TN laws for transporting guns and ammo?

[JohnC]

I've searched around, but not found what I'm looking for.

I'm trying to figure out what the law is for transporting my guns and ammo in my vehicle on the way to the range.

I want to have my magazines loaded to save time since you only get 2hrs at most ranges.

I just don't know if it is legal to have my magazines all loaded and in a carry bag along with the AR15 in a rifle carry case in my trunk.

So help me out! I don't want to break any laws!

[Alleycat72]

Do you have a HCP?

[JohnC]

Not yet.

[bubbiesdad]

Not yet.

Ammo and guns separated if no HCP. One in the trunk, other in the passenger compartment.

[Guest Victor9er]

Not yet.

Then you need to keep the ammo seperate from the gun and the gun needs to be locked in the trunk. You can keep the magazines loaded in your bag, that's fine. I'd probably keep the range bag with the ammo in the front or back seat and the AR15 in the trunk till you get to the range. If you had your HCP it wouldn't be an issue, as long as the rifle wasn't chambered.

I'm pretty sure that's how it works, someone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

[JohnC]

Cool. At least I can have the magazines loaded! I don't mind separating the gun by having it in the trunk and ammo in the front of the car.

[1pointofview]

Well that won't fly. Unless you are a HCP I think you can only transports from a to b, not intended to stay in your vehicles

[JohnC]

Well that won't fly. Unless you are a HCP I think you can only transports from a to b, not intended to stay in your vehicles

I won't be leaving it in the car, that's for sure!

Just to get it from home to the range.

[Fivestring63]

When you get HCP, you can have magazine inserted, but not have a round chambered.

[monkeylizard]

Sorry, but the mags have to be unloaded.

TCA 39-17-1301 has the definitions. Specifically, para. 18 states:

(18) "Unloaded" means the rifle, shotgun or handgun does not have ammunition in the chamber, cylinder, clip or magazine, and no clip or magazine is in the immediate vicinity of the weapon.

[Guest Nologic]

"with intent to go armed"

No ammo in mags. Seperat from your rifel

[JohnC]

Hmm. That sucks. Glad I decided not to go to the range. I'd had over 200rds of 5.56 loaded in the Magpul 30rd magazines.

Going next week, though. Guess I'll have to unload all these now.

[Oh Shoot]

Hmm. That sucks. Glad I decided not to go to the range. I'd had over 200rds of 5.56 loaded in the Magpul 30rd magazines.

Going next week, though. Guess I'll have to unload all these now. <img src='http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/smirk.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':-' />

The "unloaded" definition is clumsy, really obviously means that the gun has no loaded magazine attached or nearby; no LEO is gonna bust ya for having loaded mags, as long as they are well separated from the firearms like any other ammo.

As long as you obey this exception in 39-17-1307 you're cool. It basically says the same thing as the definition MonkeyLizard posted, just more clearly:

"(2) It is an exception to the application of subsection (a)[unlawful possession] that a person who is not authorized to possess a handgun pursuant to § 39-17-1351 is transporting a rifle or shotgun in or on a privately-owned motor vehicle and the rifle or shotgun does not have ammunition in the chamber or cylinder, and no clip or magazine containing ammunition is inserted in the rifle or shotgun or is in close proximity to both the weapon and any person."

or even more simply, just this alone in 39-17-1308 is fine, which includes handguns.

"(a) It is a defense to the application of § 39-17-1307 [unlawful possession] if the possession or carrying was:

(1) Of an unloaded rifle, shotgun or handgun not concealed on or about the person and the ammunition for the weapon was not in the immediate vicinity of the person or weapon;"

- OS

Edited May 20, 2012 by OhShoot

[JohnC]

The "unloaded" definition is clumsy, really obviously means that the gun has no loaded magazine attached or nearby; no LEO is gonna bust ya for having loaded mags, as long as they are well separated from the firearms like any other ammo.

As long as you obey this exception in 39-17-1307 you're cool. It basically says the same thing as the definition MonkeyLizard posted, just more clearly:

"(2) It is an exception to the application of subsection (a)[unlawful possession] that a person who is not authorized to possess a handgun pursuant to § 39-17-1351 is transporting a rifle or shotgun in or on a privately-owned motor vehicle and the rifle or shotgun does not have ammunition in the chamber or cylinder, and no clip or magazine containing ammunition is inserted in the rifle or shotgun or is in close proximity to both the weapon and any person."

or even more simply, just this alone in 39-17-1308 is fine, which includes handguns.

"(a) It is a defense to the application of § 39-17-1307 [unlawful possession] if the possession or carrying was:

(1) Of an unloaded rifle, shotgun or handgun not concealed on or about the person and the ammunition for the weapon was not in the immediate vicinity of the person or weapon;"

- OS

I see your point, but this law is written so silly that it could almost be interprited either way.

I'm not willing to roll the dice on it just to keep my magazines loaded because you never know which way the cop will decide to interprit the law.

And I don't want to waste the time and money in court trying to defend my freedom.

Thanks for all the help!

[Oh Shoot]

I see your point, but this law is written so silly that it could almost be interprited either way.

I'm not willing to roll the dice on it just to keep my magazines loaded because you never know which way the cop will decide to interprit the law.

And I don't want to waste the time and money in court trying to defend my freedom.

Thanks for all the help!

Well suit yourself, but I can assure you that nobody is gonna bust you for empty mags with the weapon or loaded mags well separated from it.

- OS

[Guest pfries]

OhShoot has it on the money.

Unless you give them a reason to put that on as the charge they will drop.....

[monkeylizard]

I agree with OS. I had forgotten about those other exceptions. An HCP is the best route to go if at all possible. It clears up a lot of these little details, even if you never carry in public. With an HCP, you're good to go with pretty much any configuration of ammo/mags/firearms as long as no round is in the chamber of a long gun while being transported.

[JeffsSig]

So I guess when you transport your ammo and guns from the car to the live range be it in doors or out doors you need to transport ( carry) each separately.

Those parking lot police love to watch for those who dont. So be super careful !!

Edited May 21, 2012 by JeffsSig

[Richard995]

I have a problem with tranporting because I have a Jeep Wrangler. There is no trunk to put the guns in. Hard to seperate them. When I tansport the guns are unloaded and the ammo is in an ammo can. Never been stopped so I don't know if I would get in trouble doing it this way.