Warning: it is NOT legal to have a gun in a vehicle on school property in TN

[Tangle]

This is so important, I wanted to post this separately from the other post I started on the subject, because many believe, as I myself did that Part C, discussed in the other thread allows a person to carry a gun in a vehicle on school property. Here is John Harris's reponse to my post about this on the TFA website:

"The entire school grounds issue is poorly written and we have been trying to change it now for 15 years.

The problem arises under the distinction(s) if any between 39-17-1309 subsections B and C. B is almost always applied by law enforcement and DA's to bolster the position that knowing possession on school grounds, even in a car, is a felony. C has, in my experience, only been used when a firearm is discovered in a vehicle and law enforcement believes that at the time the driver was unaware that it was in the vehicle."

This has some serious implications. One is it may mean that even if you have an unloaded gun in the trunk, you are still knowingly bringing a gun on school property.

So contrary to what logic and reason may imply and how part C reads to you, it is illegal to knowingly carry a gun in a vehicle on school property in Tennessee.

John is an attorney, a CCW instructor, and unfortunately for some of us, knows how the law is being applied.

Well there MAY be one exception: if you are delivering or picking up, it would appear that you can have a gun in the car. But be aware, it may have to be in an 'unreachable' location, such as the trunk or else it may be considered 'in possession of' or some other ambiguous interpretation.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[mousehunter]

It is important to know - because quite often your vehicle will be on school property if you have to pick up your kids.

Texas Law is similar for non-chl holders. For permit holders property was redefined to include only structures (not the road and parking lots)

[Janq]

The only state that I am aware of that specifically addressed and expressly _allows_ this type of action by non-LEO civilians toward firearms in specific be they kept or carried on person or within their vehicle is Virginia.

- Janq

[mlr1m]

You need to ask your reps to allow an exception like we in Okla have. You may carry in your car while picking your children up from school. You must remain in your car.

Michael

[Tangle]

Mlr1m,
We do have that exception.

The problem is say you had to travel 100 miles to attend a school event, say a baseball game, and hence you would have to leave your car. You would either have to travel 100 miles (200 round trip) unarmed because you can't knowingly have a gun unloaded and locked in the trunk of your car and drive your car on school property.

The only other choice is to carry a gun with you on the trip and break the law when you get to the school. Of course one option would be to try to park off school property and walk to the event - unarmed of course.