State Gun Laws

Tennessee state law says that a person cannot have or buy any type of gun if they:

1. was declared by a court to be a “mental defective”;
2. was committed to or hospitalized in a mental institution by the court;¹
3. is under 25 years of age and was determined to be a “delinquent” by a judge on or after July 1, 2024, for something that would have been one or more of the following crimes if they were an adult:
   
   • aggravated assault;
   • aggravated assault against a first responder or nurse;
   • a violation of part 2, part 4, or part 10 of chapter 13 of the law;
   • aggravated cruelty to animals;
   • a threat of mass violence; or
   • a violation of chapter 17 of the law involving the use or display of a firearm;²
4. was convicted of a felony involving the use or attempted use of force, violence, or a deadly weapon;
5. was convicted of a felony drug crime;
6. was convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence;
7. has an order of protection against them that meets the requirements under federal law; or
8. is prohibited from having a gun under any other state or federal law.³

If a person meets conditions #4 and 5 above, they also cannot have firearm bullets (ammunition).³ Additionally, Tennessee prohibits the use or possession of a handgun by anyone who:

1. is under the influence of alcohol or drugs (controlled substance);⁴
2. has been convicted of a felony;⁵ or
3. is under the age of 18.⁶

A person who meets condition #2 also cannot have handgun bullets.⁵

Federal laws, which apply to all states, may also restrict an abuser’s right to have a gun. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.

¹ Tenn. Code § 39-17-1307(i)
² Tenn. Code § 39-17-1307(j)
³ Tenn. Code § 39-17-1307(b), (f)
⁴ Tenn. Code § 39-17-1321(a)
⁵ Tenn. Code § 39-17-1307(c)
⁶ Tenn. Code § 39-17-1319(a)(2), (b)