Gun Laws in Tennessee
Gun Friendliness Score
How We Calculate Gun Friendliness Scores
The Gun Friendliness Score ranges from 0 to 100 and represents how favorable a state's laws are toward gun ownership and use. We evaluate each state across 50 key gun policies, assigning points based on how these policies affect gun owners:
- Policies that support gun rights, reduce restrictions, or expand legal protections for gun owners receive positive points
- Policies that restrict firearm ownership, limit purchase options, or add regulatory burdens receive negative points
Tennessee's strong score of 78 reflects the state's permitless carry laws, minimal restrictions on firearm types, preemption laws, and protections for self-defense and gun industry.
Tennessee Gun Laws Summary
Tennessee has positioned itself as a strongly pro-gun state with robust Second Amendment protections. The state maintains minimal restrictions on firearms and ammunition, generally limiting regulations to what federal law requires while actively protecting gun owners' rights through state legislation.
Tennessee is a shall-issue state for concealed carry permits, though permits are now optional for most carry situations. The Department of Safety and Homeland Security handles permit issuance, and qualifying applicants receive their permits without discretionary denial. While no longer required for carry, obtaining a permit provides benefits including enhanced reciprocity with other states and exemption from certain federal regulations.
Since July 1, 2021, Tennessee has been a permitless carry state when Governor Bill Lee signed HB 786 into law. Any law-abiding citizen aged 21 or older (or 18 if active military) who is legally permitted to possess a firearm can carry openly or concealed without a permit. Tennessee joined the growing number of constitutional carry states, reinforcing its commitment to protecting Second Amendment rights.
Permitting, Sales and Transfers
No permits are required to purchase firearms or ammunition in Tennessee. Background checks are conducted for sales through federally licensed dealers (FFLs) as required by federal law, using the Tennessee Instant Check System (TICS) which interfaces with NICS.
Private sales between individuals require no background check, permit, or registration. Tennessee law prohibits any state or local governmental entity from creating or maintaining a registry of firearm ownership or firearm transactions.
Firearms in Public and in the Home
Tennessee is a permitless carry state where no permit is required for open or concealed carry for residents and non-residents aged 21 and older (18 for military). Tennessee honors all valid out-of-state concealed carry permits and has reciprocity agreements with 39 states.
Open carry is legal without a permit for anyone 21 years or older (18 for military) who can legally possess a firearm. Certain locations prohibit carry, including judicial buildings, schools, and establishments that serve alcohol for on-premises consumption (unless the establishment allows it). For those who choose to obtain a permit, Tennessee offers both an Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit and a Concealed Handgun Carry Permit, with the enhanced permit providing additional privileges.
Firearm, Feature and Accessory Bans
Tennessee has no bans on semi-automatic firearms, detachable magazines, or firearms with specific features. There are no magazine capacity restrictions. All NFA items (suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, machine guns, etc.) are legal to own provided federal requirements are met. Tennessee law prevents local governments from enacting any firearms regulations more restrictive than state law.
Local Laws
Tennessee has comprehensive statewide preemption of firearms laws. State law explicitly prohibits counties, cities, towns, municipalities, or metropolitan governments from enacting any ordinance, resolution, policy, rule, or regulation that regulates firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories. This ensures uniform gun laws throughout the state and prevents local governments from creating confusing patchworks of regulations that could inadvertently criminalize lawful behavior.
2025 Gun Law Checklist
Tennessee Gun Policy Profile: 50 Key Legislative Points
Purchasing and Sales Regulations
Background Check for Any Firearm Sale
State requires any firearm sale to go through a licensed dealer (FFL) and be subject to a background check. (Federal law requires those "engaged in the business" of buying/selling firearms to perform a background check during a sale). A private sale or transfer of any firearm between individuals (non-family members) must be also conducted through an FFL.
Background Check for Any Handgun Sale (Including Private Sales)
All handgun sales and most transfers are subject to a background check. Private sales of handguns between individuals (non-family members) must be conducted through an FFL.
Background Check Extensions
State will halt the transfer of a firearm if a background check is delayed. Some states will halt the process indefinitely, some for a set amount of time.
Failed Background Check Reported to Law Enforcement
The firearm dealer (or state agency conducting the background check) has a responsibility to notify local law enforcement of a failed background check.
Must be 21 or Older to Purchase
Most firearms–including rifles, shotguns, and handguns–cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 21. (Federal laws permit long guns to be sold to those over the age of 18.)
Permit to Purchase
State requires a permit (single-use or renewable) for all firearms or specifically for handguns. States typically charge a fee for the permit and a background check is performed during the application.
Mandatory Waiting Periods
Prior to purchasing a firearm, an individual must wait a specified period (typically between 3-14 days) between initiating the purchase and taking possession of the firearm.
State Licenses All Gun Dealers
State has a licensing system for firearms merchants above and beyond the federal (FFL) system.
Purchase Rejected for Public Safety Reasons
State officials able to block sales of firearms if the purchaser is deemed to be a threat to themselves or to public safety (according to the judgment of the official)
Approved Handgun Roster
State controls what make and model handguns are sold; according to their own criteria. Often, this involves a "roster" of approved handguns with the right "safety" features, such as a loaded chamber indicator, or even the amount of metal in the firearm (Maryland). Often, LE are exempt from these requirements.
Strict Unfinished Frames and Receivers Laws
State sets a lower threshold for unfinished frames and receivers (beyond ATF rule 2021R-05F). Includes ban on 3D-printing of these parts in some states.
Ownership and Registration Requirements
Permit to Possess
Several states require a permit just to possess: a handgun (New York); any firearms or ammunition (Illinois).
State Firearm or Handgun Registry
State keeps a record of every firearm or handgun sold. Includes states with a permit to purchase and states that keep records of purchases.
Mandatory Firearms Training
Prior to purchasing a firearm, an individual must prove they completed the state ordered training. Often, this is part of the application process for a Permit to Purchase.
Secure Storage Requirement
Gun owners must lock up firearms in the home (or anywhere else a minor or prohibited person may have access).
Magazine Capacity Limits
State limits magazine capacity for some or all firearms.
"Assault Weapons" Ban
Magazine fed, semi-automatic, centerfire rifles cannot have other "features" (pistol grip, flash hider, etc.) or they are considered "assault weapons." New guns cannot be registered as "assault weapons." Possession is prohibited with limited exceptions.
Microstamping Law
State has a law banning the sale of a new pistol unless its firing can imprint its serial number somewhere on the cartridge case during firing. This technology is make-believe at present, but these laws will effectively ban the sale of new handguns in the state if/when they become effective
Penalties for Not Reporting a Lost or Stolen Firearm
Gun owners must report the loss or theft of firearms–usually within several days of the incident or first discovering the loss–or potentially face a criminal penalty.
Carry and Location Restrictions
Mandatory Permit for Concealed Carry
State requires a permit to carry a concealed pistol. This includes all states that "may issue" a permit (where officials may deny a permit for subjective reasons).
Officials Can Deny Carry Permit
State allows the carry permit officials to deny an application based on the state's own criteria.
Open Carry Limited or Banned
State restricts open carry to rifles and shotguns or bans open carry completely unless you are LE or special permit holder.
No Carry Mandate for College Campuses
State has not passed a blanket law permitting concealed carry on college campuses.
Gun Ban on Most Public Property
State limits or bans any type of carry in and around government facilities (state, county, municipal) and/or limits carry of firearms in parades and demonstrations
Guns Banned in Bars
State prohibits carry inside bars or consumption of alcohol while carrying.
No Guns in K-12 Schools
Only LE (and in some states, specially licensed school officials) may carry on school property.
Does Not Recognize Other States' Carry Permits
State doesn't consider concealed carry permits from other states valid
Prohibited Persons and Possession Restrictions
Felons are Also Prohibited Persons at State Level
State has a law prohibiting felons from owning guns and ammo, even though federal law already does this.
Fugitives are Also Prohibited Persons at State Level
State has a law prohibiting fugitives from justice from owning guns and ammo, even though federal law already does this.
Involuntarily Committed are Also Prohibited Persons at State Level
State has a law prohibiting those who have been involuntarily committed (to a psychiatric hospital or mental institution), or those found to be a danger to themselves or others from owning guns and ammo. Federal law already prohibits anyone found to be mentally defective or committed to a mental institution at 16 years or older.
Violent Offenders Cannot Possess
State will take away firearms, deny future possession, or at minimum deny future purchase of firearms for certain misdemeanor crimes of violence (besides domestic violence violence).
Domestic Violence Offenders Also Prohibited Persons at State Level
State has a law prohibiting those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from owning guns and ammo, even though federal law already does this
Stalkers are Prohibited Persons at the State Level
State has either made stalking a felony (instant prohibitor) or makes an individual convicted of misdemeanor stalking a prohibited person.
Intervention and Seizure Provisions
Red Flag Law
Law enforcement (and others, depending on the state) is allowed to request that firearms be taken away from others with limited due process.
Emergency Gun Seizure Before Restraining Orders
Similar to a red flag law, state will take away guns before an actual conviction. This is often during domestic disputes, before a restraining order takes effect, and in similar situations.
Guns Seized for Hate Crimes
State will take away all firearms from an individual in response to a misdemeanor hate crime conviction.
Guns Seized After Becoming Prohibited
State will quickly respond when an individual's status changes to prohibited and take away all firearms belonging to that person.
Guns Seized After Domestic Violence Conviction
State will quickly respond to take away firearms from an individual if they are convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence.
Guns Seized Amid Restraining Orders
State will take away all firearms from anyone who is subject to a restraining order, even though federal law already does this.
No Stand Your Ground Law
State imposes a "duty to retreat" before using force or requires "proportional force" when responding to an attack or dangerous situation with force.
Monitoring and Threat Assessment
Mental Health Database
State maintains records of anyone that has been committed or involuntarily committed to psychiatric hospitals. They send this information to the FBI for use by the NICS (or when conducting a state background check, if applicable).
School Officials Conduct Threat Assessments
Teams of mostly school officials are empowered by law to refer children for mental health assessments or take more drastic action if they believe the child poses a threat to themselves or others.
Mandatory Tracing of "Crime Guns"
Law enforcement must use either a state system or the federal firearm tracing system to research any firearm recovered from a crime scene or used in a crime.
Law Enforcement Oversight and Accountability
No LE Officers Bill of Rights
Some states never passed (or passed and later repealed) a set of basic protections for public safety officers. These protections vary by state. They often include the right to engage in political activity and run for public office, and the right to refuse a lie detector test, among other things.
Heavy Restrictions on LE Use of Deadly Force
State laws severely limit the discharge of firearms to apprehend criminals, including against individuals suspected of murder or fleeing a felony in many cases.
Reports for LE Deadly Force Incidents
Law enforcement agencies are required to report any officer-involved shootings that result in serious injury or death. Monthly or annual reports are compiled using this data and made available to the public.
No Qualified Immunity Defense Laws
In civil court, LE officials may not use a defense of qualified immunity if they are accused of certain civil rights violations. This includes situations in which a firearm was used.
Prevention and Support Programs
Dedicated Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Some states have passed legislation creating gun violence prevention offices that target "community gun violence." Taxpayer funds are used to support these programs, which may have little to no effect on violent crime.
Funding for Services of Victims of Gun Violence
Some states maximize the use of federal money intended for victims of violent crime by increasing pool of eligible claimants. Money is paid out to families of convicted felons in many cases.
Local Control
Counties / Cities / Towns Can Pass Stricter Gun Laws
Local governments are free to pass their own gun control laws in addition to any existing laws at the federal and state levels. Some states prohibit local governments from passing laws about specific things-including guns. This is known as preemption.
Conclusion
This piece aims to explain the laws that govern ammunition and firearms in the state of Tennessee. To do so, the piece begins with the ammo laws with an eye on the processes and regulations for having ammo shipped to a residential address in the state. From there, we turn to the gun laws, examining the rules that apply in the state for buying and carrying firearms. To wrap things up, the piece offers you some information and resources that we think you’ll find useful if you are interested in legally buying, owning, and carrying firearms in Tennessee.
We do not intend this piece as legal advice. Instead, we hope that you can use the information here to better inform your own decisions.
Like most states, Tennessee has preemption. This means that the state has a law that prohibits localities such as counties, cities, and towns from making their own, stricter firearms laws. On a practical level, this means that Tennessee gun owners only have to learn one set of laws, as state law does practically apply to the entire state. There is one small exception to the stage’s preemption: the state allows posted signs on government buildings to be stricter than state law in terms of the carriage of firearms.
Overall, Tennessee is fairly permissive in terms of its firearms and ammunition laws. There are some small inconsistencies and idiosyncrasies in the state’s laws, but it is generally fairly simple and permissive to be a gun owner in the state.
Ammo Laws/Buying Ammo in Tennessee
First, we will cover the ammo laws of the state.
There are two specifically barred ammunition practices in Tennessee. First, the state bans explosive ammunition. Second, it’s against state law to knowingly sell ammo to a drunk person. Aside from those regulations, Tennessee is permissive in terms of ammo purchasing and follows the federal laws enforced by the ATF.
The ATF enforces two sets of requirements for purchasing ammunition. The first is an age requirement: buyers have to be eighteen years of age or older to purchase ammunition for long guns, and twenty-one or older to do so for handgun ammo. Secondly, ammo buyers cannot be prohibited persons, which the ATF defines as people who have been convicted of felonies or domestic violence, people who have been found mentally incompetent in court, and those who have been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility for inpatient treatment.
Assuming that those requirements have been met, then Tennessee is fine with people having ammunition shipped to homes so long as it is not explosive ammo. Package carriers might sometimes impose their own rules, such as asking that someone with a valid ID be present to sign for packages that contain ammo.
The ban on explosive ammo and the prohibition on selling ammo to intoxicated people do make Tennessee's ammo laws a little less permissive, but these laws will not affect the vast majority of ammo buyers in the state. Thus, Tennessee’s ammo laws can still be considered fairly permissive.
Gun Laws/Buying Guns in Tennessee
Next, we will do the same exercise for the state’s gun laws.
The laws for purchasing firearms in Tennessee are permissive. The state does not have bans on magazines or assault weapons, either by a list of features or specifically named models. The state also does not restrict NFA items such as suppressors, machine guns, or short-barreled rifles, or shotguns. Of course, federal laws still apply to NFA items.
The gun buying process in the state follows federal guidelines. The buyer should bring both a form of payment and a valid identification with their current address on it to the local gun store. There, the FFL will have the buyer fill out ATF’s Form 4473 to both complete a background check and to make the legally necessary record of the transaction. Once that background check clears and payment has been received, the buyer is free to leave with their firearm the same day.
Tennessee does not require that private persons selling firearms do a background check on the buyer. With that in mind, it is advisable to ensure that the buyer meets the age requirements to buy firearms and is not a prohibited person.
The state is generally permissive when it comes to the carriage of firearms. Open carry is allowed and does not require a permit. But, the state does mandate that long guns have to be unloaded when they are openly carried.
The state also allows for the concealed carriage of handguns and does not require a permit to do so. Like most states with permitless carry, Tennessee does still issue its concealed carry permits on a shall-issue basis. These permits serve the primary function of allowing permit holders to carry concealed firearms in other states: Tennessee's permit is fairly widely recognized.
Nearly every state has a list of places where it is generally forbidden to carry a firearm, and Tennessee is no exception. In this state, the list includes:
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Bars if the carrier is drinking
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Inside a courtroom in session
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Wildlife management areas not during hunting season
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Private property and government meetings with posted signs
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Public parks and playgrounds (Only applies to open carry)
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Federal facilities
This list is not an unusual one, but the differences between people with and without permits, even with the passage of permitless carry several years ago make it harder for law-abiding people to comply with the laws of the state, and thus makes it a bit less permissive than necessary.
Overall, Tennessee is fairly permissive when it comes to buying firearms and ammo. In terms of carriage, things are a little less permissive. While the option for permitless carry is permissive, the fact that the state has highly strict and specific exceptions to when, who, and where people can carry a firearm makes it more difficult than necessary for people who are likely trying to follow the law. With that said, the absence of major firearms or ammo bans in the state makes it a permissive one, but this is one of the few states where people might want to get a concealed carry permit even though permitless carry is technically legal, just to have more options of where and when they can carry a concealed firearm without risk of arrest or being asked to leave.
Sales Tax on Guns/Ammo in Tennessee
Tennessee's base sales tax rate is 7%. With local taxes, the effective sales tax rate in Tennessee varies between 8.%% and 9.75%. Because this is such a small variance, it is likely not worthwhile to look for an FFL in a lower-taxed area.
The state does not have additional, specific taxes on firearms and ammunition sales.
More Resources:
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The ATF maintains a list of every FFL in the country, including in Tennessee. This list is kept well up to date: generally, gun stores are either Type 1 or Type 2 FFLs.
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Wheretoshoot.org is a great tool for finding ranges: use the mileage, city, and zip code filters to find ranges in your area. Users can add more ranges, too, and the information is regularly checked for accuracy.
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There are a number of well-rated gun stores in Tennessee.
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TNGunOwners is a somewhat active forum that can keep you up to speed on local events relevant to the firearms community.