State Park Carry Question for you

[piper266]

My family is headed down to Fall Creek Falls S.P. this coming weekend. With all the changes occurring lately, does anyone have some current information on whether I (a carry permit holder) can carry in a Tennessee State Park? Thanks in advance.

[Guest Looney102]

Tennessee State Parks: Policies

[BBill_TN]

Tennessee State Parks: Policies

Firearms, traps and other weapons

Exceptions to weapons prohibition provided below. In park, natural, and historical areas the use of traps, seines, handthrown spears, nets (except landing nets), firearms (including air and gas powered pistols and rifles), blow guns, bows and arrows or crossbows, and any other implements designed to discharge missiles in the air or under the water which are capable of destroying animal life is prohibited. The possession of such objects or implements is prohibited unless they are unloaded and adequately cased, or broken down or otherwise packed in such a way as to prevent their use while in the park areas.

• Exception 1: Shooters may use recreational target shooting ranges available for skeet, trap and bow and arrow target shooting within a park area as long as these weapons are properly cased when not on the range.
  
• Exception 2: Authorized Federal, State, County and City law enforcement officers may carry firearms in the performance of their official duties.
  
• Exception 3: Persons using park area facilities while participating in authorized open or managed hunts within the park areas or beyond, may use and possess firearms under the specific rules and regulations pertaining to the authorized hunt and only in the authorized hunting zones or compartments.
  
• Exception 4: While State Parks' rules and regulations prohibit firearm possession and use, Public Chapter 428 of 2009 created an exception in state firearms law that allows individuals with a valid "carry permit" under TCA § 39-17-1351 to carry a handgun within the boundaries of all state parks. While this new law makes an exception for possession, it does not make exception to the use of a firearm. Discharging a weapon in non-designated areas of our parks is still an offense. If a permit holder fires a weapon in self-defense, the holder bears the burden of proof to avoid potential charges under "prohibited firearm use."
  

[Guest Looney102]

Removed for better paste above.

[BBill_TN]

Tennessee State Parks: Policies

I wasn't quite fast enough....lol.

[Guest Looney102]

:-D

[piper266]

There you have it. Thanks.

[Fire/hunting guy]

So basically you can carry, but you might get in trouble if you had to defend yourself????

[Oh Shoot]

So basically you can carry, but you might get in trouble if you had to defend yourself????

Yep, same as anywhere else.

- OS

[Fallguy]

Yep, same as anywhere else.

- OS

Yep....most cities have an ordnance that prohibits the discharge of a weapon within the city limits. None of them I've seen make an exception for one fired in self-defense. Of course I've never heard of anyone charged with a violation of an ordnance like that either, if it was a self-defense situation.

I imagine what the park is trying to say is....if they hear a gun shot, you simply saying there was a wild animal that scared me, so I shot at it, may not be enough to justify discharging the firearm.

[VolunteerGuns]

It seems that virtually all weapons laws have "justified self defense use" built in as a defense to most any offense.??

I've noticed the "You cant carry here lawfully, BUT if you have to defend yourself or someone else, its all good. You have a defense to the weapons charge as long as it is a justified defensive shoot."

[Fallguy]

It seems that virtually all weapons laws have "justified self defense use" built in as a defense to most any offense.??

I've noticed the "You cant carry here lawfully, BUT if you have to defend yourself or someone else, its all good. You have a defense to the weapons charge as long as it is a justified defensive shoot."

I agree, whether it is expressly mentioned as in 39-17-1322 or implied/understood as in most city ordnances.

I just figure the park wants to make sure you know that you may have to prove to them it was fired in a self-defense situation.