Tennessee lock picking laws
As of July 2007 the law changed indicating it *may* be a felony to merely posses lock picks and related equipment in Tennessee if you are not a registered locksmith. Previously it was a misdemeanor to commit a crime using lockpicking equipment, possession itself was not a crime. The ALOA has an abstract that outlines the changes to Tennessee code. Here is the actual Tennessee code: http://www.state.tn.us/sos/acts/104/pub/pc0885.pdf

As of 2018 there may be some movement to make the law less ambiguous and to make it more friendly to law-abiding and non-licensed locksport practitioners. 

 
This was taken from the public Lexis Nexus database on Tennessee State Code. It pretty much means that it is illegal to use lock picks to commit a crime. Meerly possessing lock picks *should* be ok for locksport purposes. As always, it's best to contact a local lawyer to be certain.

39-14-701. Possession of burglary tools.

A person who possesses any tool, machine or implement with intent to use the same, or allow the same to be used, to commit any burglary, commits a Class A misdemeanor.

[Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1.]