A bill before the legislature's public safety committee would allow people to carry an electronic defense weapon, or stun gun, with them for personal protection, provided they first secure a permit.
Current law allows citizens to possess the weapons inside their homes and places of business but nowhere else.
Peter T. Holran, an executive with Taser International, said the change would allow people to carry the devices with them in their vehicles, when out for a jog or in other situations where they feel vulnerable. Taser International, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., is a leading manufacturer of stun guns.
Holran told the committee during a hearing this afternoon that the process of securing a permit would provide a level of accountability to ensure Tasers are not used by criminals.