Firearms and Ammunition

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on enforcement costs or consequences for those previously exempted under old laws.

Firearms and Ammunition Act

This bill removes an exemption that allows certain people to carry handguns without facing criminal charges for carrying a firearm with intent to go armed.

What This Bill Does

• Removes the exemption in Tennessee law that lets some adults carry handguns legally.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who carry handguns in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Class C misdemeanor

A minor crime with a small punishment, like a fine or short jail time.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much money will be spent on enforcing these new rules.
• Does not address what happens to people who were allowed to carry handguns under old laws but are now breaking them.
• The bill does not change other parts of Tennessee's firearm laws.

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

HOUSE BILL 1392
By Pearson

SENATE BILL 1348
By Akbari

SB1348
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.