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SB 1104

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, requires a gun dealer to ensure that three days have passed since the transaction was initiated by the purchaser before transferring a firearm to a purchaser if the purchaser is older than 17 but younger than 21. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

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

Tennessee would require licensed firearms dealers to impose a three-day waiting period for purchasers aged 18-20 before transferring firearms to them.

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1104

Legislative bill overview

SB 1104 imposes a mandatory three-day waiting period for firearm purchases by individuals aged 18-20, requiring dealers to delay transfer of the firearm until three days after the transaction is initiated. This applies to Tennessee's existing firearms regulations under the state's commercial dealer licensing requirements.

Why is this important

Age-specific waiting periods represent a relatively new regulatory approach to firearms sales, sitting at the intersection of public safety measures (reducing impulsive acts) and Second Amendment considerations. The policy specifically targets the 18-20 age group, treating them differently from both younger purchasers (prohibited) and adults 21+ (no waiting period specified).

Potential points of contention

  • Constitutional questions: Whether age-based waiting periods withstand Second Amendment scrutiny, particularly post-Bruen (2022), which emphasized historical tradition; few historical parallels exist for age-specific waiting periods
  • Effectiveness evidence: Limited empirical data on whether three-day delays specifically reduce firearm-related harms in the 18-20 demographic compared to broader waiting period studies
  • Enforcement burden: Dealers must track initiation dates precisely; unclear how this integrates with federal NICS background check timing and what happens if federal checks take longer than three days
  • Interstate complications: May create incentives for cross-border purchases or inconsistent application if neighboring states lack similar requirements

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

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