Tennessee

Total prohibition                                                                                         Total freedom

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Traveler's checklist:

        *Firearms ownership: unrestricted, no permit or license required

        *Assault weapon ownership: unrestricted, no permit or license required

        *Machine Gun Ownership: no state restrictions, compliance with federal law only

        *Firearm law uniformity: preemption law, cities prohibited from creating new laws

            *Right of Self-Defense: no castle doctrine

        *Open carry: prohibited unless one possesses a permit to carry a handgun

        *Concealed carry: licenses granted on a "shall issue" basis; automatic reciprocity for 
                                                                                non-residents with carry permits from any other state

        *Vehicle carry and transportation: firearms must be unloaded and in plain view 

                                                                                or secured in commercial gun cases anywhere in the vehicle

 

            Tennessee is slightly more restrictive in its treatment of firearms than some 
of its neighbors.  The state requires a license to carry a handgun either openly or 
concealed.  Such permits are issued through the Department of Public Safety to 
qualified residents 21 years or older. Tennessee recognizes any valid, out-of-state 
permit for carrying a handgun as long as the person possessing the permit does not 
reside in Tennessee. In-state residence requires a Tennessee permit.  Nonresidents 
are not issued permits unless they are regularly employed in the state.  Such persons 
are then required to obtain Tennessee permits even if they have home state permits
unless their home state has entered into a reciprocity agreement with Tennessee.

            Travelers without valid permits are prohibited from carrying handguns with 
the "intent to go armed." The actions of the individual and the state of the firearms
which he has in his possession define this condition.  If the weapons are loaded and
carried on his person, he is in violation of the law.  Thus, vehicle carry of all handguns
should be limited to unloaded firearms which are in plain view or secured in commercial
gun cases.  Glove compartment or console box carry is not permitted.  "Unloaded" 
refers to handguns that are void of any ammunition in the magazines or chambers and
have no loaded magazines nearby.  Such weapons may be situated anywhere in the 
vehicle except concealed on or about one's person.

            Rifles and shotguns carried in a vehicle must remain unloaded and separate 
from ammunition regardless of whether a person has a carry permit.  Tennessee 
only allows handguns to be carried under the authority of a permit.  Long guns are 
treated the same regardless of a person's permit status.

            Tennessee's preemption statute prevents localities from enacting new laws 
regulating the possession, ownership or transportation of firearms and ammunition. 
Local ordinances passed before 1986 are grandfathered by the law.  But most 
aspects of licensed handgun carry are regulated exclusively by the state.

 

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