Tennessee Firearms Assoc. Inc.

I know I'm allowed to carry at church, but what if the church operates a daycare during service, a Mother's Day Out type program, or a private school on church grounds? How does the TCA differentiate between these, or are they recognized?

I am not sure that it does because the reading of the entire statute does indicate that the absence of the sign is a defense to the charge of carrying on school grounds. It seems that they are independent.

I know quite a few churches that also have private Christian schools on the same grounds. I wonder, would carry at Sunday service be prohibited? My reading of the law says yes.

I think there is enough confusion in the law that there is valid argument either way.

I currently carry to church which runs a "Mother's Day Out" program as well as VBS. I would have to argue though, that education is not the primary purpose for the property but this legislation may indeed make it illegal to carry there during the times when these programs where taking place.

There may be some members who are qualified to clarify the letter of the law as I think most legislation is purposefully unclear to allow for interpretation on specific cases.

Personally, I believe it is better in this day and time to be protected, even in church, and that sometimes it's better to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission. However, I don't claim that this philosophy is right for everyone on this topic.

Our church has no such sign, but then neither does the kid's school. The church is questionable since it is private and not specifically an educational institution, but the public school falls well within the law's verbiage.

I wonder if this law is contradictory and how it would be enforced. First it says it is illegal to carry on school property but then it states that signage must be posted. So, do subsections (b) and (c) supercede (d)'s requirement for posting, or does failure of the administration to comply with subsection (d) contradict and supercede (b) and (c)?

Does that make the law "void for vagueness"?

We should SUE!

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what about a church that just has a daycare service? as far as i know it runs all week long as an official daycare and is located in and owned by the church.

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