Tennessee Gun Laws

Tennessee allows a person at least 21 years of age — or at least 18 if active-duty, honorably discharged, or honorably retired from the U.S. armed forces or reserves — to carry a handgun openly or concealed without a permit, if the person lawfully possesses the handgun and is in a place where the person is lawfully present. Effective July 1, 2021 (Public Chapter 108).

"It is an exception to the application of subsection (a) that a person is carrying, whether openly or concealed, a handgun and: (1)(A) The person is at least twenty-one (21) years of age; or (B) The person is at least eighteen (18) years of age and [military criteria]; (2) The person lawfully possesses the handgun; and (3) The person is in a place where the person is lawfully present."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1307(g) statute

The 2021 permitless-carry law was enacted as Public Chapter 108, amending T.C.A. § 39-17-1307 to add subsection (g). Passed March 29, 2021; approved April 8, 2021; effective July 1, 2021 (Section 14).

"AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, relative to firearms."

Public Chapter 108 (2021), SB 765 (HB 786 substituted) statute

The Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit (EHCP) is issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and requires an approved 8-hour in-person handgun safety course including range and classroom components. As of 2025, applicants must be at least 18 years of age. EHCP is valid for 8 years.

"Any resident of Tennessee who is a United States citizen or permanent lawful resident, as defined by § 55-50-102, who has reached eighteen (18) years of age, may apply to the department of safety for a handgun carry permit."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1351 (Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit) statute

The Concealed Handgun Carry Permit (CHCP) is issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety, may be obtained via a 90-minute course (including an approved online course), is valid for 8 years, and authorizes concealed carry only. The applicant must demonstrate competence with a handgun; the safety course must be completed within one year of application.

"Any resident of this state who is a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident... may apply."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1366 (Concealed Handgun Carry Permit) statute

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security administers both the CHCP and EHCP and publishes eligibility, training, and reciprocity information for each permit type.

"Handgun Carry Permits"

TN Dept. of Safety — Handgun Carry Permits ag

Tennessee Code § 55-50-102 is the chapter-definitions section of the Uniform Classified and Commercial Driver License Act. The handgun-carry-permit statutes (§ 39-17-1351 and § 39-17-1366) cross-reference this section for the definition of 'permanent lawful resident' used to determine permit eligibility for non-citizens lawfully residing in Tennessee.

"Chapter definitions"

T.C.A. § 55-50-102 statute

Open carry of a handgun is permitted on the same terms as concealed carry. Eligible adults (21+, or 18+ with military service) may carry openly or concealed without a permit.

"a person is carrying, whether openly or concealed, a handgun and meets the age requirements."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1307(g) statute

Carrying or possessing a firearm — including a loaded firearm — in a motor vehicle or boat is excepted from the unlawful-carry offense if the person is not federally prohibited and is in lawful possession of the vehicle or boat. This applies regardless of permit status.

"carrying or possessing a firearm, loaded firearm, or firearm ammunition in a motor vehicle or boat if the person: (A) Is not prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm by 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)... and (B) Is in lawful possession of the motor vehicle or boat."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1307 (motor vehicle exception) statute

A person who lawfully carries a handgun (permit holder or anyone qualifying under § 39-17-1307(g)) may transport and store a firearm or ammunition in a motor vehicle. When the person is inside the vehicle, the firearm need only be kept from ordinary observation; when not inside, it must be kept from ordinary observation AND locked within the trunk, glove box, interior, or a container securely affixed to the vehicle.

"the firearm or firearm ammunition being transported or stored... (A) Is kept from ordinary observation if the person is in the motor vehicle; or (B) Is kept from ordinary observation and locked within the trunk, glove box, or interior of the person's motor vehicle or a container securely affixed to the motor vehicle if the person is not in the motor vehicle."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1313 statute

Federal law at 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) lists the categories of persons prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, including felons, fugitives, unlawful drug users, persons adjudicated mentally defective, certain noncitizens, dishonorably discharged service members, persons who renounced citizenship, those subject to qualifying domestic-violence protective orders, and those convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. Tennessee's motor-vehicle exception in § 39-17-1307 conditions lawful in-vehicle firearm carry on the person not being prohibited under § 922(g).

"It shall be unlawful for any person — (1) who has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year..."

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) atf

Tennessee's guns-in-trunks statute prohibits employers from discharging or taking adverse employment action against an employee who holds a valid Tennessee handgun carry permit (or a recognized out-of-state permit) solely for transporting or storing a firearm or ammunition in the employee's vehicle parked in an employer parking area, when the storage complies with § 39-17-1313(a). Permitless carriers under § 39-17-1307(g) are not covered by this protection. Employers may still ban firearms inside the workplace.

"No employer shall discharge or take any adverse employment action against an employee solely for transporting or storing a firearm or firearm ammunition in an employer parking area in a manner consistent with § 39-17-1313(a)."

T.C.A. § 50-1-312 statute

Tennessee statute recognizes any facially valid handgun, firearms, or weapons permit issued by another state. As of August 2024, 35 states honor the Tennessee Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit and 31 honor the Concealed Handgun Carry Permit. Several states (e.g., NC, ND, NE) honor only the EHCP; Louisiana honors only the CHCP. New Jersey honors no TN permit except for active/retired law enforcement.

"A facially valid handgun permit, firearms permit, weapons permit or license issued by another state shall be valid in this state according to its terms."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1351(r) / TN Dept. of Safety Reciprocity Matrix (updated 2024-08-12) ag

Tennessee codifies a castle doctrine: a person who is in a residence, business, dwelling, or occupied vehicle, and against whom another unlawfully and forcibly enters or attempts to enter, is presumed to hold a reasonable belief of imminent death or serious bodily injury justifying defensive force.

"no duty to retreat before threatening or using force intended or likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, if... the person has a reasonable belief that there is an imminent danger of death, serious bodily injury, or grave sexual abuse."

T.C.A. § 39-11-611 statute

Tennessee is a stand-your-ground state: a person who is not engaged in unlawful activity and is in a place where the person has a right to be has no duty to retreat before using force, including deadly force when reasonably believed immediately necessary.

"A person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or Class A misdemeanor and is in a place where the person has a right to be has no duty to retreat before threatening or using force against another person."

T.C.A. § 39-11-611(b) statute

Tennessee law does not impose a general duty to proactively inform a law enforcement officer that you are armed. Enhanced and Concealed Handgun Carry Permit holders must carry their permit and display it on demand of a law enforcement officer, but this is not the same as a duty to volunteer the information.

"Handgun Related Laws"

T.C.A. § 39-17-1351 (display-on-demand for EHCP holders) ag

Possessing or carrying a firearm — openly or concealed, with intent to go armed — on the grounds, buildings, buses, or athletic property of any public or private school, college, or university is a Class E felony, subject to limited statutory exceptions for authorized personnel.

"It is an offense for any person to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, with the intent to go armed, any firearm... in any public or private school building or bus, on any public or private school campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1309 statute

Carrying a firearm into any building in which judicial proceedings are in progress is a Class E felony; for firearms, the offense applies regardless of whether the person is carrying for the purpose of going armed. Other weapon types still require intent to go armed. Limited exceptions for law enforcement, court officers, and certain judges apply.

"No person shall intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carry on or about the person while inside any building in which judicial proceedings are in progress any weapon prohibited by § 39-17-1302(a), for the purpose of going armed; provided, that if the weapon carried is a firearm, the person is in violation of this section regardless of whether the weapon is carried for the purpose of going armed."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1306 statute

It is an offense to possess a handgun while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or a controlled substance analogue, and an offense to possess a firearm while consuming an alcoholic beverage inside an establishment that serves alcohol for on-premises consumption.

"it is an offense for a person to possess a handgun while under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance or controlled substance analogue."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1321 statute

Carrying a weapon with intent to go armed in or on any public park, playground, civic center, or public recreational property is a Class A misdemeanor. A handgun-carry-permit holder may carry in municipal parks except in the immediate vicinity of in-use school athletic events on the property.

"Handgun carry permit holders may possess or carry handguns in any municipal park or similar public place... except when in the immediate vicinity of property that is in use by any public or private educational institution conducting an athletic event."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1311 statute

Private property owners and governing entities may prohibit firearms on their property by posting a sign with the text 'NO FIREARMS ALLOWED' (at least 1" high and 8" wide) and a circle-with-slash firearm pictogram at primary entrances; violation is an offense.

"A sign prohibiting possession shall include the phrase 'NO FIREARMS ALLOWED' measuring at least one inch (1") high and eight inches (8") wide."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1359 statute

Tennessee is a point-of-contact state: federally licensed firearm dealers run the federally required background check through the Tennessee Instant Check System (TICS) operated by the TBI. State law does not require background checks for private, in-state sales between non-licensed individuals.

"TICS/Firearm Background Checks"

TN Bureau of Investigation — TICS / Firearm Background Checks ag

Federal law requires that handguns be purchased from a federally licensed dealer only by buyers 21 or older, while long guns may be purchased from an FFL at 18. Private in-state transfers between unlicensed individuals are not governed by these federal minimums; Tennessee imposes no additional state purchase-age beyond federal law.

"A licensee may not sell a handgun to anyone under the age of 21. A licensee may not sell a long gun to anyone under the age of 18."

18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) (federal) / T.C.A. § 39-17-1319 (juveniles) atf

Tennessee does not require firearm registration. State law generally prohibits state and local governments from maintaining a registry recording firearm ownership by individuals.

"Tennessee does not require firearms registration."

TN — no firearm registry statute ag

Tennessee has not enacted an extreme risk protection order (red flag) law. Public Chapter 1062, signed May 28, 2024, preempts the field of ERPO regulation, prohibits local governments from adopting ERPO laws, and bars political subdivisions from accepting funding to implement ERPO-related orders against state residents.

"preempts the entire field of legislation regarding extreme risk protection orders to the exclusion of all county, city, town, municipality, or metropolitan government law, ordinances, resolutions, enactments, or regulation."

Public Chapter 1062 (2024), SB 2763 / HB 2035 statute

Tennessee has no state assault-weapon ban and preempts local governments from adopting one. Regulation of firearms, ammunition, and components is reserved exclusively to the General Assembly.

"the general assembly preempts the whole field of the regulation of firearms, ammunition, or components of firearms or ammunition... including, but not limited to, the use, purchase, transfer, taxation, manufacture, ownership, possession, carrying, sale, acquisition, gift, devise, loan, licensing, registration, storage, and transportation thereof, to the exclusion of all county, city, town, municipality, or metropolitan government law, ordinances, resolutions, enactments or regulation."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1314 (preemption) statute

Tennessee imposes no magazine-capacity limit, and the preemption statute bars local governments from imposing one.

"the general assembly preempts the whole field of the regulation of firearms, ammunition, or components of firearms or ammunition."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1314 (preemption); no capacity statute statute

Suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and machine guns are regulated under the federal National Firearms Act and require ATF registration.

"The National Firearms Act (NFA) imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms."

26 U.S.C. ch. 53 (National Firearms Act) / ATF atf

Tennessee does not prohibit possession of suppressors, short-barreled rifles, or short-barreled shotguns at the state level — these items are not listed in § 39-17-1302(a). Machine guns remain on the state prohibited list under § 39-17-1302(a)(3) but are exempt under § 39-17-1302(b) when the possessor is in full compliance with the federal National Firearms Act.

"the person acquiring or possessing a weapon described in subdivisions (a)(3), or (a)(4) is in full compliance with the requirements of the National Firearms Act."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1302 statute

Tennessee preempts the whole field of firearm, ammunition, and component regulation, excluding county, city, and metro governments. Limited local authority remains over employee/contractor carry, discharge of firearms within boundaries (with state-law exceptions), and shooting-range siting.

"the general assembly preempts the whole field of the regulation of firearms, ammunition, or components of firearms or ammunition... to the exclusion of all county, city, town, municipality, or metropolitan government law."

T.C.A. § 39-17-1314 statute

Effective July 1, 2021, Tennessee enacted permitless carry by adding subsection (g) to T.C.A. § 39-17-1307, allowing eligible adults (21+, or 18+ with qualifying military service) to carry a handgun openly or concealed without a permit.

"AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, relative to firearms."

Public Chapter 108 (2021) statute

In 2024, Tennessee enacted Public Chapter 1062 (SB 2763 / HB 2035), preempting the field of extreme risk protection order (red flag) regulation and prohibiting local governments from adopting ERPO laws or accepting funding to enforce them.

"preempts the entire field of legislation regarding extreme risk protection orders"

Public Chapter 1062 (2024) statute

In 2025, Tennessee enacted Public Chapter 356, lowering the Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit (EHCP) application age from 21 to 18 and adding new DUI ineligibility rules (no DUI within the prior 5 years; no 2+ DUIs within the prior 10 years). The law did NOT change the age requirements for permitless carry under § 39-17-1307(g), which still requires age 21 or 18 with military service.

"Any resident of Tennessee who is a United States citizen or permanent lawful resident, as defined by § 55-50-102, who has reached eighteen (18) years of age, may apply to the department of safety for a handgun carry permit."

Public Chapter 356 (2025), HB 1332 / SB 1318 statute

Public Chapter 356 (HB 1332 / SB 1318) lowered the Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit application age from 21 to 18 and added DUI eligibility rules (disqualification for any DUI within the prior 5 years, or 2+ DUIs within the prior 10 years). The law did NOT change the age requirements for permitless carry under § 39-17-1307(g).

Public Chapter 356 (2025)

Public Chapter 1062 (SB 2763 / HB 2035) preempts the entire field of extreme risk protection order legislation statewide and prohibits political subdivisions from accepting funding to enforce ERPOs against TN residents.

Public Chapter 1062 (2024)

Tennessee SB 765 (HB 786 substituted), enacted as Public Chapter 108, added subsection (g) to T.C.A. § 39-17-1307, allowing eligible adults to carry a handgun openly or concealed without a permit. Adults 21+ qualify; adults 18-20 qualify only with active-duty, honorably discharged, or honorably retired U.S. military service.

Public Chapter 108 (2021)