Firearms Laws

Preserving Liberty. Defending Your Rights. Fighting for the Constitution.

Firearms & Second Amendment Law

Attorney John I. Harris III has spent more than three decades at the intersection of firearms law, constitutional rights, and civil litigation. Whether you’re a gun owner, permit holder, FFL, or simply someone navigating Tennessee’s complex firearms statutes, this page is your guide to the legal services available to help protect your rights and your future.

The area of firearms law and practice can involve a wide variety of topics. These topics can easily cross the spectrum of civil, criminal and administrative law. Having a lawyer who has experience in these diverse areas can be important to finding a cost effective and acceptable solution to your issues.

Some of the topics which bring individuals and businesses to us in the area of firearms law and practice include:

Problems with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (formerly the ATF, then the BATF, and now the BATFE). These problems may include federal firearms license disputes, problems with criminal records, criminal charges under the federal gun control acts, and the transfer of “Class III” weapons (e.g., machineguns, short barrel weapons, silencers, etc.) We represent federal firearms licensees as well as individuals.
Handgun carry permits. This area involves typically the denial of a civilian handgun carry permit by the Tennessee Department of Safety. These denials may be based upon incomplete or inaccurate criminal records, and even problems involving prior criminal proceedings which may require expungements or restoration of civil rights.
Transfers of firearms between individuals
BATF audits of dealer licenses and records
Establishing NFA trusts, firearms trusts or other methods of corporate ownership of firearms
Surrender of contraband firearms
Issues involving the justifiable use of deadly force, also known as self-defense
Constitutional challenges to laws and regulations which may violate the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and/or Article 1, Section 26 of the Tennessee Constitution.
The protection and preservation of sport shooting ranges and gun ranges.

This portion of our site is designed to provide you with some introductory information concerning the firearms laws that can commonly become involved with individuals and businesses. If you have a matter that involves the purchase, sale, use or ownership of firearms, we would welcome the opportunity to review it with you.

Firearms & 2A Laws

Tennessee’s gun laws can be tough to navigate, especially when state and federal rules collide. John Harris works with responsible gun owners, dealers, and collectors to resolve legal issues, defend their rights, and challenge overreach when necessary — keeping your freedom protected at every level.