General Discussion

SheltieLover

(78,270 posts) Sun Feb 8, 2026, 08:56 AM 4 hrs ago

New Tennessee gun law allows security guards to carry rifles & shotguns

https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/new-tennessee-gun-law-raises-questions-for-ceo-of-security-company/amp/

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A new law went into effect in Tennessee this year allowing certified armed security guards to carry shotguns and rifles in certain situations while performing their jobs in public.

While the legislation is already on the books, News 2 has learned there will be a meeting on Monday, Feb. 9 at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance to fine-tune elements of it.

Snip

"I am very much pro-Second Amendment. I’m pro-law enforcement, pro-security, and I think that, in its intent, the law, it has great purpose,” Byrd explained. “I think the implementation of it and the things that have been left to chance are bad. I think that there’s a public health risk. I think that there’s a risk for our industry."

From TN Gen Assembly website:

This bill authorizes an armed security guard/officer who has successfully completed enhanced armed guard training as described in this bill and applied for and received an enhanced armed guard certification from the commissioner of commerce and insurance (‘enhanced armed guard’) to carry a rifle-caliber weapon only if certified to carry such firearm. An enhanced armed guard may carry only the type of rifle-caliber weapon that the commissioner prescribes by rule when in the performance of the guard’s duties. Additionally, an enhanced armed guard may only deploy a rifle-caliber weapon, whether in an offensive or defensive posture, when a legitimate threat necessitating such deployment is perceived to exist or be imminent. During such time as a threat necessitating deployment of a rifle-caliber weapon is not perceived to exist or be imminent, the rifle-caliber weapon must be securely stored in such manner as the commissioner may prescribe by rule.

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What could possibly go wrong?