---
type: "LegalText"
title: "18 U.S.C. § 229C"
description: "Individual self-defense devices"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
chapter_number: "11B"
chapter_name: "CHEMICAL WEAPONS"
section: "229C"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 229C"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc18@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s229C"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-18/usc18.xml"
source_hash: "0a4c56a75e44e658526d7b145e4f737dabcf3a6110e968a480063ca1582b6603"
raw_snapshot_hash: "1a1bbbbdb59e376ada4eb7ad1056fd68d396679ee7ab59f0561af15006122708"
text_hash: "4615f63937cdad02c1a5a9c3c78c1c686da9099f631cf73cee15f6fe89fdba1e"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 18 U.S.C. § 229C - Individual self-defense devices

## Text

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any individual self-defense device, including those using a pepper spray or chemical mace.

(Added Pub. L. 105–277, div. I, title II, § 201(a), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–869.)