The law varies from state to state, if you live in Tennessee or want to play an airsoft match there, you should be aware of some rules that are there to be respected.
I have made a research through the Tennessee Law regarding airsoft guns and I have not found laws that define airsoft in Tennessee at all, but I have found some useful tips that will keep you safe when using airsoft guns that could otherwise break some other laws and eventually put you in a bad situation. So, what does the law say?
Tennessee has no laws that regulate non-powder guns. Therefore, Airsoft guns are legal to use for entertainment purposes.
In case that you want to find more about similar laws in Tennessee, you can find them here on their official government website.
Are Airsoft guns legal in Tennessee?
In Tennessee „Firearm“ is defined as any weapon that is designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive. This does not define airsoft guns, because they use gas, spring motion, or electricity to discharge plastic BBs. We could consider them as replicas or toys.
Although they are not considered as firearms, bear in mind that airsoft guns may still hurt a person and are not supposed to be treated as toys but as real guns.
Are you allowed to remove the orange tip in Tennessee?
There are no laws in state of Tennessee that will additionally punish you for removing the orange tip but it is not considered as a good practice.
Orange tips are required by the Federal Law and therefore must be present on every airsoft gun that you find in a store. The same applies to the import of all such guns.
The orange markings tell it apart from the real guns as mark them as toys. This does not help much on the streets based on the evidence that we have, if someone pulls out a realistic replica then in the eyes of the common folk and police officers it will not look like a toy.
Human beings can easily get frightened and counter-fire.
To avoid such odds, NEVER display your airsoft gun in public and always keep it in a bag when transporting it in public.
Most of the players remove it anyways and you can do it as well if you use it entirely on private properties or in the game fields. If there is a possibility that you re-attach it when moving into public, do it, but just not displaying it and keeping it out of the sight should be enough.
Are you allowed to shoot airsoft guns in your backyard in Tennessee?
Shooting cans or bottles in your backyard is just as fine as playing airsoft match on private property if it fits the size and is completely legal. The only thing you need is the owner’s permission where they state that they agree with the terms.
This does not need to be written if you or your friends are the owners but would have to be if you are playing on the third party property and someone calls the police on you thinking that you are being suspicious.
Bear in mind that if you are playing on your own property that you need to be careful that not a single BB leaves the property. If your neighbour finds that you have discharged it on their property they may sue you for violation of a property.
The same applies to being careful enough that you do not hit a random passenger in the forehead that walks on the public road.
Tips for staying out of trouble with the law
Although not mentioned in the Tennessee law I shall mention the thing that you should avoid doing with your airsoft gun that could otherwise make you break some similar laws.
Do not use it for self defense
Some people ask whether it would be a smart idea to use an airsoft replica for self defense. Would you rely on a toy? Do not bring a toy in a gun fight. If you want to read more on this topic and see how effective can it be for actual self defense, you can check out my post on it here.
Stay out of the school premises
Taking your gun anywhere nearby schools may be considered as a sensitive topic. Displaying it in public is a bad habit but nearby school premises is even worse.
Transportation while driving
Also bear on mind that you keep the replica out of reach when driving in order to negate the misunderstandings with police officers if they stop you for a routine check.
Treat it as a real gun
This should be a mandatory thing that everyone understands correctly. Just because it is not a real gun the other do not know it, it still has enough power to take someone’s eye out, and so on.
By treating it is a real gun you almost completely negate any unwanted odds from occurring and therefore you do not need to think much more about what may be considered unlawful.