Tennessee’s permitless handgun carry law goes into effect tomorrow (July 1, 2021).

Despite the TBI and the Tennessee Sheriff’s Associations opposition to his legislation that would end gun permits in Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee told a recent gathering from the National Rifle Association this new law would “make Tennessee safer.”

The Volunteer State will become the 19th state in the nation for permitless handgun carry.

The new law allows a citizen to open or conceal carry a handgun without a permit if the person is at least 21 years of age and older (or 18 and up if currently serving in the military). It does not apply to long firearms like rifles or shotguns.

However, it does not apply to adults in the state including those:

• Individuals convicted of a felony in court
• A fugitive from justice
• Individuals adjudicated as a mental defective or who has been committed to a mental institution
• illegally or unlawfully in the United States
• under a court order for harassing, stalking or threatening an individual.
• Citizens convicted in any court of domestic violence
• Citizens under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Citizens recently convicted of DUI’s

The same new law also addresses other areas regarding firearms:

• The theft of a firearm will now be a felony as of July 1, 2021.
• It provides a sentencing enhancement for theft of a firearm in a car; increasing the minimum time served in jail for theft of a firearm from 30 days to 180 days.
• It increases the penalties for unlawful possession of a firearm by violent felons and felony drug offenders, possession of a handgun by a felon, and unlawfully providing a handgun to a juvenile or allowing a juvenile to possess a handgun.
• An individual or business may prohibit or restrict weapons by posting specific signage at the entrances of their establishment. If an armed individual disregards the sign and enters, they could be charged with a criminal offense.
• Permits, either enhanced or concealed, are still required to carry at public parks, greenways, nature trails, etc.
• Firearms remain prohibited on school property unless for very specific purposes.