Tenn CCW question

[Hogfan1911]

Need some help from my bretheren to the east......will be travelling to TN this weekend. I know that my AR permit is honored there, but that's about the only useful info I could get from the official state gov website. I have 2 main questions: can I carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol, like here in AR? And is CCW permitted at the Memphis Zoo? Weapons were not on the "prohibited" list on their website, but is there a sign or anything at the entrance prohibiting CCW? Thanks in advance.

p.s. I would like to apologize in advance, on behalf of all Arkies, for the 250 total yards and 3 touchdowns Darren McFadden is going to inflict on your beloved Vols this November. You'll probably still win the game, though, so don't feel too bad.

 

[Seminole]

You cannot legally carry where alcohol is served. Note that you can carry where alcohol is sold (e.g. a grocery store), but not where it is served (e.g. a bar or a restaurant that serves beer, wine, etc.). Carrying in such places is a class A misdemeanor punishable, if I remember correctly, by a substantial fine and possible imprisonment up to a month.

You also cannot legally carry "in or on the grounds of any public park, playground, civic center or other building facility, area or property owned, used or operated by any municipal, county or state government, or instrumentality thereof, for recreational purposes." I don't believe the Memphis Zoo is owned by the city of Memphis, so that wouldn't constitute a problem unless it has a sign prohibiting the carrying of a pistol (it needs to have pretty specific wording--a "ghostbuster's" sign with a pistol in the middle doesn't cut it) and I've never seen a sign prohibiting carrying at the Memphis zoo. Whatever you do, don't ask anyone at the zoo about it specifically, as it might well ruin things for those of us who visit the zoo on a regular basis!

I'm not a UT fan, so welcome to Memphis! Enjoy your visit. It is a wonderful zoo. My advice is to keep it concealed and don't worry about it.

 

[hso]

No Firearms where Alcohol is served/consumed on premises in TN (yet).

Email/call the zoo and ask if it's posted as a no-firearms area.

 

[Seminole]

Please DO NOT contact the zoo and ask whether it is posted as a no-carry zone. Doing so can make those in charge of unposted places think, "Gee--I never thought about it before, but we should post such a sign so that people can't bring guns in here!" This can be really bad for those of us who live in places where such signs have the force of law.

If a place isn't posted, then we ought to leave well enough alone and just carry concealed as we are legally entitled to do.

Edited to add: As I posted above, I've never seen a sign prohibiting carrying at the Memphis zoo.

 

[Hogfan1911]

Thanks for the info. Kinda surprised y'all don't have CCW in restaurants that serve alcohol yet. Keep at it on that one. It passed here more easily than I thought it would, especially since they included a segment that any establishment that did not want to allow it could simply post a sign saying so. Of course, now that means I have to keep a list of places not to eat...... But I only know of a couple so far, so I guess I can't complain.
edited to add: Don't worry, I won't ask the zoo if they have a policy. I'll just look for a sign, and take the chance I might have to make the walk back to the car before entering.

 

[Ala Dan]

I carry in the Volunteer State, all the time; but I do not do so where
prohibited by legislative acts, or owner's request.

Yes, McFadden just might be the best running back of the upcoming '07
season; but the game is in Knoxville this year my friend, and as you most
likely know things are quite a bit different in VOL LAND~!

 

[Hogfan1911]

Update

Well, guess what. The zoo does in fact have a no-firearms policy. It's one of the prohibited items listed on a sign at the entrance. Would be nice if they added it to the list of prohibited items on their website, would've saved me a trip back to the truck to dis-arm:banghead:. Oh well, other than that, the trip went great.
I don't know, Ala Dan, after hearing about UT's performance vs Cal, I'm starting to think you might not be able to see much of those orange & white checkered endzones because they'll be full of red & white clad Razorbacks all day.