In Tennessee, all prospective gun buyers, or those redeeming a firearm from pawn, from a licensed firearm dealer are required to undergo a background check via the Tennessee Instant Check System (TICS) which is administered by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). The TBI publishes statistics on the number of background checks performed for the year.  The statistics include monthly and annual totals for the number of checks/transactions processed, the number of firearms processed (some purchasers may purchase more than one gun as a single transaction), the number of transactions that are denied, the number of stolen guns identified and the number of wanted people identified through the background checks process.

Anyone who feels that their denial was in error may appeal the decision.  Some denials may be overturned.  Possible reasons for being denied include:

Convicted of a felony	Indicted for a crime punishable by more than one year
A fugitive from justice	A user of illegal drugs or an addict
Involuntarily committed to a mental institution	Under an indictment, but not convicted, of a crime carrying a possible year-long prison sentence
Renounced U.S. citizenship	Subject to a restraining order for threatening a family member
Convicted of domestic violence	Dishonorably discharged from the armed forces
Convicted in any court of a crime which is punishable by a term of more than one year or a misdemeanor punishable by more than two years.

NOTE: The TBI 2018 background check statistical report included data on the number of background checks processed as a”conditional proceed.” This data was not included in previous years’ reports. More detail on “conditional proceeds” can be found below.

TENNESSEE BACKGROUND CHECK DATA

	TOTAL CHECKS PROCESSED	TOTAL FIREARMS PROCESSED	DENIALS	STOLEN GUNS IDENTIFIED	WANTED PERSONS IDENTIFIED	CONDITIONAL PROCEED
2019	484,778	547,528	20,212	451	540	3,132
2018	486,299	543,419	20,770	536	436	3,478
2017	504,540	562,160	20,982	449	451	N/A
2016	541,002	551,305	20,243	502	551	N/A
2015	510,233	566,889	19,880	400	471	N/A
2014	428,017	492,257	17,684	434	426	N/A
2013	418,596	461,635	13,362	382	308	N/A
2012	462,146	509,982	18,023	441	469	N/A
2011	347,792	394,888	13,072	365	359	N/A
2010	298,618	329,965	12,728	319	313	N/A
TOTALS	3,510,944	3,869,081	135,974	3292	3348	N/A

Source: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

What is a “conditional proceed”?
Firearm transfers will be denied if TBI finds that the potential purchaser has been charged with a crime for which a conviction would cause that purchaser to be prohibited under state or federal law from purchasing, receiving, or possessing a firearm, and a final disposition of the case has not occurred or is not recorded. However, if TBI has received written notice, signed and verified by the clerk of the court or the clerk’s designee, that indicates that no final disposition information is available, TBI must immediately reverse a denial and allow the sale to proceed. Alternatively, if the purchaser challenges a denial, TBI must proceed with efforts to obtain the final disposition information, and the purchaser may assist. If neither the purchaser nor TBI is able to obtain the final disposition information within 15 days, TBI must immediately notify the dealer that the transaction that was initially denied is now a “conditional proceed.” A “conditional proceed” means that the dealer may lawfully transfer the firearm to the purchaser.

Information from The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

For additional information, see Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1316