Pepper spray and stun guns now legal on college campuses in Tennessee

Tennessee House Bill 1909, called the “Laken Riley Act” after a Georgia student murdered on campus, is effective July 1, 2024. T.C.A. section 39-17-1309(f) permits any adult “lawfully present” on a college campus to carry pepper spray and/or stun gun (or their equivalent) in any building or other area of campus that is not secured with armed security. Notably, this includes staff and students of the college or university.

I am a strong proponent of the efficacy of pepper spray and encourage everyone to carry it all the time. I carry pepper spray far more often and in more locations than a firearm.