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Gun shop Kingsport, Tennessee

Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Sullivan County. Kingsport grew up where the North and South Forks of the Holston meet, planned in the 1910s around the chemical works that became Eastman. Bristol and the Virginia line sit twenty miles northeast, and Bays Mountain rises right behind the town.

Kingsport, Sullivan County
CountySullivan
LicensesTennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Handgun Permit Office
Hunting zoneUnit 6
Public rangeAbout 75 mi

How buying a gun in Kingsport works

Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door where Tennessee law allows.

Tennessee has no permit to purchase, no firearm registration and no state waiting period. At a licensed dealer you show photo ID, complete ATF Form 4473, and the dealer runs the check through the Tennessee Instant Check System operated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation rather than calling the federal system directly. TBI states that a Tennessee handgun carry permit does not stand in for that check, because the permit has no annual criminal-history recheck. Federal law sets the dealer minimum at 18 for rifles and shotguns and 21 for handguns. Once the check comes back proceed, you take the firearm home the same day.

Dealers in these communities all work for Kingsport-area buyers:

  • Bristol
  • Blountville
  • Bloomingdale
  • Colonial Heights
  • Church Hill
  • Gray
  • Johnson City
  • Rogersville

Carrying a gun in Sullivan County

Tennessee has allowed handgun carry without a permit since July 1, 2021 under Tenn. Code Ann. 39-17-1307. After the 2023 agreed order in Beeler v. Long and a 2025 change to the permit statute, adults 18 and older who may lawfully possess a handgun may carry it openly or concealed where they are lawfully present. Permits are still issued statewide by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, not by the county. The enhanced permit costs $100 for eight years or $300 for life, and the concealed-only permit costs $65. Courts, school property and posted private property stay off-limits.

Hunting near Kingsport

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency runs one statewide deer season and splits antlerless limits among six Deer Management Units. For 2026-27, archery runs September 26 to October 30 and November 2 to 6, 2026, muzzleloader and archery November 7 to 20, and the gun season November 21, 2026 through January 3, 2027. The statewide limit is two antlered deer, one per day, with antlerless days set by unit. Knox County sits in Unit 5 and most Smokies counties in Unit 6. Any legal rifle, muzzleloader, shotgun or handgun may be used in gun season; check the Sullivan County listing before you hunt.

Sullivan County is in Deer Management Unit 6 and Bear Hunt Zone 1, with hound seasons running from early October into mid-December. South Holston Lake and the Cherokee National Forest ground on Holston Mountain carry most of the public hunting near town.

Bays Mountain Park covers more than three thousand acres inside the city limits, and Warriors Path State Park on Fort Patrick Henry Lake is the local boat ramp and campground.

Public shooting ranges near Kingsport

These are the public shooting ranges the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency runs itself. Everyone 16 and older needs a range permit, and at most sites a valid Tennessee hunting or combination license counts instead; buy it through the agency licensing system before you drive out.

Source: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency public shooting range list, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.

Concealed carry pistols for Kingsport

Carry guide →

Home defense for Kingsport

Home defense guide →

Buying a gun in Kingsport: common questions

Can I buy a gun online and pick it up in Kingsport?

Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Bristol, Blountville, Bloomingdale, Kingsport or anywhere in Sullivan County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.

Do I need a permit to buy a gun in Kingsport?

No. Tennessee has no permit to purchase and no firearm registration. You complete Form 4473 and pass a Tennessee Instant Check System background check at the licensed dealer near Kingsport who receives your order.

Is there a waiting period in Tennessee?

No. Tennessee sets no state waiting period. Once the dealer's TICS check comes back proceed, you can take the firearm the same day.

Who issues handgun carry permits in Sullivan County?

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security issues every handgun permit in the state, so the Sullivan County sheriff does not. You apply online, get fingerprinted and finish a department-approved handgun course unless you are exempt.

How does a gun I order reach Kingsport?

We ship every firearm to a licensed dealer near Kingsport that you pick at checkout, never to your home. The dealer runs the background check and hands the gun over; ammunition, optics and most parts ship to your door.

Can I carry without a permit around Kingsport?

Yes, if you are 18 or older and may lawfully possess a handgun. You may carry openly or concealed where you are lawfully present, and you must stay out of courts, school property and posted places.

Where can I shoot near Kingsport?

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency runs a short list of public ranges, including the John Sevier Hunter Education Center in Knoxville and the Chuck Swan range in Union County. Everyone 16 and older needs a range permit or a valid hunting license, so buy one before you go.

What does an FFL transfer cost in Kingsport?

Each dealer sets its own fee, commonly $20 to $75. Call before you order to confirm the price and that they accept firearms shipped from an online store.

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More Tennessee guides

General information, not legal advice. Rules current as of September 2026. See our Tennessee gun law overview and check with Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Handgun Permit Office or a local attorney about your own situation.