Felony background checks used to be common practice for all guns and other self-defense devices such as tasers, but that has recently changed. Except for Maryland, Minnesota, and Illinois, background checks are no longer required for tasers. This is in response to the release of the new taser ECD device, the Taser Pulse. You must be aware, however, of the cities and states in which it is illegal for regular citizens to own and carry a taser.