Tennessee
Gun safety expert explains Tennessee’s open carry law in detail
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – The mass shooting at a city park in Orange Mound highlighted a problem in Memphis: a lot of people don’t understand what is and is not allowed under Tennessee’s open carry law.
In shocking video after shocking video, young people could be seen walking down the street to a community block party while brandishing giant guns.
”I’ve been in this business for over 40 years. I get anxiety and my law enforcement friends are getting anxiety,” said Bennie Cobb, retired SWAT Team captain with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and owner of Eagle Eye Security and Training Services.
Cobb told Action News 5 that the trend of teens arming themselves to the teeth in public is a troubling one.
“Some of these young people could say they’re exercising their 2A,” he said, “but the gun is most likely stolen if they’re under 18.”
When Governor Bill Lee signed open carry into law, he posted to X: “It shouldn’t be hard for law-abiding Tennesseans to exercise their 2A rights,” with 2A referring to the Second Amendment, which grants Americans the right to bear arms.
In effect since July 1, 2021, Tennessee’s open carry law allows an individual to carry a loaded handgun without a permit. You must be 18 or older, in lawful possession of the gun, and in a place where guns are legally allowed.
Supporters of open carry say the law appeared to be violated in the Orange Mound mass shooting.
”I saw pictures of the guns they were holding,” said Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, “They were not handguns. So, you must be very clear about what we do allow for open carry. It’s a handgun. It’s not an AK-47. It’s not a shotgun. It’s not a long rifle. It’s a handgun. The guns they had at that rally were not open-carry guns.”
Remember the incident where a young man walked through Midtown Memphis with an assault-style rifle last year?
He scared so many people that nearby schools went on lockdown and citizens called the Memphis Police Department to report him. MPD eventually tracked him down at home, and no charges were filed in the case. He admitted to overreacting to a perceived threat to his safety.
Though open carry explicitly covers handguns, other laws already on the books state you can carry a shotgun or rifle, but it must be unloaded and the ammunition cannot be in close proximity to you or your weapon.
The videos are proof, said Cobb. The Wild Wild West has officially arrived in the Mid-South.
“Now the mindset is,” he said, “you approach them with the mindset as if they are armed. Law enforcement is actually doing things differently now. They actually had to be retrained to accept people with guns. Everybody has one.”
Tennessee Republicans tried to pass legislation this session that would change the word “handgun” to “firearm” in the open carry law to allow armed long guns on the street.
But the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security testified that it would cause unnecessary panic, and the effort failed.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A bill moving through the Tennessee Legislature could reshape how pharmacies do business in the state, with CVS warning it could lead to widespread store closures.
The Tennessee Senate has passed legislation that would change the way pharmacies can operate. The proposal has been dubbed “the CVS bill” because it directly impacts the drugstore chain.
Under the bill, drugstores would no longer be allowed to negotiate prices directly with insurance providers or government programs. Instead, a third party would be required to step in.
The bill is now under debate in the House. CVS says the change would force more than 100 of its pharmacies to close across Tennessee, but lawmakers disagree.
Tennessee football star Jermod McCoy is the player who will likely hear his name called first from the Tennessee program in the upcoming NFL Draft. There are many teams he would fit well, but these three teams are the teams I believe he is the best fit with at this moment.
1. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are in need of a cornerback in the draft class, and they are likely to spend one of their first two picks on one. They are selecting at No. 12 and No. 20 in the draft as of now, and McCoy could hear his name called. He would be joining a decent group of cornerbacks, but he would be an immediate starter, likely alongside a later selection that they make with a cornerback.
It would be shocking if the Cowboys pass on him if they select at 12 and he is still on the board. McCoy would be an immediate starter and would be someone who could shut down a whole side of the field for the Cowboys early in his career.
2. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins is one of the better fits for Jermod McCoy, and it would make the most sense, as the Dolphins could use almost every position after a major haul of their players. They are in a major rebuilding phase and drafting at No. 11 leaves many to believe that McCoy could be in play.
McCoy would likely be their No. 1 cornerbakc the day he got to the franchise, and would have the chance to dominate the way he did in his one season on the field with the Vols. This selection would depend on who drops out of the first ten selections. If he is one of the better players remaining (highly likely) he very well could hear his name called at pick 11.
3. New York Jets
The New York Jets have the chance to be very good when it comes to the draft, as they are drafting at both No. 2 and No. 16. I believe they will be looking to get a cornerback with their No. 16 pick, which would make a lot of sense considering they had to get rid of Sauce Gardner.
McCoy would be the perfect replacement, as they could find themselves in one of the better situations on the defensive side of the football. He can shutdown a side of the field, and I would bet that he would be a great fit with the Jets because of that exactly.
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Tennessee
Nashville Sounds and Autism Tennessee partner to host inclusive Beyond the Label Day for local children
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — At a ballpark built for noise, there is space for something quieter.
During the Nashville Sounds’ “Beyond the Label Day,” kids are learning, playing and experiencing baseball in a way that works for them. Autism Tennessee volunteers stepped in to guide kids through sensory play designed to calm and focus.
From spinning toys to textured fidgets, these tools help turn overwhelming moments into manageable ones. Children engaged with the activities, pointing out shapes like a circle, noticing items like candies, and expressing how nice the experience was.
Adam English, general manager of the Nashville Sounds, said making space for everyone is the goal, even as the stadium announcer calls another Sounds strikeout.
“It’s important for us to raise awareness about autism, but also just make sure that First Horizon Park is an inclusive place for everybody” English said.
The Sounds stadium even has a sensory room for families at every game.
“There’s huge baseball fans that sometimes shy away because of loud crowds and we want to make sure every game out here available” English said.
For Autism Tennessee leaders like Jessica Moore, days like this are about more than awareness. They are about belonging.
“Typically events like this can be super overwhelming… so this is just a way for people to feel like they can come and still be successful” Moore said.
What are your thoughts on making sports venues more inclusive for all fans? Watch the video to see the sensory room in action, and share your experiences with me at kim.rafferty@NewsChannel5.com.
In this article, we used artificial intelligence to help us convert a video news report originally written by Kim Rafferty. When using this tool, both Kim Rafferty and the NewsChannel 5 editorial team verified all the facts in the article to make sure it is fair and accurate before we published it. We care about your trust in us and where you get your news, and using this tool allows us to convert our news coverage into different formats so we can quickly reach you where you like to consume information. It also lets our journalists spend more time looking into your story ideas, listening to you and digging into the stories that matter.
Checking in on Cole: Gallatin rallies around teen battling brain tumor with prayer vigil
Austin Pollack brings us an update on a remarkable young man facing great odds, and his family has one simple request: pray for Cole. I believe in the power of prayer and hope you’ll join me in lifting up Cole and his family.
– Carrie Sharp
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