Tennessee: Concealed carry and reciprocity.

[Dr_B]

I live in Idaho and I regularly travel to Tennessee (TN) to visit relatives. I have not yet carried in TN because the state website says they do not have a reciprocity agreement with Idaho (http://www.tn.gov/safety/handgun/reciprocity.htm). But I’ve seen on a couple of other sites that I can carry in TN. So, I decided to call someone at the TN Department of Safety and Homeland Security hoping I could get a clear answer about whether I could carry in TN with my Idaho permit.

I was told that, while TN does not have reciprocity with Idaho, I can carry there while I’m visiting as long as I have a valid permit from another state. “So what is reciprocity for?” I asked. The person on the other end said they "didn’t know. Maybe reciprocity applies to people who move to TN and must get a new permit if there is no agreement with the other state."

OK, so now I’m confused. My understanding was that reciprocity meant you could carry in another state as long as they had an agreement with your state (or one of the other states you are licensed in). But if there is no reciprocity agreement, then you cannot carry in the state you are visiting.
It sounds great to me to hear someone from the handgun permit office in TN tell me that I can carry there. But I am not 100% certain they are correct that I CAN carry. Anyone know what the situation is in TN with people carrying while visiting or passing through?

 

[zoom6zoom]

There's a difference between honoring and reciprocity. Tennessee has chosen to honor permits from any state, regardless of whether they honor the Tennessee permit. Reciprocity is only honoring permits from states that also honor yours.

http://handgunlaw.us/states/tennessee.pdf

 

[RETG]

Reciprocity is signed formal agreement between two entities to accept an agreement. In the case of concealed weapons reciprocity, two states sign an agreement to accept each others permits. In fact, if you study TN law, they actually have reciprocity agreements with 19 states.



However, TN recognizes all state permits; regardless if they have a reciprocity agreement with that state.

Two examples are that TN has NO reciprocity agreement with Utah or Idaho, however, they will recognize a permit from those states.

And the best source of any information on concealed carry reciprocity and/or laws is the State AG website, since many of the non-official sites are not kept up to date on a regular basis.

http://www.tn.gov/safety/handgun/reciprocity.htm

 

[Buck Snort]

God bless the wonderful state of TN!!

 

[LibShooter]

So what is reciprocity for?” I asked.

Visitors to Tennessee will have their state's CCW permits honored, subject to Tennessee restrictions (bars, schools, posted areas etc.)

The Volunteer state negotiates reciprocity agreements for the benefit of us Tennesseans visiting other states.

Welcome!

 

[Dr_B]

Thanks to all who posted above for providing useful information. I hadn't been aware that TN was honoring other permits. It makes sense though. If you're traveling or visiting, you can carry in TN, but you will need a new permit if you decide to live there (or work for a certain amount of time).

My understanding of reciprocity seems to have been pretty much correct. I was just wondering why anyone would need it if TN honored other permits (i.e., I guess you would if you went to live there). What troubled me was when the person on the other end of the phone basically said "I don't know."

Looks like I'll be carrying next time I visit Memphis.

 

[hermannr]

There are some states (Like Oregon) that do not regognize any other states CPLs.

What the TN law says, "we will recognize Oregon's CPL while the Oregon resident is visiting here, and we will work to have Oregon (and all other states) recognize ours." (have a reciprical agreement)

There are other states (like WA) that will only recognize only other state CPLS that meet requirements of statutes like RCW 9.41.073 (that is, must be at least 21, manditory criminal and mental health background records check, with fingerprints and that person cannot be a resident of WA)