Keeping a gun in the car

[s.ken]

Do I need a permit to do this in Tennessee? I usually carry a kukri knife in the car with me, but I've been thinking about upgrading to one of my handguns.

Would it be considered a concealed carry situation or is it a completely different classification that I have yet to research?

 

[hirundo82]

A great resource for state-by-state carry laws.

From the page on Tennessee:

RV/Car Carry Without A Permit/License

It is illegal to carry a loaded firearm in any vehicle without a valid Permit/License.

39-17-1307. Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon. —
(a) (1) A person commits an offense who carries with the intent to go armed a firearm, a knife with a blade length exceeding four inches (4), or a club.
(2) (A) The first violation of subdivision (a)(1) is a Class C misdemeanor, and, in addition to possible imprisonment as provided by law, may be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500).
(B) A second or subsequent violation of subdivision (a)(1) is a Class B misdemeanor.

 

[s.ken]

Thanks for the info. Did some research and found a pretty good site also. http://www.tn.gov/safety/handgun/handguntca.htm

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Yes....you need a permit to keep a gun in your car.

 

[smince]

If you are going to have to get a permit, you may as well get the training and actually carry the gun.

I know lot's of people who want a car gun 'just in case', but it may just as well be at home if you can't get to it if needed.

 

[Erik M]

Excellent question and an excellent answer, I visit OPs home state often and while there is mutual reciprocity between CCW permits I never thought to inquire about leaving a weapon in a vehicle (which would only occur during astronomical odds).

 

[Owen Sparks]

In my state your car is concidered an extention of your home and anything that is legal to posess in your home is legal inside your car with the one exception of open containers of alcohol.

 

[NMGonzo]

I am not going to Tennessee

 

[HM2PAC]

Owen Sparks......

Which state do you live in?

 

[chemcat9]

Interesting stuff.

 

[gamestalker]

Don't know about Ten. but in Az. we can carry in any manner we please without a permit.

 

[Seattleimport]

If you are going to have to get a permit, you may as well get the training and actually carry the gun.

I know lot's of people who want a car gun 'just in case', but it may just as well be at home if you can't get to it if needed.

In my state (WA), it's illegal to carry a gun in certain areas, even if you have a permit. For example: schools, courtrooms, bars/anywhere access-restricted by the Liquor Control Board. In these cases, you leave your gun in your car.

 

[smince]

In my state (WA), it's illegal to carry a gun in certain areas, even if you have a permit. For example: schools, courtrooms, bars/anywhere access-restricted by the Liquor Control Board. In these cases, you leave your gun in your car.

I understand that, but that is different than just getting a permit to carry one in the car.

 

[ZeSpectre]

If you are going to have to get a permit, you may as well get the training and actually carry the gun. I know lot's of people who want a car gun 'just in case', but it may just as well be at home if you can't get to it if needed.

+1 on that.
However, if you are going to be in situations where you need to secure your gun (like going to the post office) then I would strongly recommend something at least remotely secure like an automobile gun safe. Cars alone are terrible security containers.

 

[Al Thompson]

Second ZeSpectre on security. I used to have a dedicated car gun, but when I started working at a local gun store, I quit. About once every two weeks some customer came in asking for the serial number of a gun they just had stolen from their ride.

 

[Exmasonite]

only other point to add:

I hate to leave my gun in my car but there have been a instances (Post-office, schools, etc) where i have to leave it in the car. I don't have a dedicated car safe and maybe i'm a bad person for that but if i am in a situation where i may need to leave my gun, i will usually make sure i'm carrying my Bersa .380 or S&W 642 with intergral gun lock so i can disable the gun before locking it in the glove box. Makes me feel SLIGHTLY better that the gun is not easily operational should somebody get their hands on it.

 

[jojo200517]

Don't bother at the post office, you are breaking the law by having it in your vehicle in the parking lot at the post office. The parking lot is property of the USPS and regulations says no weapons on post office property, it makes no difference between carry vs locked in trunk of car or whatever else.

Also, to stick to the topic at hand, I find it a little sad that one must have a CWP to have a loaded firearms in their vehicle in Tennessee. SC allows you to have it in the closed dash or center console loaded with no permit.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Don't bother at the post office, you are breaking the law by having it in your vehicle in the parking lot at the post office.

Yipes, I forgot to mention that. Thanks JoJo.