Buying a Gun in Tennessee
The age to buy a gun in Tennessee, background checks for dealer and private sales, any waiting period, and rules on ghost guns.
Short answer: It is an offense to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly sell, loan or give a firearm to a minor, except a loan or gift for hunting, trapping, fishing, camping, sport shooting or other lawful sporting activity. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-17-1303(a)(1), (b); 39-17-1319(b)
| Age to buy a gun | It is an offense to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly sell, loan or give a firearm to a minor, except a loan or gift for hunting, trapping, fishing, camping, sport shooting or other lawful sporting activity. Separately, it is an offense for a juvenile (any person under 18) to knowingly possess a handgun, with exceptions such as safety courses, target shooting at a range, organized competition, licensed hunting, instruction with a parent or guardian present, and at home with parental permission. These rules apply to all sellers, including private sellers. Read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code. Mirror page states it is current as of January 2, 2024. Juvenile possession: https://codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-39-criminal-offenses/tn-code-sect-39-17-1319/ . § 39-17-1303 does not itself define 'minor'; the under-18 definition quoted here is from § 39-17-1319. |
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| Background checks and private sales | Only gun dealers must run a background check: before delivering a firearm, a gun dealer (a person engaged in the business as defined in federal law, including retail dealers and pawnbrokers) must obtain an instant check from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. An occasional sale of a used or second-hand firearm by a person not in the business of dealing in firearms is exempt, so private sales do not require a check. No permit to purchase is required. It is a Class A misdemeanor for anyone to sell or offer to sell a firearm to a person knowing that person is prohibited from possessing one. Read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code. Mirror page states it is current as of January 2, 2024. |
More Tennessee gun laws
- Concealed Carry in Tennessee
- Open Carry in Tennessee
- Red Flag Law and Weapon Limits in Tennessee
- All Tennessee gun laws rules
FAQ
How old do you have to be to buy a gun in Tennessee?
It is an offense to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly sell, loan or give a firearm to a minor, except a loan or gift for hunting, trapping, fishing, camping, sport shooting or other lawful sporting activity. Separately, it is an offense for a juvenile (any person under 18) to knowingly possess a handgun, with exceptions such as safety courses, target shooting at a range, organized competition, licensed hunting, instruction with a parent or guardian present, and at home with parental permission. These rules apply to all sellers, including private sellers.
Do private gun sales need a background check in Tennessee?
Only gun dealers must run a background check: before delivering a firearm, a gun dealer (a person engaged in the business as defined in federal law, including retail dealers and pawnbrokers) must obtain an instant check from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. An occasional sale of a used or second-hand firearm by a person not in the business of dealing in firearms is exempt, so private sales do not require a check. No permit to purchase is required. It is a Class A misdemeanor for anyone to sell or offer to sell a firearm to a person knowing that person is prohibited from possessing one.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.