Firearms and Ammunition

Plain English Breakdown

The exact impact on law enforcement and public safety remains uncertain as the bill did not pass.

Firearms and Ammunition Act

This bill removes an exemption that allowed certain people to carry a handgun legally without facing criminal charges.

What This Bill Does

• Removes subsection (g) from Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1307.
• Deletes part of Section 39-17-1313(a) that mentions carrying a handgun under § 39-17-1307(g).

Who It Names or Affects

• People who were previously exempt from carrying a handgun legally under certain conditions.

Terms To Know

Tennessee Code Annotated

A collection of laws in the state of Tennessee organized by subject matter.

Subsection (g)

A specific part of a law that deals with certain exemptions for carrying handguns.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill did not pass and was stopped in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee.
• It is unclear how many people will be affected by this change since it removes an existing exemption.

Official Summary Text

Present law generally provides that a
person commits an offense who carries, with the intent to go armed, a firearm or a club.
A first
violation is
generally
a Class C misdemeanor, and, in addition to possible imprisonment, may be punished by a fine not to exceed
$
500.

A second or subsequent violation is
generally
a Class B misdemeanor.
However, a
violation is a Class A misdemeanor if the person's carrying o
f a handgun occurred at a place open to the public where one or more persons were present.

Present law exempts a person from prosecution under the above offense when the
person is carrying, whether openly or concealed, a handgun and
the person meets all
of the following criteria:



The person is at least
21
; or
is
at least
18
and
(i) is
an honorably discharged or retired veteran of the United States armed forces; (ii) is an honorably discharged member of the army national guard, the army reserve, the navy reserve, the marine corps reserve, the air national guard, the air force reserve, or the coast guard reserve, who has successfully completed a basic training program; or (iii)
i
s a member of the United States armed forces on active duty status or is a current member of the army national guard, the army reserve, the navy reserve, the marine corps reserve, the air national guard, the air force reserve, or the coast guard reserve, who has successfully completed a basic training program
.



The person lawfully possesses the handgun
.



The person is in a place where the person is lawfully present.

This bill removes such exemption.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1348
By Akbari

HOUSE BILL 1392
By Pearson

HB1392
003046
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
relative to firearms.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1307, is amended by deleting
subsection (g).
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1313(a), is amended by
deleting "or who lawfully carries a handgun pursuant to § 39-17-1307(g)".
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.