Tennessee Carry Laws

No-Carry Signs Have Force of Law

Tennessee: possessing a weapon in a building or on property properly posted under T.C.A. § 39-17-1359 is itself an offense — but it is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by FINE ONLY of $500; the sign must meet the statute's specs ('NO FIREARMS ALLOWED' in letters at least 1 inch high on a sign at least 8 inches wide, plus the statutory citation 'As authorized by T.C.A. § 39-17-1359').

"NO FIREARMS" SIGN LAW
TENNESSEE

Tennessee: possessing a weapon in a building or on property properly posted under T.C.A. § 39-17-1359 is itself an offense — but it is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by FINE ONLY of $500; the sign must meet the statute's specs ('NO FIREARMS ALLOWED' in letters at least 1 inch high on a sign at least 8 inches wide, plus the statutory citation 'As authorized by T.C.A. § 39-17-1359').

Authority: Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1359.

Prohibited Places - Where You Cannot Carry

Tennessee: Carry prohibited in K-12 and college/university buildings, buses, campuses, grounds and athletic fields — Class E felony with intent to go armed, else Class B misdemeanor for firearms (T.C.A. 39-17-1309) — and in any building where judicial proceedings are in progress, a Class E felony for firearms (39-17-1306). Property properly posted under 39-17-1359 is off-limits (Class B misdemeanor, $500 fine).

PROHIBITED PLACES - WHERE YOU CANNOT CARRY
Tennessee

Tennessee: Carry prohibited in K-12 and college/university buildings, buses, campuses, grounds and athletic fields — Class E felony with intent to go armed, else Class B misdemeanor for firearms (T.C.A. 39-17-1309) — and in any building where judicial proceedings are in progress, a Class E felony for firearms (39-17-1306). Property properly posted under 39-17-1359 is off-limits (Class B misdemeanor, $500 fine).
Authority: Tenn. Code Ann. 39-17-1309 (school property); 39-17-1306 (judicial proceedings); 39-17-1359 (posted property).

Constitutional Carry - No Permit Required

Tennessee allows permitless concealed and open handgun carry (SB 765, eff. July 1, 2021, T.C.A. § 39-17-1307(g)); the statute says 21+ (18+ military), but under the federal agreed judgment in Beeler v. Long (approved March 23, 2023) the state does not enforce the age limit against 18-20-year-olds, who may also obtain permits. Carry remains barred in schools and certain government buildings; in establishments serving alcohol, carry is generally allowed unless posted, but consuming while carrying is a crime. Enhanced and concealed handgun permits remain available for reciprocity.

CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY - NO PERMIT REQUIRED
Tennessee

Tennessee allows permitless concealed and open handgun carry (SB 765, eff. July 1, 2021, T.C.A. § 39-17-1307(g)); the statute says 21+ (18+ military), but under the federal agreed judgment in Beeler v. Long (approved March 23, 2023) the state does not enforce the age limit against 18-20-year-olds, who may also obtain permits. Carry remains barred in schools and certain government buildings; in establishments serving alcohol, carry is generally allowed unless posted, but consuming while carrying is a crime. Enhanced and concealed handgun permits remain available for reciprocity.

Authority: Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1307(g) (SB 765, eff. July 1, 2021: statutory text 21+, 18+ military) as modified in enforcement by the agreed judgment in Beeler v. Long (E.D. Tenn., approved Mar. 23, 2023) lowering the carry/permit age to 18.

Duty to Inform - Show Permit on Demand (Permit Holders)

Tennessee: No duty to volunteer that you are armed; an enhanced handgun carry permit holder relying on the permit must have it in immediate possession and display it on a law enforcement officer's demand (Tenn. Code § 39-17-1351(n)(1)), while carriers relying on Tennessee's 2021 permitless-carry law have no display or notification duty.

DUTY TO INFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT
TENNESSEE

Tennessee: No duty to volunteer that you are armed; an enhanced handgun carry permit holder relying on the permit must have it in immediate possession and display it on a law enforcement officer's demand (Tenn. Code § 39-17-1351(n)(1)), while carriers relying on Tennessee's 2021 permitless-carry law have no display or notification duty.

Authority: Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1351(n)(1) (enhanced handgun carry permit: display on demand); permitless carry under § 39-17-1307(g) carries no display duty.

No Magazine Capacity Limit

Tennessee has no state law limiting firearm magazine capacity.

NO MAGAZINE CAPACITY LIMIT
Tennessee

Tennessee has no state law limiting firearm magazine capacity.

Authority: Negative claim: no Tennessee magazine-capacity statute. Evidence: Giffords complete 14-state survey (fetched, quoted) — Tennessee absent; the rule's own official cite (tn.gov DPS Handgun Related Laws page) fetched — zero magazine/capacity content; TCA itself unfetchable this session (Lexis JS shell, archives 503)..

No Red Flag Law

Tennessee: No red flag (ERPO) law is in effect as of February 2026.

RED FLAG / EXTREME RISK LAW
Tennessee

Tennessee: No red flag (ERPO) law is in effect as of February 2026.

Authority: no extreme-risk (ERPO) statute in the state code as of February 2026; Johns Hopkins National ERPO Resource Center state tracker.

Stand Your Ground - No Duty to Retreat

Tennessee: Stand Your Ground state. No duty to retreat before using force in self-defense anywhere you have a legal right to be.

STAND YOUR GROUND - NO DUTY TO RETREAT
Tennessee

Tennessee: Stand Your Ground state. No duty to retreat before using force in self-defense anywhere you have a legal right to be.
Authority: Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-611(b)(1)-(2).

Vehicle Carry - Loaded Firearms Allowed

Tennessee: Constitutional carry state. Adults may carry loaded firearms in vehicles without permit.

VEHICLE CARRY - LOADED FIREARMS ALLOWED
Tennessee

Tennessee: Constitutional carry state. Adults may carry loaded firearms in vehicles without permit.

Authority: Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1307(e)(1) (2024) - loaded firearms and ammunition in a motor vehicle are excepted from the carry offense for any person not federally/state prohibited who lawfully possesses the vehicle; § 39-17-1307(g) (permitless handgun carry, 21+ or 18+ military).