Tennessee State Law Summary

Last updated December 2, 2010

In the publication Gun Laws Matter: A Comparison of State Firearms Laws and Statistics, LCAV ranked each state based on a review of state laws in 25 firearm-related policy areas. Tennessee ranked 20th out of 50 – having enacted a modest amount of gun violence prevention laws. Among other things, Tennessee:

• Prohibits domestic violence misdemeanants and persons subject to a domestic violence order of protection from purchasing or possessing any firearms;

• Requires that persons subject to a domestic violence protection order surrender possession of all firearms for the duration of the order; and

• Submits mental health records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for use in firearm purchaser checks.

Tennessee does not, however:

• Require a background check prior to the transfer of a firearm between private parties;

• Prohibit the transfer or possession of assault weapons, 50 caliber rifles or large capacity ammunition magazines;

• License or significantly regulate firearms dealers;

• Limit the number of firearms that may be purchased at one time;

• Impose a waiting period on firearm purchases; or

• Regulate unsafe handguns.

Local governments in Tennessee generally lack authority to regulate firearms or ammunition, and Tennessee requires local law enforcement to issue a concealed handgun license to any applicant who meets certain basic qualifications.

Tennessee ranks 7th among the states in number of gun deaths per capita.  In 2007, 924 people died from firearm-related injuries in Tennessee. In 2009 Tennessee supplied the 22nd highest number of crime guns to other states per capita, and exports more crime guns than it imports.

For details about specific firearms laws in Tennessee, choose a topic below.

Overview State "Right to Bear Arms" Statistics Local Authority to Regulate Firearms
State Firearms Policies Persons Prohibited from Firearm Possession Prohibited Purchasers Generally Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Domestic Violence & Firearms Disarming Prohibited Persons Sales & Transfers Background Checks Mental Health Reporting Multiple Purchases / Sales of Firearms Retention of Sales / Background Check Records Waiting Periods Gun Dealers & Other Sellers Dealer Regulations Private Sales Gun Shows Immunity Statutes Gun Owner Responsibilities Licensing of Gun Owners / Purchasers Registration of Firearms Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms	Firearms in Public Places Concealed Weapons Permitting Open Carrying Location Restrictions Guns in Vehicles Guns in Schools Other Location Restrictions Consumer & Child Safety Design Safety Standards for Handguns Locking Devices Personalized / Owner-Authorized Firearms Child Access Prevention Classes of Weapons / Ammunition Assault Weapons Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines Fifty Caliber Rifles Machine Guns / Automatic Firearms Non-Powder Guns Ammunition Regulation Investigating Gun Crimes Microstamping / Ballistic Identification Trafficking
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