Tennessee Gun Laws
Constitutional carry. No magazine limit. Castle doctrine and stand your ground.
Last reviewed against official sources on 2026-09-25. Official state source.
Tennessee allows constitutional carry for adults 18+ (the statute says 21, but under a 2023 federal court settlement the state does not enforce that age limit against 18- to 20-year-olds; 2025 legislation also lowered the carry permit age to 18). The state has both castle doctrine and stand your ground protections. No magazine limits, assault weapon bans, or waiting periods exist.
Key facts
- Concealed Carry: Constitutional carry — no permit required for adults 18+ (T.C.A. § 39-17-1307(g))
- Open Carry: Permitted without a permit for adults 18+ (T.C.A. § 39-17-1307(g))
- Permit to Purchase: Not required
- Assault Weapon Ban: No ban
- Magazine Limit: No limit
- Waiting Period: None
- Universal Background Check: Not required for private sales
- Red Flag Law (ERPO): No state ERPO law
- Castle Doctrine: Yes
- Stand Your Ground: Yes
- Concealed Carry Reciprocity: Honors permits from all other states; visitors 18+ can carry concealed here without one anyway (Tennessee Dept. of Safety — Reciprocity)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to carry in Tennessee?
No. Tennessee is a constitutional carry state. The statute sets the age at 21 (or 18 for military members and veterans), but since a 2023 federal court settlement (Beeler v. Long) the state has not enforced that limit against 18- to 20-year-olds. 2025 legislation separately lowered the age to get a handgun carry permit to 18.
Does Tennessee require background checks for private sales?
No. Private firearm sales in Tennessee do not require a background check.
Does Tennessee have a waiting period?
No. Tennessee does not impose a waiting period for firearm purchases.
Does Tennessee have a red flag law?
No. Tennessee has not enacted an extreme risk protection order law.
Does Tennessee honor concealed carry permits from other states?
Yes. A facially valid handgun or carry permit from any other state is treated as if it were a Tennessee permit. Because Tennessee is also a constitutional carry state, an adult 18 or older who can legally possess a firearm doesn't need any permit at all to carry concealed here.
Not legal advice. Laws change; verify with official sources.