Background Checks (TN)

While Tennessee mandates federal background checks by licensed firearm dealers who must retain records pursuant to federal law, the Tennessee bureau of investigation must destroy all such records associating a particular individual with a particular firearm purchase. Background checks are not required for sales between private individuals, however, that is not to say private sellers should not keep record of such sales. 

 

It is a state crime for any person to purchase or attempt to purchase a firearm knowing they are legally prohibited from doing so, and likewise is a crime for anyone to sell a firearm to a person knowing that person is legally prohibited from owning a firearm.