What defines a "meeting"

[macville]

So in a discussion over at opencarry.org, someone pointed out that the TN Code for posting against weapons (TN 38-17-1359) started out with wording that refers to posting for "meetings". The code is as follows:

39-17-1359. Prohibition at certain meetings — Posting notice. —

39-17-1351 — 39-17-1360, at meetings conducted by, or on property owned, operated, or managed or under the control of the individual, corporation, business entity or government entity. Notice of the prohibition shall be posted. Posted notices shall be displayed in prominent locations, including all entrances primarily used by persons entering the building, portion of the building or buildings where weapon possession is prohibited. If the possession of weapons is also prohibited on the premises of the property as well as within the confines of a building located on the property, the notice shall be posted at all entrances to the premises that are primarily used by persons entering the property. The notice shall be in English but a notice may also be posted in any language used by patrons, customers or persons who frequent the place where weapon possession is prohibited. In addition to the sign, notice may also include the international circle and slash symbolizing the prohibition of the item within the circle. The sign shall be of a size that is plainly visible to the average person entering the building, premises or property and shall contain language substantially similar to the following:

PURSUANT TO § 39-17-1359, THE OWNER/OPERATOR OF THIS PROPERTY HAS BANNED WEAPONS ON THIS PROPERTY, OR WITHIN THIS BUILDING OR THIS PORTION OF THIS BUILDING. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS PROHIBITION IS PUNISHABLE AS A CRIMINAL ACT UNDER STATE LAW AND MAY SUBJECT THE VIOLATOR TO A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500).

( Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter, reduce or eliminate any civil or criminal liability that a property owner or manager may have for injuries arising on their property.

© Any posted notice being used by a local, state or federal governmental entity on July 1, 2000, that is in substantial compliance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section may continue to be used by the governmental entity.

(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to title 70 regarding wildlife laws, rules and regulations.

(e) This section shall not apply to the grounds of any public park, natural area, historic park, nature trail, campground, forest, greenway, waterway or other similar public place that is owned or operated by the state, a county, a municipality or instrumentality thereof. The carrying of firearms in those areas shall be governed by § 39-17-1311.

[Acts 1996, ch. 905, § 11; 2000, ch. 929, § 1; 2009, ch. 428, § 4.]

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So here's a very interesting question.... What defines a "meeting"? Websters defines it as "1 : an act or process of coming together: as a : an assembly for a common purpose (as worship) b : a session of horse or dog racing

2 : a permanent organizational unit of the Society of Friends

3 : intersection, junction"

If you take those definitions of the word, none of them really mean you can post in the way that most of the time buildings/property is posted. A meeting is normally put in place ahead. Even if it wasn't, it still doesn't make sense in how you can post a building considering what the first part of the law says. The way I read it is, if the City Council wanted to ban weapons at their bi-weekly meeting, then that would be legal. However, it doesn't seem like they should be able to ban me going into get my tags renewed because it's not a "meeting" by a dictionary definition.

It would be great to talk to the people who crafted the wording for this law. At least we could get a better idea about what they meant.

Matthew

[ttocswob]

Key word: "or" - everything thereafter, "on property owned," yada yada yada stands on its own, regardless of meetings clause.

JMO - I'm, not a lawyer, don't play one on TV, and haven't stayed at Holiday Inn Express lately.

[Fallguy]

Key word: "or" - everything thereafter, "on property owned," yada yada yada stands on its own, regardless of meetings clause.

JMO - I'm, not a lawyer, don't play one on TV, and haven't stayed at Holiday Inn Express lately.

Yep...got to keep going to the word "or" everything after "or" lets them post the entire property.

The part about meetings means just that....that a meeting could be posted against carry without the location always being posted.

[macville]

I saw the "or", but that doesn't make a ton of sense considering -1359 is labeled as "prohibition at CERTAIN MEETINGS." It seems like if you could ban generally, the code should be labeled as posting property. The language really reads that you can ban the possession of weapons at meetings conducted by a company, or on that company's property. Not that they can ban weapons in general, just only at meetings. It probably was meant the way you all read it, but the wording is very poorly written.

Matthew

[Fallguy]

I think a lot of the firearms laws written at that time are poorly worded, as least reading them now after all these years.

[Guest Muttling]

deleted

Edited December 1, 2009 by Muttling

[Guest HvyMtl]

Yeah, well, if you look at most of the TN code - you will see it is poorly written...

What does the "definition" section of the law define "meetings" as? If there is no definition - it could be considered vague -

But, that is just my 2 cents - not legal advise