AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 54; Section 38-3-119 and Title 39, Chapter 17, relative to firearms.
SB0632 would create a broad statutory definition of “assault weapon” in Tennessee law and make possession, purchase, manufacture, sale, and transfer of those weapons subject to new restrictions. The bill lists numerous named firearms and firearm models, and it also captures semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns based on features such as detachable magazines, folding or telescoping stocks, pistol grips, threaded barrels, flash suppressors, grenade or flare launchers, detachable magazines in shotguns, and revolving-cylinder shotguns. It also covers parts or combinations of parts intended to convert a firearm into an assault weapon or to rapidly assemble one.
The bill would add assault weapons to the state’s prohibited weapons provisions and create a registration-style “certificate of possession” process for people who already owned such weapons before July 1, 2025. Those owners would have to apply for a certificate by July 1, 2026, and submit it to the Department of Safety and local law enforcement by January 1, 2027. The Department of Safety would be required to create the application, certificate, and transfer forms, and the bill sets out detailed information that must be included, such as identifying marks, owner information, and thumbprints. It also imposes special rules for inherited assault weapons and for military personnel moving into Tennessee.
In addition, SB0632 would create a new offense for knowingly purchasing, using, possessing, manufacturing, selling, or offering for sale trigger cranks, bump stocks, bump-fire devices, and other accessories that accelerate the rate of fire of a semiautomatic rifle without converting it into a machine gun. Violations of these provisions would be classified as Class E felonies. The bill would take effect July 1, 2025, with immediate effect only for rulemaking and form development.
The overall sentiment reflected in the available record is limited because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes included here, but the bill’s structure indicates a strong gun-control approach focused on restricting assault-style firearms and rate-of-fire accessories. Because no debate or vote history is provided, there is no documented support or opposition in the supplied materials, though the subject matter is the kind that typically draws significant public and legislative attention.
The main points of contention likely center on the breadth of the assault weapon definition, the inclusion of many common rifle and pistol platforms, the registration and reporting requirements, and the felony penalties for possession or sale of certain accessories. Gun-rights advocates would likely object to the scope of the restrictions and the burden placed on lawful owners, while gun-control supporters would likely emphasize the public-safety rationale and the regulation of high-capacity or rapid-fire configurations.
SB0632 would substantially amend Tennessee’s firearms statutes by adding a new legal definition of “assault weapon,” expanding prohibited weapons categories, and creating new compliance obligations for existing owners, dealers, and the Department of Safety. It would also add a separate felony offense for certain rate-of-fire accessories such as bump stocks and trigger cranks. The bill would affect gun owners, licensed dealers, law enforcement agencies, and the Department of Safety through new registration, transfer, and enforcement procedures.
No committee discussion or vote history is provided, so there is no direct record of legislative sentiment in the supplied materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure reflects a restrictive firearms policy and would likely be viewed positively by gun-control supporters and negatively by gun-rights opponents. The absence of recorded debate or votes prevents a more specific assessment of support or opposition.
The most likely areas of contention are the bill’s expansive definition of assault weapons, which includes many named firearms and feature-based categories, and the requirement that existing owners obtain certificates of possession and report to state and local authorities. Another likely flashpoint is the felony treatment of bump stocks and similar accessories, as well as the bill’s treatment of inherited firearms and out-of-state military transfers. Opponents would likely argue the bill burdens lawful ownership and uses overbroad definitions, while supporters would likely argue it closes loopholes and reduces firearm lethality.