Criminal Offenses

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Firearm Storage Rules for Children

This law makes it a crime to recklessly store a firearm where a child under 18 can get to it if that child then brings the gun to school.

What This Bill Does

• Creates a new rule saying it's against the law to carelessly leave a gun somewhere a kid younger than 18 could find and take it to school.
• Defines 'school' as any public or private building, bus, campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field, or property used by educational institutions for kids of all ages.
• Says that if someone breaks this rule, they can get in trouble with the police and face a penalty called a Class A misdemeanor.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who own guns and have children under 18 years old living with them or visiting their home.
• Schools and educational institutions that could be affected if a child brings a gun to school.

Terms To Know

Class A misdemeanor

A type of punishment for breaking the law, which is more serious than other types but not as bad as felony charges.

Recklessly

Acting in a way that shows little care about whether something might happen or not.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only applies if the child actually brings the firearm to school, not just finds it at home.
• It does not specify what happens if someone is unaware that a child can access their gun.

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

HOUSE BILL 312
By Mitchell

SENATE BILL 250
By Campbell

SB0250
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.