What Are the Assault Weapon Laws in Tennessee?
Woody's answers are based on published federal and state law. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.
Tennessee has no state-level assault weapon ban. The state follows federal NFA regulations for automatic weapons and prohibits local governments from enacting stricter gun control laws than state or federal requirements.
What This Means for You
Tennessee's preemption laws mean you won't face a patchwork of local restrictions when building rifles with features that other states might classify as assault weapon characteristics. The state generally takes a permissive approach to firearm ownership and construction. However, you still need to comply with all federal regulations, particularly NFA requirements for short-barreled rifles and automatic weapons.
The Detail
Tennessee does not define or regulate assault weapons at the state level, making it one of the more builder-friendly states for modern sporting rifles. You can legally build rifles with features like pistol grips, adjustable stocks, flash hiders, and detachable magazines without running afoul of state law. The state's preemption statute prevents cities and counties from creating their own assault weapon definitions or bans, so Memphis and Nashville can't impose restrictions that differ from state law.
Federal laws still apply throughout Tennessee, meaning you need proper tax stamps for NFA items like short-barreled rifles under 16 inches or automatic weapons. Machine guns manufactured after 1986 remain prohibited for civilian ownership under federal law, regardless of Tennessee's permissive stance. When building from 80% receivers or completing other home builds, you're subject to federal restrictions on prohibited persons and interstate commerce rules.
Tennessee also allows permitless carry for handguns as of 2021, though this doesn't directly affect rifle builds. The state maintains shall-issue concealed carry permits for reciprocity purposes with other states. For builders, this regulatory environment means you can focus on federal compliance without worrying about state-specific feature restrictions or capacity limits that complicate builds in other jurisdictions.
Always verify current laws before beginning any build, as federal regulations can change and court interpretations evolve. The ATF's current guidance on pistol braces, for example, affects many AR-style builds regardless of Tennessee's permissive laws. Check with Tennessee's official resources or consult a firearms attorney for complex builds or if your situation involves any special circumstances.
Build Impact
You can build standard AR-15s and similar rifles without feature restrictions in Tennessee, giving you full flexibility for accessories and configurations. Focus your compliance efforts on federal NFA requirements rather than navigating state-level assault weapon definitions that don't exist here.