Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.)

Title 39.  Criminal Offenses  

Chapter 17  Offenses Against Public Health, Safety and Welfare  

Part 13  Weapons

39-17-1322. Defenses.

(a) A person shall not be charged with or convicted of a violation under this part if the person possessed, displayed or employed a handgun in justifiable self-defense or in justifiable defense of another during the commission of a crime in which that person or the other person defended was a victim.

(b) A person who discharges a firearm within the geographical limits of a municipality shall not be deemed to have violated any ordinance in effect or be subject to any citation or fine the municipality may impose for discharging a firearm within the limits of the municipality if it is determined that when the firearm was discharged the person was acting in justifiable self-defense, defense of property, defense of another, or to prevent a criminal offense from occurring.

[Updated 2/6/2020]