Pepper Spray Laws
Is Pepper Spray Legal In TENNESSEE?
Pepper spray in TN is Legal with Restrictions.
Legal with Restrictions Tennessee has no general statute prohibiting adult civilians from purchasing, possessing, or carrying pepper spray (OC spray) for self-defense. The state's "prohibited weapons" statute, Tenn. Code Ann. Section 39-17-1302, lists explosives, machine guns, hoax devices, and knuckles as prohibited weapons; it does not list pepper spray, mace, or chemical self-defense sprays, and there is no statewide age minimum, size limit, or OC-concentration limit specified in the Tennessee Code for civilian pepper spray. Age minimum: No statewide statutory minimum age found for purchase or possession of pepper spray. Size/concentration limit: No statewide statutory limit found on canister size or OC concentration. Carry restrictions: Tenn. Code Ann. Section 39-17-1309 defines "non-lethal weapon" to include pepper spray, a pepper spray gun, pepper gel, and mace, and separately governs weapons on school property. That section expressly bars public colleges/universities from prohibiting adults from carrying a non-lethal weapon (including pepper spray) for self-defense on campus, except that institutions may still restrict it on K-12 grounds located on the same campus, in buildings with armed security, or under certain contractual arrangements. K-12 school property carries its own general prohibition on weapons under Section 39-17-1309 that pepper spray falls within absent the higher-education carve-out. Primary source: Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, Sections 39-17-1302 and 39-17-1309, https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-39/chapter-17/part-13/section-39-17-1309/ This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change. Confirm current requirements with Tennessee authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.