Tennessee Expands Deadly Force Rights for Property Defense

Summary

Tennessee's HB 1802, sponsored by Rep. Kip Capley and Sen. Joey Hensley, passed both chambers and is headed to Governor Bill Lee. The bill, intended to expand deadly force rights for property defense by amending Tennessee Code § 39-11-614, includes a "no duty to retreat" provision for property protection within a lawful residence. However, the Tennessee Firearms Association criticized it as "smoke and mirrors," arguing it creates no new rights, as deadly force remains tied to existing self-defense standards.