On May 25, 2025, Tennessee officially enacted legislation declaring the state a Second Amendment sanctuary, a symbolic and legal measure intended to shield residents and businesses from the enforcement of federal gun control laws that state leaders deem unconstitutional. Governor Bill Lee signed the measure into law following significant support from the Republican-controlled legislature and gun rights advocacy groups.
The law bars state and local agencies from enforcing any federal firearms regulations that conflict with Tennessee’s interpretation of the Second Amendment. It also prohibits the allocation of state funds toward the enforcement of federal mandates perceived to infringe upon the right to keep and bear arms. The statute builds on a 2021 resolution that initially designated Tennessee as a Second Amendment sanctuary but lacked enforceable provisions. This 2025 update codifies the concept into state law with added legal protections and consequences.
Among the new provisions is a rule that restricts state courts from enforcing out-of-state or foreign court judgments against firearm manufacturers, sellers, or distributors if those judgments contradict Tennessee law. This is particularly aimed at protecting the gun industry from civil lawsuits that originate in states with stricter gun control laws. If such a lawsuit is filed in violation of this protection, the plaintiff may be ordered to pay triple damages and cover the defendant’s legal fees.
Supporters of the legislation argue it is a necessary step to preserve constitutional rights in light of ongoing efforts at the federal level to tighten gun regulations. Advocates, including the Tennessee Firearms Association and several state legislators, believe that the Second Amendment is under threat and that states have a duty to resist what they view as federal overreach. “Tennessee has drawn a line in the sand,” said House Speaker Cameron Sexton. “We will not be complicit in policies that erode the freedoms of law-abiding citizens.”
However, the law has faced sharp criticism from gun control advocates and some legal experts. Critics argue that the measure sets a dangerous precedent by encouraging states to selectively enforce federal law based on political ideology. They also warn that the law may not withstand judicial scrutiny, as federal law typically supersedes state legislation under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Civil rights organizations, including Everytown for Gun Safety, have signaled possible legal challenges.
Tennessee now joins more than a dozen other states that have adopted similar sanctuary legislation in recent years, reflecting a growing political movement to resist federal gun restrictions at the state level. As debates over gun violence and constitutional rights continue to divide the nation, Tennessee’s legislation underscores the ongoing tug-of-war between federal authority and state sovereignty in American governance.
