John Banks
New member
I am a permit holder in Tennessee, is it legal for me to leave my pistol in a locked car on a public school campus?
I am new to TN and have my carry permit. I work at a public school and do not want to break the law. My question is if I leave my pistol locked in my car while on campus at work would I be breaking the law? I have read that law posted front and back but it doesn't plainly say. One section sounds like I can then the next sounds like I can't
I would suggest you consult a lawyer.
Since you didn't specify the type of school, you may also be interested in SB 2376, which hasn't been signed by our Governor yet.
I am letting SB 2376 become law without my signature. I have long stated a preference for systems and institutions to be able to make their own decisions regarding security issues on campus, and I again expressed this concern throughout the legislative process this year. Although SB 2376 does not go as far as I would like in retaining campus control, the final version of the bill included input from higher education and was shaped to accommodate some of their concerns.
Ultimately, this legislation was tailored to apply to certain employees in specific situations, it provides protection from liability for the institutions, and it requires notification of law enforcement before carrying on campus. I hope that as a state we will monitor the impact of this new law and listen to the feedback of higher education leaders responsible for operationalizing it.
Thanks for keeping me in the loop. I wonder how this will affect public school like high schools etc. I just want to be able to leave my pistol in my car while at work at a high school.
I would not trust that to keep you legal. TCA 39-17-1309 (c) (1) (B) does not allow you to "have" a firearm in your vehicle at school. It allows you to "possess" one in your vehicle, and those are two very different things in the eyes of the law. Possessing assumes that you are present, where having does not necessarily. You should follow the advice to consult an attorney.Well, SB 2376 permits full-time employees of state public colleges or universities to carry a handgun while on property owned, operated, or used by the employing college or university if the employee has a valid Tennessee handgun carry permit. SB 1991, which was also enacted this year, prohibits public postsecondary institutions from taking any adverse action against an employee or student solely for such person's lawful transportation and storage of a firearm or ammunition in the person's parked motor vehicle. Both of these do no apply to primary or secondary education institutions.
The way I read the existing Tennessee Code, anyone with a Tennessee Handgun Permit can have a firearm in his/her private vehicle while operating the vehicle and while the vehicle is on school property (TCA 39-17-1309 (c) (1) (B)). Also, anyone with a Tennessee Handgun Permit can have a firearm stored in his/her private vehicle while on or utilizing any public or private parking area (TCA 39-17-1313). In your case, you have to figure out if TCA 39-17-1309 (c) (1) (B) and TCA 39-17-1313 give you enough legal coverage for not committing a crime. In any case, if your school has a policy against having guns on school grounds, you still can get fired over it without facing criminal charges.
I would wait until the code has been updated and then consult a lawyer. Also, you always can park off-campus on a public road or parking lot and walk the rest to you school.