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Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map & Gun Laws


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Carry allowed with my Tennessee permit?
No
Yes
Yes, With Restrictions
Yes, Selected State(s)
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681k
PERMITS ISSUED
48
STATES HONORED
37
RECIPROCATING STATES
6.9M
STATE POPULATION
21
MINIMUM AGE TO CC
19
ATTORNEYS IN USCCA NETWORK
9.87%
PERMIT PERCENTAGE
8
YEARS PERMIT VALID
92
USCCA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS
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Summary of Tennessee Gun Laws
Tennessee is a shall-issue state with concealed weapons permits issued at the state level by the Department of Safety & Homeland Security.

There is no permit, background check or firearms registration required when buying a handgun from a private individual.

As of July 1, 2021, permitless concealed and open carry will be legal for anyone at least 21 years old or older (or is at least 18 years of age and has been honorably discharged from military service or is on active duty and has completed basic training), that may lawfully possess A handgun and is in a place where the person has a right to be.

Until then, open carry is legal with an Enhanced Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit (EHCP) or a permit from a state that Tennessee honors. Open carry is also allowed without a permit if the gun is unloaded and the ammunition is not in the immediate vicinity. Tennessee prohibits the possession of a firearm “with the intent to go armed.” The minimum age is 18 years old. Some areas are off-limits, including government buildings and schools.

Until July 1, 2021, Concealed carry is legal for residents with a Tennessee EHCP or a Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit (HCP) and for non-residents with any valid state license/permit. The minimum age is 21 years old or 18 for members of the military. As of January 1, 2020, Senate Bill 705, created two levels of HCP’s. Applicants may obtain a concealed HCP by taking a 90-minute online course. The EHCP requires completion of an 8-hour live training course from certified instructors and allows permittees to carry a gun openly or concealed to more places. Non-residents can only obtain an HCP if they work in the state on a regular basis and hold a valid concealed carry permit in their home state. They can only make an application after being employed for six months and then only within six months after the initial six-month work period. In terms of reciprocity, Tennessee honors all concealed carry permits from other states. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tennessee Handgun Carry Permits set to expire since March 12, 2020, are extended through November 15, 2020.


Self-Defense
Tennessee is a Castle Doctrine state and has a “stand your ground” law. A person who is in a place lawfully and who is not engaged in illegal activity has no duty to retreat before using or threatening to use force that’s likely to cause serious bodily injury or death if:

The person reasonably believes there’s an imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death;
The danger is real or honestly believed to be real at the time; and
The belief of danger is founded upon reasonable grounds.
A person who uses deadly force within a residence, business, dwelling or vehicle is presumed to have held a reasonable belief of imminent death or serious bodily injury to self, family, a member of the household or a person visiting as an invited guest when the force is used against someone who unlawfully and forcibly entered the place.

Defense of Third Person
A person is justified in threatening or using force against another to protect a third person if the person reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to protect the third person from unlawful force.

Defense of Property
A person in lawful possession of real or personal property or personal property of a third person is justified in threatening or using force against another when and to the degree it is reasonably believed the force is immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the other’s trespass on the land or unlawful interference with the property. However, unless a person is justified in using deadly force as otherwise provided by law, a person is not justified in using deadly force to prevent or terminate the other’s trespass on real estate or unlawful interference with personal property.

“Dwelling” means a building or conveyance of any kind, including any attached porch, whether the building or conveyance is temporary or permanent, mobile or immobile, that has a roof over it, including a tent, and is designed for or capable of use by people.

“Residence” means a dwelling in which a person resides, either temporarily or permanently, or is visiting as an invited guest, or any dwelling, building or other appurtenance within the curtilage of the residence.

“Vehicle” means any motorized vehicle that is self-propelled and designed for use on public highways to transport people or property.

[Tenn. Code. Ann. §§ 39-11-611, 39-11-612,39-11-614]

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Come July 1st-- open or conceal carry in the state of Tennessee is legal..

I am considering whether to open carry.
Or even conceal carry...

Or open carrying in the summertime and conceal carry in the wintertime.

Point is- It is a Constitutional right..(one finally recognized to now stbe lawful by this state)
And this world is not a safe enough place-to go unarmed.

Decision to be made after July 1st...-Tyr