Firearms and Ammunition

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was stopped in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Firearms Transfer Law

This bill requires most firearm sales and transfers to go through a federally licensed gun dealer with certain exceptions.

What This Bill Does

• Requires that most firearm sales and transfers must happen through a federally licensed gun dealer.
• Allows exceptions for antique firearms, transfers between dealers, military and law enforcement agencies, family gifts, bequests, or inheritances, and temporary transfers.
• Makes it illegal to sell or transfer a firearm without going through a licensed dealer unless an exception applies.
• Sets penalties for breaking the new rules: up to nine months in jail and a fine of $500 to $10,000.
• Adds a two-year ban on owning firearms for anyone convicted under this law.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who buy or sell firearms
• Licensed gun dealers

Terms To Know

Gun dealer

A person licensed to sell, lease, or transfer firearms.

Antique firearm

A firearm classified as an antique under federal law.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill did not pass and was stopped in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• It's unclear how much it will cost local governments to enforce this law, but there might be more revenue from sales tax and background checks 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

HOUSE BILL 956
By Brooks

SENATE BILL 903
By Lamar

SB0903
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.