2023 Tennessee Code › Title 39 - CRIMINAL OFFENSES (§§ 39-1-101 — 39-17-1812) › Chapter 17 - OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE (§§ 39-17-101 — 39-17-1812) › Part 13 - WEAPONS (§§ 39-17-NEW — 39-17-1366) › Section 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 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.
(C)
A violation of subdivision (a)(1) is a Class A misdemeanor if the person's carrying of a handgun occurred at a place open to the public where one (1) or more persons were present.
(b)
(1)
A person commits an offense who unlawfully possesses a firearm, as defined in §
39-11-106
, and:
(A)
Has been convicted of a felony crime of violence, an attempt to commit a felony crime of violence, or a felony involving use of a deadly weapon; or
(B)
Has been convicted of a felony drug offense.
(2)
An offense under subdivision (b)(1)(A) is a Class B felony.
(3)
An offense under subdivision (b)(1)(B) is a Class C felony.
(c)
(1)
A person commits an offense who possesses a handgun and has been convicted of a felony unless:
(A)
The person has been pardoned for the offense;
(B)
The felony conviction has been expunged; or
(C)
The person's civil rights have been restored pursuant to title 40, chapter 29, and the restoration order does not specifically prohibit the person from possessing firearms.
(2)
An offense under subdivision (c)(1) is a Class E felony.
(d)
(1)
A person commits an offense who possesses a deadly weapon other than a firearm with the intent to employ it during the commission of, attempt to commit, or escape from a dangerous offense as defined in §
39-17-1324
.
(2)
A person commits an offense who possesses any deadly weapon with the intent to employ it during the commission of, attempt to commit, or escape from any offense not defined as a dangerous offense by §
39-17-1324
.
(3)
(A)
Except as provided in subdivision (d)(3)(B), a violation of this subsection (d) is a Class E felony.
(B)
A violation of this subsection (d) is a Class E felony with a maximum fine of six thousand dollars ($6,000), if the deadly weapon is a switchblade knife.
(e)
(1)
It is an exception to the application of subsection (a) that a person is carrying or possessing a firearm, loaded firearm, or firearm ammunition in a motor vehicle or boat if the person:
(A)
Is not prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm by
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)
or purchasing a firearm by §
39-17-1316
; and
(B)
Is in lawful possession of the motor vehicle or boat.
(2)
(A)
As used in this subsection (e):
(i)
"Boat" means any watercraft, other than a seaplane on the water, designed and used primarily for navigation or transportation on the water; and
(ii)
"Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as defined in §
55-1-103
.
(B)
This subsection (e) shall not apply to a motor vehicle or boat that is:
(i)
Owned or leased by a governmental or private entity that has adopted a written policy prohibiting firearms, loaded firearms, or firearm ammunition not required for employment within the motor vehicle or boat; and
(ii)
Provided by such entity to an employee for use during the course of employment.
(f)
(1)
A person commits an offense who possesses a firearm, as defined in §
39-11-106(a)
, and:
(A)
Has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence as defined in
18 U.S.C. § 921
, and is still subject to the disabilities of such a conviction;
(B)
Is, at the time of the possession, subject to an order of protection that fully complies with
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8)
; or
(C)
Is prohibited from possessing a firearm under any other state or federal law.
(2)
If the person is licensed as a federal firearms dealer or a responsible party under a federal firearms license, the determination of whether such an individual possesses firearms that constitute the business inventory under the federal license shall be determined based upon the applicable federal statutes or the rules, regulations and official letters, rulings and publications of the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives.
(3)
For purposes of this section, a person does not possess a firearm, including, but not limited to, firearms registered under the National Firearms Act (
26 U.S.C. § 5801
et seq.), if the firearm is in a safe or similar container that is securely locked and to which the respondent does not have the combination, keys or other means of normal access.
(4)
A violation of subdivision (f)(1) is a Class A misdemeanor and each violation constitutes a separate offense.
(5)
If a violation of subdivision (f)(1) also constitutes a violation of §
36-3-625(h)
or §
39-13-113(h)
, the respondent may be charged and convicted under any or all such sections.
(g)
It is an exception to the application of subsection (a) that a person is carrying, whether openly or concealed, a handgun and:
(1)
(A)
The person is at least twenty-one (21) years of age; or
(B)
The person is at least eighteen (18) years of age and:
(i)
Is an honorably discharged or retired veteran of the United States armed forces;
(ii)
Is an honorably discharged member of the army national guard, the army reserve, the navy reserve, the marine corps reserve, the air national guard, the air force reserve, or the coast guard reserve, who has successfully completed a basic training program; or
(iii)
Is a member of the United States armed forces on active duty status or is a current member of the army national guard, the army reserve, the navy reserve, the marine corps reserve, the air national guard, the air force reserve, or the coast guard reserve, who has successfully completed a basic training program;
(2)
The person lawfully possesses the handgun; and
(3)
The person is in a place where the person is lawfully present.
(h)
(1)
A person commits an offense who carries, with the intent to go armed, a firearm and:
(A)
Has been convicted of stalking as prohibited by §
39-17-315
;
(B)
Has been convicted of the offense of driving under the influence of an intoxicant in this or any other state two (2) or more times within the prior ten (10) years or one (1) time within the prior five (5) years;
(C)
Has been adjudicated as a mental defective, judicially committed to or hospitalized in a mental institution pursuant to title 33, or had a court appoint a conservator for the person by reason of a mental defect; or
(D)
Is otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm by
18 U.S.C. 922(g)
as it existed on January 1, 2021.
(2)
An offense under subdivision (h)(1) is a Class B misdemeanor.
(i)
(1)
A person commits an offense who carries or possesses a firearm and has been adjudicated as a mental defective or judicially committed to a mental institution.
(2)
An offense under subdivision (i)(1) is a Class A misdemeanor.
(j)
(1)
A person under twenty-five (25) years of age who possesses a firearm commits an offense if the person was adjudicated delinquent on or after July 1, 2024, for an act which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted one (1) or more of the following offenses:
(A)
Aggravated assault, as defined in § 39-13-102;
(B)
Aggravated assault against a first responder or nurse, as defined in § 39-13-116;
(C)
A violation of chapter 13, part 2, of this title;
(D)
A violation of chapter 13, part 4, of this title;
(E)
A violation of chapter 13, part 10, of this title;
(F)
Aggravated cruelty to animals, as defined in § 39-14-212;
(G)
A threat of mass violence, as defined in § 39-16-517; or
(H)
A violation of this title involving the use or display of a firearm.
(2)
An offense under subdivision (i)(1) is a Class A misdemeanor.
(3)
This subsection (i) does not apply if a court has reinstated the person's right to possess a firearm pursuant to § 37-1-189(e).
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 973,s 3, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 784,s 19, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 108, Secs.s 1, s 13 eff. 7/1/2021.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 903, s 4, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 903, s 2, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 475, s 1, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 202, s 1, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 870, s 1, eff. 7/1/2014.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 647, s 5, eff. 7/1/2014.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 647, s 4, eff. 7/1/2014.
Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 1990, ch. 1029, § 6; 2007 , ch. 412, § 1; 2007 , ch. 594, § 3; 2008 , ch. 1166, § 1; 2008 , ch. 1176, § 1; 2009 , ch. 431, § 1; 2009 , ch. 455, § 6; 2010 , ch. 793, § 1; 2012 , ch. 726, § 1.