Indiana Stun Gun Laws 2026 | College Student & Campus Guide

Campus Policies at Major Indiana 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
Indiana University Bloomington	Bloomington	❌ Banned	✅ Allowed	IU's Firearms and Weapons Policy explicitly lists Tasers, electronic stun weapons, and stun guns as prohibited dangerous articles on campus. Pepper spray is specifically exempted from the prohibition. View policy →
Purdue University	West Lafayette	❌ Banned	✅ Allowed	Purdue prohibits weapons on campus. Stun guns and Tasers are included in the weapons prohibition. View policy →
University of Notre Dame	Notre Dame	❌ Banned	✅ Allowed	Notre Dame is a private university and prohibits all weapons on campus including stun guns and Tasers. View policy →
Ball State University	Muncie	❌ Banned	✅ Allowed	Ball State prohibits dangerous weapons on campus. Stun guns fall under the weapons prohibition. View policy →
Indiana State University	Terre Haute	❌ Banned	✅ Allowed	ISU prohibits weapons on campus under its student conduct policy. View policy →

Indiana has an interesting legal split: contact stun guns are legal for adults without a permit, but Tasers require a handgun license. For college students, the distinction matters less than the universal campus ban — every major Indiana university prohibits both.

What Indiana Law Actually Says

Indiana Code § 35-47-8-5 permits adults 18+ to purchase and possess contact stun guns without a permit.

Indiana Code § 35-47-8-4 is different: it applies handgun license requirements to "electronic stun weapons" — defined as devices exceeding 5 milliamps at 60Hz. Most consumer Tasers fall under this definition. A handgun license requires a background check and being 18 or older.

Campus Reality

Indiana University's Firearms and Weapons Policy is one of the most notable in the Midwest: it explicitly lists Tasers, electronic stun weapons, and stun guns as prohibited — but specifically exempts personal pepper sprays. This makes IU one of the few major universities with an explicit pepper spray carve-out.

Purdue, Notre Dame, Ball State, and ISU also prohibit stun guns on campus.

What to Carry Instead

For IU students specifically: pepper spray is explicitly permitted. The SABRE Campus Safety Pepper Gel ($11.99) is the top recommendation — IU's own policy specifically allows it.

For all Indiana students: a personal alarm is unrestricted on every Indiana campus. The She's Birdie Personal Alarm ($29.99) is the safest universal choice.

IU students: Your campus policy explicitly permits pepper spray. Use it. It is legal, effective, and specifically called out as allowed.

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 Indiana?

Contact stun guns are legal for adults 18+ without a permit. However, Tasers and electronic stun weapons that exceed 5 milliamps/60Hz require a handgun license under Indiana Code § 35-47-8-4.

Do you need a handgun license for a Taser in Indiana?

Yes. Indiana Code § 35-47-8-4 requires a handgun license for electronic stun weapons and Tasers. A standard contact stun gun does not require a license.

Can you bring a stun gun to an Indiana college campus?

No. Indiana University explicitly lists stun guns and Tasers as prohibited weapons. Purdue, Notre Dame, Ball State, and ISU also prohibit them on campus.

What self-defense tool is legal on every Indiana campus?

A personal alarm is unrestricted on every Indiana campus. Notably, Indiana University's weapons policy specifically exempts pepper spray from its weapons prohibition — making pepper spray one of the few carry-safe options on the IU campus.

Is pepper spray allowed at Indiana University?

Yes — IU's weapons policy specifically states that the prohibition does not extend to personal pepper sprays. This is an important exception that makes pepper spray the recommended self-defense tool for IU students.