February 17, 2023

Washington, D.C. – Today, Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the Gun Owners Foundation (GOF) filed a lawsuit in Tennessee state court challenging the state’s current statutory prohibition on carrying firearms for self-defense in public parks and other public recreation areas.

While Tennessee passed permitless carry in 2021, residents still could face prosecution due to a statute that makes it a crime for “any citizen to carry any firearm with the intent to go armed.” The repeal of this law, or overturning of it in the courts, would fully restore the rights of Tennesseans under the Second Amendment.

Erich Pratt, GOA’s Senior Vice President, issued the following statement:    

“Tennessee’s gun owners deserve the right to carry arms in public recreation areas, and unfortunately, they still cannot even with the newly passed permitless carry law. When rogue anti-gun politicians at the local level are looking for any reason to prosecute good people for protecting themselves, we need every tool at our disposal to fight back. Hopefully, the court will hear our request and halt the ability of anti-gunners to use this law.” 

Sam Paredes, on behalf of the Board of Directors for the Gun Owners Foundation, added:   

“Frustratingly, even in solid pro-gun states like Tennessee, people looking to carry arms for self-defense risk prosecution due to a portion of the state code that should have been updated when permitless carry was passed two years ago. Instead, we now have to challenge provisions of the code in the courts due to the failure of the legislature.” 

GOA spokesmen are available for interviews.  Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.

-GOA-