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SB 34

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates a Class A misdemeanor for knowingly giving, selling, lending, delivering, or otherwise transferring a firearm to a person when the transferor knows or reasonably should know that the person receiving the firearm is prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm under state or federal law. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Heidi Campbell

Tennessee bill criminalizes knowingly transferring firearms to prohibited persons as Class A misdemeanor, targeting straw purchases and illegal trafficking.

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Bill Summary · SB 34

Legislative bill overview

SB 34 would create a Class A misdemeanor offense in Tennessee for knowingly transferring a firearm to someone prohibited from possessing one under state or federal law. The prohibition covers selling, giving, lending, delivering, or otherwise transferring firearms to ineligible recipients. This amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39 targets "straw purchases" and illegal firearm transfers.

Why is this important

Straw purchases—where legal gun owners buy firearms for prohibited persons—are a significant source of illegally possessed weapons used in crimes. Creating criminal liability for the transferor aims to reduce this pipeline without restricting lawful gun ownership. The bill reflects growing concern about firearm trafficking while navigating Tennessee's strong gun rights culture.

Potential points of contention

  • Intent and knowledge standard: The "knows or reasonably should know" language creates subjective interpretation challenges; prosecutors and defendants may dispute what a transferor should have reasonably understood about another person's legal status
  • Gun rights concerns: Some Second Amendment advocates worry this could broadly criminalize private transfers between family members or friends, despite good-faith intentions
  • Enforcement burden: Implementation requires background check infrastructure to verify recipient eligibility, raising questions about how private transfers would be monitored and whether enforcement disproportionately affects certain communities

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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