carry at a polling place?

[Guest kwikrnu]

I have asked this before and searched the lexisnexis for code, but have not found an answer. Can I carry in a polling place on election day? I know I can't if the polling place happens to be a government office or school or something. What if the polling place is a church that is not posted?

[Fallguy]

I have asked this before and searched the lexisnexis for code, but have not found an answer. Can I carry in a polling place on election day? I know I can't if the polling place happens to be a government office or school or something. What if the polling place is a church that is not posted?

There is no law in TN against carry at a polling place, unless it is at a school. If it is at a church or even government office you can unless the property is posted per 39-17-1359.

[Mike.357]

what abotu a park district building? Yanno the kind of building at a little league complex? thats where our early voting poll was. I had my rig on and did not think of it until after I was leaving. Concealed was concealed this time though.

[Fallguy]

Let me clarify a polling place is not off limits by the simple fact it is a polling place. It may be off-limits if it is in a place that is otherwise off-limits by law, such as a school as in the OP's post.

If the park district building is on the grounds of a public park owned by the city/county government, then yes it was off-limits, but not because it was a polling place.

[Marswolf]

God, we have had this question so many times.

Voldemort, I'm not really getting after you, but if you have searched TCA and not found a provision proscribing it, then why still think that there is one? And why ignore the fact that most government buildings are also not in the code? The way law works is that if it doesn't say you can't do something, then you can do it.

Sorry, this just seems to come up twice a week.

[Guest 270win]

TN is a pretty easy state to deal with, compared to states like Arkansas or Mississippi that have long lists of 'off limits' locations.

1. School property - Felony, if intend to go armed, Misdemeanor for possession, though there are exceptions.

2. Inside the confines of a building where alcohol served - Misdemeanor.

3. Courtroom during judicial proceeding - felony.

4. Legal signed locations (specifically worded) - misdemeanor.

It is debatable if you can carry in a park, rec area, or playground. The TN attorney general thinks it is not legal, but many lawyers think otherwise. There is also a vague misdemeanor violation for carrying in areas inhabited by big game, which is generally a wildlife management area. You can get around that by having a hunting license and carry what is legal for in season game. I have a 22 pistol for the purpose because there are some small game with year round seasons.