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 foror 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.