§ 10-32-2. Weapons—Carrying.

A.

Any person who shall carry in any manner whatever, with the intent to go armed, any razor; dirk; bowie knife or other knife of like form, shape or size; pocket knife with any blade over four inches in length; sword cane; ice pick; slingshot; blackjack, brass knuckles; Spanish stiletto; or any rifle or shotgun or any pistol or revolver of any kind whatever; or a fountain pen pistol or gun, or like instrument containing a firing pin capable of shooting tear gas or pistol cartridges; or any other dangerous weapon, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. It shall be the intent of the city government to exercise its statutory option to opt out of any state law that would otherwise authorize the carrying of firearms on public parks, playgrounds, civic centers and other public recreational buildings and grounds.

B.

Any person who shall carry or exhibit in any manner within the limits of the city, any replica gun, or realistic toy gun, as defined in section 10-32-3, or brandish in a threatening manner, in any public place, or on any public street, so as to cause a reasonable person apprehension or fear of bodily harm, or to believe their personal safety is endangered, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

C.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any:

1.

Person employed in the army, air force, navy, or marine service of the United States while engaged in his or her official duties. Persons who are employed in the army, air force, navy, or marine service, shall only carry such weapons as are prescribed by the army, air force and navy regulations;

2.

Officer or police officer, or to any director, commissioner, or similar head of any metropolitan or municipal police department in the state, whether elected or appointed, while bona fide engaged in his or her official duties, in the execution of process, or while searching for or engaged in arresting criminals and transporting and turning them over to the proper authorities; or

3.

Conductor of any passenger or freight train of any railroad while he or she is on duty.

D.

The director of the fire division, in conjunction with the director of police and the mayor, may authorize certain named members of the fire department, who have been trained in the use of firearms, to go armed for a temporary period of time not to exceed 30 days for any one period when the above-named officials have reasonable grounds and an emergency situation requires such authorization.

E.

Any officer, police officer, bonded and sworn deputy sheriff, director, commissioner, or other officers heretofore authorized to carry weapons by this section or any statute of the state may carry such weapons at all times pursuant to a written directive by the executive supervisor of the organization to which he or she is attached or employed regardless of his or her regular duty hours or assignments; however, a copy of such written directive shall be retained as a portion of the records of the particular law enforcement agency who shall issue the directive.

F.

Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to punishment as provided in section 1-24-1.

(Code 1967, § 22-50; ; Code 1985, § 20-21; Ord. No. 940, § 1, 4-27-1971; Ord. No. 2232, § 1, 4-8-1975; Ord. No. 2732, § 1, 7-11-1978; Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 11-1-1983; Ord. No. 3724, § 1(1), 2-16-1988; Ord. No. 5320, § 1, 7-21-2009)

State law reference

Carrying weapons, T.C.A. § 39-17-1307 et seq.; permits to carry weapons and local exceptions thereto T.C.A. § 39-17-1351 et seq.