2025 Legal Guide to Selling a Gun in Tennessee (TN)

2025 Firearm Ownership Restrictions in Tennessee

Generally, Tennessee defers to federal law regarding the sale and purchase of firearms and requires no permits or registration to own a firearm.

• To purchase long guns (rifles, shotguns, and ammunition), a buyer must be at least 18 years old.
• Buyers looking to purchase handguns from a licensed dealer (FFL) must be at least 21 years old due to federal law. (Note: Individuals aged 18-20 may legally acquire a handgun from an unlicensed seller who is a resident of the same state, provided they are not otherwise prohibited.)

The following, according to both state (TCA 39-17-1304, 39-17-1307) and federal law (18 U.S.C. 922(g)), disqualifies a person in Tennessee from purchasing or possessing a firearm:

• Felony Conviction: Anyone convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
• Domestic Violence: Being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (MCDV), or being subject to a qualifying protective order (Order of Protection or restraining order) that prohibits the possession of a firearm.
• Fugitive Status: Being a fugitive from justice.
• Substance Use: Being an unlawful user of or addicted to alcohol or any controlled substance.
• Mental Health: Being adjudicated as a mental defective, judicially committed to a mental institution, or found by a court to pose an immediate substantial likelihood of serious harm due to mental illness (within the last seven years).
• Stalking: Being convicted of the offense of stalking (39-17-315).
• Illegal Immigration/Citizenship: Being an illegal alien, unlawfully in the United States, or having renounced U.S. citizenship.
• Dishonorable Discharge: Having been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions.

FEDERAL DISQUALIFICATION CATEGORIES

• Conviction (felony or misdemeanor) where the crime has a maximum imprisonment term exceeding 1 year (even if a buyer did not receive actual imprisonment exceeding 1 year).
• Warrant (felony or out-of-state misdemeanor).
• Felony pre-trial release.
• Misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence restraining/stalking/protection order mental health adjudication or commitment.
• Unlawful use or addicted to a controlled substance (including marijuana).
• Dishonorable discharge from the armed forces.
• Renounced U.S. citizenship.
• Illegal alien.

Save the Hassle, Sell your Gun to Cash My Guns

Even though Tennessee has relatively relaxed gun laws, the legal burden on private sellers remains significant.

State law (TCA 39-17-1304) makes it a Class A Misdemeanor to intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly sell a firearm to someone who is legally prohibited from possessing one (such as a felon, drug addict, or certain domestic violence offenders). Navigating this liability while verifying a buyer’s legal status can be a source of great stress and overwhelm.

Cash My Guns offers a simplified, safe, and fully legal alternative for selling your handgun or long gun, ensuring 100% compliance with all Tennessee and federal regulations.

We eliminate the hard part by utilizing our Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL), who is government-licensed to manage the legal transfer process and fully assumes the compliance liability by running the mandatory background check on the receiving end.

The reality is you can sell your gun without leaving the house: simply tell us which firearm(s) you wish to sell, we’ll make you an offer, and once we agree on a price, you’ll mail us your gun(s) with all expenses paid by us.

When we receive your gun(s), we get you paid with a check in your hand within a few days, making the process safe, quick, and completely hassle-free.

When you use Cash My Guns, you get the following unbeatable benefits!

Free gun appraisal  –  Fair price for your gun –  Free shipping

Easy shipment tracking throughout the whole process. Speedy payment!

Begin our safe and discrete process here.