Firearms and Ammunition

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Firearms Transfer Regulations

This bill requires that firearms be sold or transferred through a federally licensed gun dealer unless certain exceptions apply.

What This Bill Does

• Requires firearm sales and transfers to go through a federally licensed gun dealer, except for specific cases.
• Lists exceptions where a sale or transfer does not need to go through a dealer: antique firearms, transfers between dealers, gifts to family members over 18 who can legally own guns, and temporary transfers with legal purposes.
• Makes it illegal to sell or transfer a firearm without going through a licensed dealer if the exception doesn't apply.
• Sets penalties for breaking this rule as a Class B misdemeanor, including fines from $500 to $10,000 and up to nine months in jail.
• Adds a two-year ban on owning firearms after being convicted of violating these rules.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who buy or sell firearms
• Federally licensed gun dealers
• Family members receiving gifts or inheritances of firearms

Terms To Know

Class B misdemeanor

A type of crime that is less serious than a felony but more serious than an infraction, punishable by fines and jail time.

Federally licensed gun dealer

A person or business legally allowed to sell firearms under federal law.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how it will affect local government budgets due to increased incarceration costs.
• It's unclear how much additional revenue might come from sales tax and background check fees if more transactions go through dealers.

Official Summary Text

This bill prohibits a
person
from
sell
ing
or transfer
ring
ownership of a firearm, or purchas
ing
or obtain
ing
ownership of a firearm, unless
the sale or transfer constitutes one of the following scenarios:



The seller or transferor is a gun dealer
.



The seller or transferor makes the sale or transfer to or through a gun dealer and obtains a receipt
.



The sale or transfer of ownership of the firearm is
a
firearm classified as an antique firearm under
federal law;
a transfer of a firearm between gun dealers or between wholesalers and dealers; o
r
a transfer of any firearm to a law enforcement or military agency
.



The transferor is transferring ownership of the firearm to a family member by gift, bequest, or inheritance; the transferee is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under
law
; and the transferee is at least 18
.



The transferor is transferring ownership of the firearm with the intent that the transfer be temporary
;
neither the transferor nor the transferee is prohibited from possessing a firearm under
law;
and the purpose of the transfer is not prohibited by law.

This bill provides that a
person who intentionally violates
this bill
commits a Class B misdemeanor
, punishable by a
fine not less than $500 no
r more than $10,000 and
imprisonment
for a period not to exceed
nine
months. A
dditionally, a
person
so
convicted is prohibited from possessing a firearm for
two
years.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 903
By Lamar

HOUSE BILL 956
By Brooks

HB0956
001148
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
Chapter 54; Title 38, Chapter 3, Part 1 and Title
39, Chapter 17, Part 13, relative to the transfer of
firearms.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
39-17-1330.
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Family member" means a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child,
or grandchild, whether the relationship is by blood, marriage, or adoption; and
(2) "Gun dealer" means a person engaged in the business, as defined in
18 U.S.C. § 921, of selling, leasing, or otherwise transferring a firearm, whether
the person is a retail dealer, pawnbroker, or otherwise.
(b) A person shall not sell or transfer ownership of a firearm, or purchase or
obtain ownership of a firearm, unless one (1) of the following applies:
(1) The seller or transferor is a gun dealer;
(2) The seller or transferor makes the sale or transfer to or through a gun
dealer and obtains a receipt;
(3) The sale or transfer of ownership of the firearm is one (1) of the
following:
(A) A firearm classified as an antique firearm under 18 U.S.C. §
921;

- 2 - 001148

(B) A transfer of a firearm between gun dealers or between
wholesalers and dealers; or
(C) A transfer of any firearm to a law enforcement or military
agency;
(4) The transferor is transferring ownership of the firearm to a family
member by gift, bequest, or inheritance; the transferee is not prohibited from
possessing a firearm under this part; and the transferee is at least eighteen (18)
years of age; or
(5) The transferor is transferring ownership of the firearm with the intent
that the transfer be temporary, neither the transferor nor the transferee is
prohibited from possessing a firearm under this part, and the purpose of the
transfer is not prohibited by law.
(c) A person who intentionally violates subsection (b) commits a Class B
misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than
ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and may be imprisoned for a period not to exceed nine
(9) months. A person convicted under this section is prohibited from possessing a
firearm for a period of two (2) years.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.