's permissive state law, a personal alarm and pepper spray are simpler and equally effective. Pepper spray is unrestricted in Georgia with no age minimum under state law. The She's Birdie Personal Alarm ($29.99) is unrestricted at every Georgia campus including Emory and Mercer.

Private Georgia university students: The state law exemption does not apply to you. A personal alarm and pepper spray are your legally clean options.

For self-defense tools that are legal on every campus: see our complete dorm safety kit guide and best personal alarms for college students.

Important: Campus policies change. Always verify current pepper spray rules directly with your student's campus police department or housing office before move-in day. State law sets the minimum — individual colleges can be more restrictive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are stun guns legal in Georgia?

Yes, for adults 18+ with no permit required. Georgia Code § 16-11-127.1 explicitly exempts electroshock weapons from campus weapons bans for enrolled students and employees 18 and older.

Can you bring a stun gun to a Georgia public college campus?

Georgia law creates a specific exemption allowing enrolled students 18+ to carry electroshock devices on public college campuses for self-defense. However, the University System of Georgia's weapons policy may override this exemption — verify with your specific campus police department.

Does the Georgia campus stun gun exemption apply to private universities?

No. The exemption only applies to public colleges and universities. Private institutions like Emory and Mercer are not subject to the exemption and maintain their own weapons bans.

What does the Georgia law actually say about stun guns on campus?

Georgia Code § 16-11-127.1(b)(19) exempts any person 18+ enrolled or employed at a public college from the campus weapons ban when carrying an electroshock weapon for self-defense. Use is limited to defense of self or others.

What self-defense tool is safest for Georgia college students?

Despite the permissive state law, a personal alarm and pepper spray remain the safest everyday carry for Georgia students. They are unrestricted at every Georgia campus including private universities, and avoid any ambiguity about how USG policy interacts with the state exemption.