The right of American citizens to keep and bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. While there are several federal gun laws, the legal details surrounding gun ownership in the U.S. are largely left to state governments – and across the 50 states, approaches to gun control vary widely.
Debates over gun regulation at the federal level have largely centered around assault-style rifles in recent years. But the largest and most impactful changes in gun control policy have happened at the state level, particularly in laws regarding the right to carry firearms in public places.
Open carry of firearms is generally defined as wielding a firearm that is either partially or fully visible. In Tennessee, open carry of both long guns and handguns is allowed.
