Tennessee Concealed Carry Laws
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Tennessee has a comprehensive set of laws and regulations regarding the concealed carry of firearms. Here are the key points based on the provided sources:
Permit Requirements
- Concealed Carry Permit: Tennessee requires individuals to obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm in public. This involves background checks and meeting specific eligibility criteria.
- Permitless Carry: As of 2021, Tennessee allows permitless carry for individuals 21 and older (or 18 and older for military members) to carry handguns without a permit. This law, however, does not negate the benefits of having a permit, such as reciprocity with other states.
Recent Legislative Changes
- Teachers and School Staff: In April 2024, the Tennessee House passed a bill allowing trained teachers and school staff to carry concealed handguns on school grounds. This bill requires criminal and mental health background checks, 40 hours of handgun training, and written authorization from school and law enforcement officials. The bill has faced significant opposition and protests but is aimed at increasing school security, particularly in rural areas with longer law enforcement response times.
Restrictions and Prohibited Areas
- Prohibited Locations: Tennessee law prohibits carrying firearms in certain places, including schools (with specific exceptions for trained staff), bars, and state capitol grounds. The new bill allows concealed carry by teachers and staff but prohibits carrying at school events in stadiums, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
- Open Carry: Open carry of handguns is not regulated, but open carry of rifles and shotguns is prohibited unless they are unloaded.
Keeping Guns Out of the Wrong Hands
- Prohibitors: Tennessee bars gun possession by individuals with felony convictions, domestic abusers under restraining orders, and those involuntarily committed for mental health reasons. The state also has laws to prevent gun possession by individuals with violent misdemeanor convictions and those subject to emergency restraining orders.
Gun Safety and Storage: Tennessee Concealed Carry Laws
- Secure Storage: Tennessee requires firearms to be stored locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition in certain circumstances to prevent unauthorized access, particularly by children.
- Gun Removal Programs: The state mandates officials to identify and seek the removal of illegal guns.
Summary
Tennessee has a mix of permit-required and permitless carry laws, with recent legislation expanding the ability of trained school staff to carry concealed handguns. The state maintains specific prohibitions on where firearms can be carried and has measures in place to prevent individuals deemed dangerous from accessing guns. The laws aim to balance the rights of gun owners with public safety concerns.