Criminal Offenses

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or consequences for children bringing guns to school without parental knowledge, leading to these being listed as limits and unknowns.

Firearm Storage Rules for Children

This bill makes it a crime to recklessly store firearms where children under 18 can access them if those children bring the guns to school-related places.

What This Bill Does

• Creates a new law that says storing a gun in a way that lets kids younger than 18 easily find and take it is against the rules, especially if the child brings the firearm to any area related to public or private schools.
• Defines this as a Class A misdemeanor offense.
• Specifies 'school' to include all areas where public or private educational institutions operate, such as buildings, buses, fields, and grounds.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who store firearms in ways that allow children under 18 to access them easily.
• Children younger than 18 years old who bring guns to school-related places.

Terms To Know

Class A misdemeanor

A type of crime that is more serious than a simple offense but less severe than a felony. It can lead to jail time and fines.

School

Includes all areas where public or private educational institutions operate, such as buildings, buses, fields, and grounds.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a child brings a gun to school without the parent's knowledge.
• It is unclear how this law will be enforced in practice.

Official Summary Text

This bill creates a Class A misdemeanor offense for a person who
recklessly stores a firearm in a manner that the person knows or reasonably should know will allow a child younger than 1
8
to access t
he firearm and the child brings the firearm to

a public or private school building or bus, on any public or private school campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field, or any other property owned, operated, or while in use by any board of education, s
chool, college or university board of trustees, regents, or directors for the administration of any public or private educational institution.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 250
By Campbell

HOUSE BILL 312
By Mitchell

HB0312
000610
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
Chapter 17, Part 13, relative to firearms.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) A person commits an offense who recklessly stores a firearm in a manner
that the person knows or reasonably should know will allow a child younger than
eighteen (18) years of age to access the firearm and the child brings the firearm to a
school in violation of § 39-17-1309.
(b) A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
(c) As used in this section, "school" means a public or private school building or
bus, on any public or private school campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field, or
any other property owned, operated, or while in use by any board of education, school,
college or university board of trustees, regents, or directors for the administration of any
public or private educational institution.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.