Tennessee... open carry or not?

[tbmccord]

I spent the first 31 years of my life in Tennessee but left for a career in the Semiconductor industry in 1989. I have read that Tennessee is an open or concealed carry state. My brother and father have always considered it an open carry state. However, on vacation last year, I approached a Wilson county police officer and asked his opinion. His comment was: "I better not see it out in the open."

Anyone have a source in Tennessee law that spells this out one way or another? I am more familiar with Texas law having lived here for quite a while.

[Dogman]

Just because a police officer says something like that, don't take it as the law. It may well be his opinion or what he believes to be the law, do some research on Tennessee hangun law and find out what the law is, you might contact the Tenn. AG.
Most people would be surprised at the number of PO's that are mistaken on the handgun laws in their states.

[junglebob]

Just because a police officer says something like that, don't take it as the law. It may well be his opinion or what he believes to be the law, do some research on Tennessee hangun law and find out what the law is, you might contact the Tenn. AG.
Most people would be surprised at the number of PO's that are mistaken on the handgun laws in their states.

Right you are Dogman. Just another case of an ignorant or firearm biased cop. They say in Illinois ask 10 cops how to legally transport a firearm and you'll get 11 different answers because one will change his answer half way through. I see there are ignorant Tennessee cops as well. For questions on open carry go to opencarry.org which has answers to questions about individual states open carry laws. Their travelers map section is neat, called the Unlicensed Travelers Map, it tells you if no license is required, can carry loaded in glove box, can carry with license. In the case of Tennessee open carry is OK with LTC. There is even an opinion letter from the State Attorney General that you could download print and wave in the face of that cop while you open carry. Of course I'm not recommending that and as they say "your results may vary". Here is the URL for the Tennessee section of the website and a link to the AG letter. www.opencarry.org/tn.html You can find a forum at open carry for Tennessee and other states, even Illinois, which only allows it in rural unincorporated areas, with no ordinance against it and even then not in a vehicle.

Going to the forum for your state will give you a good idea where open carry is readily accepted and where you may be harassed or possibly arrested for disorderly conduct should you run in to the anti rights LEO who doesn't like it even though it is legal.

I found a interesting account on the Wisconsin forum. Wisconsin allows open carry in cities as well as rural areas. It is uncommon there though, lived there 30 years and don't recall seeing it. The account on the Wisconsin forum mentions a man arrested while open carrying on his own property in Milwaukee while planting a tree in his yard. Even Illinois allows you to open or conceal carry on your own property, and I always thought Wisconsin slightly more firearms friendly. I'm guessing he will win the court case and hopefully sue the city of Milwaukee and get a tidey settlement.

[tbmccord]

Thanks Dogman and Junglebob. Now my only concern is that most of the language refers to a state issued license. Tennessee recognizes my Texas concealed carry license. I would assume that since they recognize it, they would treat it like their own permit. But is that a safe assumption? ;)

[tbmccord]

I found a "contact us" on the http://www.state.tn.us/safety/ web site so I wrote to them to see if my Texas permit is treated exactly like a Tennessee permit or if there were any exceptions I needed to know about. I sent a link to http://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/op/2005/OP/OP154.pdf so they would know I am referring to open carry issues. We will see what the Tennessee state government has to say in regards to my concerns.

[Dogman]

I found a "contact us" on the http://www.state.tn.us/safety/ web site so I wrote to them to see if my Texas permit is treated exactly like a Tennessee permit or if there were any exceptions I needed to know about. I sent a link to http://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/op/2005/OP/OP154.pdf so they would know I am referring to open carry issues. We will see what the Tennessee state government has to say in regards to my concerns.

Your Texas permit should be treated just like a Tenn. permit, but you have to follow Tenn. law while in Tenn.

[junglebob]

Your Texas permit should be treated just like a Tenn. permit, but you have to follow Tenn. law while in Tenn.

That goes for every other state as well, they may recognize you LTC but you should be aware that their restrictions such as where you can't carry, duty to notify LEOs you have a LTC during a traffic stop, and areas carry is prohibited may be different than your state. Speaking of such there was a woman last year found carrying a handgun in the Sears tower in Chicago last year. She had a LTC, I believe from Tennessee, and she wasn't arrested and charged, just allowed to go home. She said she didn't know here LTC wasn't good in Illinois. So even in this "right denied state" you are sometimes given some slack with a LTC. I think she was a grandmother, that might help. Beware your results may vary.

[tbmccord]

Just noticed your signature. I lived in Jarrell up until about 6 months ago. My wife and I took frequent trips to the area around Ft. Hood.

[tbmccord]

I found a "contact us" on the http://www.state.tn.us/safety/ web site...

So far, I have received a response that stated: "We are directing this to the appropriate area. You will be receiving a reply shortly."

I guess that "shortly" for the government means sometime within the given year. :mad:

[tbmccord]

Junglebob wrote: Just another case of an ignorant or firearm biased cop.

... or an ignorant or firearm biased department. That same cop told me that when he is out of uniform, he is required to carry his firearm but in a concealed fashion. He expressed to me: "If I gotta... you gotta!" You have to understand though that this came from Wilson county. This is the county where the police average 350 lb. and the sheep are scared. :lmfao:

I can say this because I grew up in Hermitage which is just inside the Davidson county line about 1 mile from Wilson county. My girlfriend in 1976 was the niece of the Wilson Co. Sheriff. He didn't care too much for that "Davidson Co Boy" dating his niece. I have the utmost respect for Police officers. I was named after Tommy Elder, a Metropolitan Davidson County (Nashville) Police Officer. What Wilson County has is a far stretch from being police officers... at least back then. :thumbsup:

[In10city]

What Wilson County has is a far stretch from being police officers... at least back then.

Didn't seem much different up to 1989 in my experiance.