Urgent, help with TN gun laws

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JBrady555

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Hello all I have some urgent questions about TN's gun laws. Here is my backstory for this post. I travel for work and right now I'm in Kingsport, TN. We come up here about 5 times a year and I always go to a nice gun range on our off days. This trip since I knew we had sundays off I decided to bring plenty of firearms for the range. Between my wife and I, we brought a AR, AK, two 9mm pistols, and a 22lr pistol. The 22lr, and both rifles are kept unloaded at all times but the two 9mm's usually(in our state at least) stay loaded for personal defense. We don't have our concealed carry but in FL we still are allowed to keep a loaded weapon in the center console.

Well today was our first day at work and I arrive to find out from the boss that one of our foremen has wound up in jail. He got pulled over for a out tail light and the officer asked him if he had any weapons. My coworker told the officer yes and that the gun was in the center console. The officer then asked if the gun was loaded and the person told the officer "yes". He was then arrested for an apparent violation of the law. I don't know all the details besides that. The guy doesn't drink or do drugs so before anyone tries to say that there must have been an additional violation, there wasn't. He just didn't know anything about TN gun laws, and honestly I don't either. Apparently the guy tried to tell the cop that he had a NC gun permit but it didn't help him from being jailed.

So now that I have heard this news I am scared to death that I may be in violation of some TN gun laws. I really don't need anyone to help analyze why my co worker got in trouble. I just really need someone from TN to help me understand the state gun laws here so that my wife or myself doesn't get into any trouble. We are not criminals. Layman explanations of the laws here would really be helpful.

Here is some information on our living situation to help you understand whether or not I'm in danger of violation the gun laws here. We stay in a motel here in Kingsport. While I'm at work my wife stays at the hotel. My two rifles are in the room unloaded, along with the 22lr. They stay wraped in a blanket in a motel drawer. Both 9mm's are kept loaded in the room for my wife's personal defense. When we travel both 9mm's are put in our center console of the truck loaded(per my states gun laws), I now understand I can't do that. Is there no way that a non carry permit person can defend themselves in their vehicle in the state of TN? Can I have loaded mags seperated from my gun in the vehicle? Are we violating any laws from the way we keep our guns in the motel room? How can I safely get my firearms and ammo to the gun range without violating state laws?

We really need some information here on anything related to guns in the state of TN that we may encounter while we are here. Thanks for any info. I'm tired and rushing this post so I wouldn't doubt that some of what I said might not make any sense but please help in any way that you can.

Josh
 
When in doubt put all guns in the trunk cased and locked if possible and stored separately from any ammo. This isn't a TN state law thing, but its a very good idea unless you the know specific statues for traveling with guns in the area. Tennessee is a pretty pro gun state, but most states still frown upon having accessible loaded guns in the cab without a permit.
 
I suspect all the greef was due to no carry permit. It is legal to carry a loaded handgun inside you vehicle if you have a HCP or have a handgun/concealed carry permit that is accepted in TN from another state. Can't say for sure about a non-resident permit in TN without looking up the regs.

Loaded long guns are illegal inside a vehicle on a public road.

FL and TN have reciprocity. You should be fine with the handguns if you have the FL carry permit. Also in TN you do not have to declare that you have firearms unless asked by law enforcement.

The motel is you home and you're perfectly legal there.
 
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22-rimfire said:
I suspect all the greef was due to no carry permit. It is legal to carry a loaded handgun inside you vehicle if you have a HCP. Loaded long guns are illegal inside a vehicle on a public road.

FL and TN have reciprocity. You should be fine with the handguns. Also in TN you do not have to declare that you have firearms unless asked by law enforcement.

The motel is you home and you're perfectly legal there.
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So your saying that loaded firearms in our room is completely legal without any kind of permit right?
 
Yes, it is your "home" and a loaded firearm inside your home or place of business is perfectly legal without a permit. In place of business, that usually refers to the owners or employees with permission without a permit.

I added a couple edits for clarification on my previous post.

IF you have a valid FL permit, the loaded mags can be in the gun (handgun only). I would keep rifles unloaded and ammunition separate and out of reach. Just put the loaded rifle mags in the trunk. I place them in the tool box of my pickup.
 
22-rimfire. I think the law was changed about carry of long guns IF you have a carry permit see attached if one is not chambered it's ok to be loaded.

39-17-1307, Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon.
(e) It is an exception to the application of this section that a person authorized to carry a handgun pursuant to § 39-17-1351, is transporting a rifle or shotgun in or on a privately-owned motor vehicle, and the rifle or shotgun does not have ammunition in the chamber. However, such a person does not violate this section by inserting ammunition into the chamber if the ammunition is inserted for purposes of justifiable self-defense pursuant to §§ 39-11-611 or 39-11-612.
In this case it would not apply! However.
 
IF you do not have a FL or TN permit, you may not carry a loaded handgun in your vehicle period. Magazines and ammunition have to be separate from the firearms. Preferrably that would me the guns are in the back seat and ammo is in the trunk.

I could have sworn that you said you had a FL carry permit in your initial post.

We don't have our concealed carry but in FL we still are allowed to keep a loaded weapon in the center console.
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My mistake. I believe that was a change in FL law relatively recently where the private auto is an extension of your home. That is NOT the case in TN.

Interesting about "one in the chamber"... not sure there.
 
Can I have loaded mags in the car though? I would hate to be robbed at a stop light without even a chance to get my gun loaded in tn.
 
I do not have a florida permit
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And the homework assignment for this month is... :)

Can I have loaded mags in the car though?
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The NRA-ILA site on TN says this:
1. A handgun is unloaded if there is not a cartridge in the chamber of the handgun; there is not a cartridge in the cylinder of the handgun if the handgun is a revolver, or the handgun and the ammunition for such handgun, are not carried on the minor, or are not in such close proximity that the minor could readily gain access to the handgun and ammunition and load the handgun. Otherwise, a firearm is unloaded if there is no ammunition in the chamber, clip or magazine, and no clip or magazine is in the immediate vicinity of the firearm.
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You really don't want to play games with what "in the vicinity of" means to an officer. And besides, it says "AND", not "OR." Having loaded mags would seem to be a danger. (That permit to carry is looking pretty good right about now, eh? :))

I would hate to be robbed at a stop light without even a chance to get my gun loaded in tn.
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Let's take a moment to reiterate one of our common THR themes: Having a firearm handy is the VERY LAST resort, not the first. There are many things you can do to greatly reduce your chances of being robbed at a stop light, and they start with how you drive and how far ahead you're planning your moves while you drive. If you plan well your position in traffic and drive to maximize your options you can avoid the majority of instances where you might be targeted this way. And in the end, your vehicle is a far more powerful weapon than your firearm. And it avoids that whole embarrassing, "Gee, excuse me while I load my gun," conversation. :)

Good luck with the permit process!
 
I'm a bit confused, the OP says the guy that was arrested had a NC permit. If that is the case I don't get it, TN has reciprocity with NC so I don't get the problem here?
I drove through part on TN today carrying on my belt with a FL permit. I'd really like to hear the rest of this story.
 
JBrady555 said:
Can I have loaded mags in the car though? I would hate to be robbed at a stop light without even a chance to get my gun loaded in tn.
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No. You can't have loaded magazines accessible to you or your passengers. The magazines and all ammo need to be in the trunk or if you don't have a trunk in a locked box. When I lived in TN I only had hatchbacks so the gun had to go in a locked case and the ammo in a separate locked ammo box.
 
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Looks like you need to get in gear and take the handgun carry class and get your permit. Total cost runs around $150 if you include the class (less ammo), finger printing, background check and fee for the permit. Prices have dropped a bit on the class in my area. I suspect that supply has caught up with demand or nearly so.

But I guess you need to decide where you are going to live first. You could choose Bristol VA. I like Kingsport and Johnson City or one of the more rural towns. Used to go to Kingsport frequently to visit a little "civilization" when I lived in Eastern KY. After a while, I didn't want to leave Eastern KY.

Sam's quote fits my view of "loaded".

You really need to pay attention to the carry laws and carrying a loaded handgun in your vehicle. You get stopped and if LEO is suspicious, you could loose your gun rights for life. Just not worth it to not get the HCP permit.

Kingsport is a pretty peaceful place. I wouldn't be particularly concerned about feeling safe while you are inside your vehicle. Get some pepper spray (or similar) for the time being and keep it inside you car.
 
flphotog said:
I'm a bit confused, the OP says the guy that was arrested had a NC permit. If that is the case I don't get it, TN has reciprocity with NC so I don't get the problem here?
I drove through part on TN today carrying on my belt with a FL permit. I'd really like to hear the rest of this story.
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Yea me too. He will be at work tomorrow, I'll get the scoop and follow up with y'all tomorrow evening.
 
Get your permit. Surprised the cop didn't just tell him about the law and make him put it in the trunk. My guess would be local small town cop or state trooper.
 
There's more going on with the arrest than we are being told. That's pretty much a certainty.
 
Is there a reason that the OP has not pursued a CCW permit in Fla? To me, anyone who routinely has weapons in their possession, should have a permit just to cover the fine print in the states where they travel. Cost is minimal and time commitment is only a few hours of study and a day or two in a class. I always take the time to check out the states on my travel plan to make sure my Ky permit is accepted. Am currently traveling in Colorado and passed thru many other states getting out here. Was even legal as a non resident when I passed thru Ill.
 
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