Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates an offense of recklessly discharging a firearm into the air, ground, a body of water, or an object in close proximity to the person if the firearm is discharged at a place of publi, the official text

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                            PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 1086

                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 1747

                                             By Bowling, Roberts, Haile, White

                                           Substituted for: House Bill No. 1757

                                    By Rudder, Helton-Haynes, Powell, Alexander

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, relative to the discharge of a firearm.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

         SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:

          39-17 -1330.

                   (a) A person commits an offense who recklessly discharges a firearm into the air,
         ground, a body of water, or an object in proximity to the person if the firearm is discharged at
          a place of public gathering or at a public event where there are at least twenty-five (25)
          people in attendance at the time of the discharge.

                   (b) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor.

                   (c) This section does not apply if the firearm is discharged:

                             (1) By an officer of the state, or any county, city, or town, charged with the
                   enforcement of the laws of this state, when in the discharge of the officer's official
                   duties;

                             (2) By persons employed by the army, air force, navy, space force, coast
                   guard, or marine service of the United States or any member of the Tennessee
                    national guard when in discharge of the person's official duties and acting under
                    orders requiring the person to carry a firearm;

                             (3) As required by an animal control officer, rabies control officer, or
                   Tennessee wildlife resources agency (TWRA) officer when in the discharge of the
                    officer's official duties;

                             (4) To lawfully take wildlife by permit or license during an open season
                    established by the Tennessee wildlife resources agency;

                             (5) For the control of nuisance wildlife by permit from the TWRA or the United
                    States fish and wildlife service;

                             (6) On the property of a public or privately owned sport shooting range, as
                    defined in§ 39-17-316;

                             (7) In defense of self or another person against an animal attack if a
                    reasonable person would believe that deadly force against the animal is immediately
                    necessary and reasonable under the circumstances to protect oneself or the other
                    person; or

                             (8) In defense of a domestic animal against an imminent or ongoing animal
                    attack if a reasonable person would believe that deadly force against the animal is
SB 1747
                   immediately necessary and reasonable under the circumstances to protect the
                   domestic animal from attack.

         SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1351(e}, is amended by deleting
"and§ 39-17-1321" and substituting"§ 39-17-1321, and§ 39-17-1330".

         SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.

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         SENATE BILL NO. 1747

PASSED:  April 22, 2026

                                               RANDY tlcNALLY
                                 SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

                         C?&
                            CAMERONSEXTON,SPEAKER
                           HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APPROVED this 2;};~ day of cv:h-t1        2026

         ~U, ..
                      BILL LEE, GOVERNOR