Handgun on school property

[JayC]

FWIW

I can not find a case on the TN Courts website that specifically deals with this.

Also I think there was a bill introduced to clarify this, but I believe Rep West was the sponsor and it was one of the bills delayed because of his health.

A simple solution to this, parks, employer's parking lots and so on, would be to simply make the possession of weapon in your car the same as being in your home.

There is a case on point... Just settled this year with the two dads, one pulling a knife and the other placing his holstered handgun on the dash of his vehicle scaring away the knife holding father.

The HCP holder was charged and convicted because he handled his firearm while on school property, if he had pulled the handgun from the holster he would have not have been guilty of any offense under TN law according the the judges ruling, but because he handled the firearm but did not use it in self defense he was in violation of the law.

This case is exactly on point because the HCP holder was on school property to watch his son during a sporting event, and left his firearm in his car. The judges ruling clearly stated that his only violation was for handling the gun on school property while not using it for self defense. He was not charged for having it in his vehicle and not handling it.

Fall guy is right, you are allowed to leave you handgun in your vehicle as long as it's not 'handled' while on the school property.

[Guest TN45]

What about driving thru a school zone? Is that considered school property or a special speed zone?

Mike

[dralarms]

What about driving thru a school zone? Is that considered school property or a special speed zone?

Mike

Nope, public road. You can even drive through the school parking lot with it on your hip, just don't touch it or get out of the car.

[Guest marionandjohn]

I think I will throw my 2 cents in weather its good or bad i'll let yall judge. Remember I visit Clarksville frequently and consider that home. Here in GA your not allowed to have a firearm on school property UNLESS you have a permit and you dont handle it (except for self defense) however it is only for picking up and dropping of your kids and yes you can acctually walk to the office to pick up your kids. as for your car in GA no matter where your car is it is ALWAYS personal property period. No permit required for your car. When you were asking about the school speed zone GA has a 1000 yrd safety zone around any school property. Does TN have a "safety zone"? And just so I can make sure I have read everything right as long as I dont handle my weapon (on TN school property) and I am in my vehicle or my weapon is in my vehicle I am good? So now I figured everyone can write in and say that GA has nothing to do with TN but TN is starting to mirror GA handgun laws, my point in fact is the restraunt carry, park carry. Just my 2 cents and it could all be alot more clear if you just moved to GA.

[Guest Muttling]

Does TN have a "safety zone"? And just so I can make sure I have read everything right as long as I dont handle my weapon (on TN school property) and I am in my vehicle or my weapon is in my vehicle I am good?

We don't have a safety zone per se. Instead, we have a rule that says you can carry your weapon in your car so long as you are dropping off or picking up.

There is some debate as to whether or not that means you can leave it in a parked car untouched, but the rules are pretty simple for dropping off or picking up your kid. You're o'k to have it as long as you have a permit and it stays in the car/ untouched.

Driving through a school zone is a non-issue. Public roads are public roads and not school property. The school zone is a special speed limit and nothing more.

Just my 2 cents and it could all be alot more clear if you just moved to GA.

Come to Tennessee..... a.k.a. The Land of Confusion.

[Guest marionandjohn]

I am aware as to how confusing TN is I was born and raised there in clarksville and still visit frequently. I will acctually be taking the TN HCP class in decemberish. GA has a law that exempts active military from needing a permit and some of the permit regulations, with that the only reason I have a GA permit is to carry in TN. I am a resident of TN so that is covered.

[Machman]

I am aware as to how confusing TN is I was born and raised there in clarksville and still visit frequently. I will acctually be taking the TN HCP class in decemberish. GA has a law that exempts active military from needing a permit and some of the permit regulations, with that the only reason I have a GA permit is to carry in TN. I am a resident of TN so that is covered.

If you're military and have gone through handgun qualification / training in the last 5 years, then TN will at least let you skip the HCP class:

• Effective July 1, 2005, Tennessee handgun carry permit law will now allow certain applicants already exempt from complying with firing range provisions of the current statute to also be exempt from any classroom requirements. Those current exceptions are applicants who prove to the department that within five (5) years from the date of application for handgun permit, the applicant has:
  
  1. Been certified by the police officer's standards and training commission, or
     
  2. successfully completed training at the law enforcement training academy; or
     
  3. successfully completed the firearms training course required for armed security guards; or
     
  4. successfully completed all handgun training of not less than four (4) hours as required by any branch of the military.