Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, deletes the offense of carrying a firearm or a club with the intent to go armed, prohibits the carrying of a firearm or weapon inside of a K-12 public or private school and on a school bus if the person's intent is to go armed and the school and the bus are posted in a certain manner; deletes the offense of carrying a firearm on the property of a university, college campus, and other public or private non-K-12 educational institutions or property; rewrites the offense of possessing a handgun while under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance or controlled substance analogue; rewrites the offense of carrying weapons during judicial proceedings; makes various other changes related to firearms. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 55 and Title 65.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Monty Fritts

Tennessee bill eliminates firearm carrying prohibitions on campuses and in schools, expanding where guns can be legally carried while rewriting related offense definitions.

Sponsor(s) Added.

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Legislative bill overview

HB 2514 significantly liberalizes Tennessee's firearms laws by eliminating several existing criminal offenses related to firearm possession and carrying. The bill removes prohibitions on carrying firearms on college campuses and university property, eliminates the "intent to go armed" offense, and modifies restrictions on carrying weapons in courthouses and during judicial proceedings.

Why is this important

These changes would substantially expand where and how firearms can be legally carried in Tennessee, affecting public safety policies at educational institutions and courthouses—traditionally designated as sensitive locations. The bill also rewrites penalties for carrying firearms while impaired, potentially altering enforcement mechanisms for this public safety concern.

Potential points of contention

School safety: Removing the prohibition on carrying firearms on K-12 school property (except where posted with specific signage) creates questions about enforcement and actual protection outcomes versus heightened risk exposure

Campus carry expansion: Eliminating campus firearm restrictions affects university policies, faculty/student safety concerns, and institutional autonomy to set safety standards

Impaired carrying penalties: Rewriting offenses related to carrying while under the influence may either strengthen or weaken enforcement depending on specific language changes, which is unclear from the bill description

Courthouse security: Modifying weapons restrictions during judicial proceedings could affect judge, attorney, and public safety in active legal settings

Implementation ambiguity: The posting requirement for schools creates potential compliance inconsistencies and may result in de facto permission rather than restriction