To regain your peace of mind on the street, it is strongly recommended to equip yourself with a self defense weapon . Some people choose pepper spray, but others prefer to invest in a pocket shocker !

You are just considering buying a pocket shocker on sale at Girls Power in the coming days? Before any purchase, we invite you to inquire about the legislation in force in France concerning category D weapons.

So, is it legal to buy, wear and transport a pocket shocker? The answer to this question can be found here!

We explain everything you need to know about the pocket shocker legislation !

Pocket shocker: what does the law say in France?

First of all, it is important to understand what we are referring to when we talk about shocker. Indeed, in the self-defense weapons sector, we sometimes talk about taser to refer to the shocker… In reality, it is an abuse of language, because it is not quite the same thing.

To better understand:

• The taser is a category B weapon : its purchase is subject to authorization. The best known, the X26 taser, is used by the police and the gendarmerie. As an individual, you cannot therefore equip yourself with a real taser.
• The shocker is a category D weapon : although its sale is prohibited to minors, it is authorized for adults.

Please note that, like any other Category D weapon, the pocket shocker can therefore be purchased freely by an adult. However, its wearing and transport outside the home is prohibited in the absence of a legitimate reason.

What is meant by “ legitimate reason ”?

If you walk around with a pocket shocker in your jacket and you are stopped by a police officer, the officer may ask you why you have this category D weapon on you. If the reason given is not legitimate in the eyes of the police officer, you are not respecting the law and you are exposed to the confiscation of the shocker as well as a fine.

The legitimate reason is left to the discretion of the police officer or possibly a judge when the police are unable to decide. To decide whether a reason is legitimate or not , the police officer will base it on 3 elements:

• The place
• The context
• The gender of the person

So if you are a woman and you explain to the police that you are keeping a pocket shocker in your handbag because you don't feel safe when you're riding the bus home late at night after work, the reason should normally be considered legitimate. However, we can't say for sure, because everything is left to the discretion of the police officer.

Is it legal to have a pocket shocker at home?

Yes, you can keep a pocket shocker at home: it is completely legal. And if you use it against a burglar who breaks into your home, it will be self-defense .

Can you use your pocket shocker in the street?

As we explained in this article, carrying and transporting a category D weapon on the street is prohibited in theory. During a police check, you will therefore have to prove that you have a legitimate reason to keep a pocket shocker in your handbag.

And what if you use it in the middle of the street against a person? Of course, Attacking an individual with a shocker for no apparent reason is prohibited. and punishable by law. However, if it is self-defense and you use this self defense weapon to protect yourself from a dangerous individual, the police will consider it self-defense. You should therefore not be worried by the police.

Can you be punished for transporting a category D weapon outside your home without a legitimate reason?

You may be wondering what penalties you face if you transport a pocket shocker on you in the street without a legitimate reason? The maximum penalty provided by law is a fine of 15,000 euros and 1 year of imprisonment.

According to article L317-8 of the CSI, the fixed fine is reduced to 500 euros when the person who is stopped with a pocket shocker voluntarily hands it over to the police.

In practice, if you get stopped and cooperate with the police, the shocker will simply be confiscated. Criminal charges are rarely brought when there is cooperation.

However, the context can change the situation: if the check takes place during a demonstration, there is a greater risk of being prosecuted, because the police may consider that the person has a category D weapon on them, not to protect themselves, but to attack.