Learn more about the policies we are advocating for below
Temporary Transfer Laws
Current Tennessee law does not provide for temporary limits on access to weapons when someone is a known danger
Even when it is clear that someone is at risk of harming themselves or others, there’s no legal pathway in Tennessee for family members, medical professionals, or law enforcement to prevent an individual in crisis from accessing their firearms or purchasing a new gun.
Firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Tennessee.1 Both homicides and suicides by firearms are on the rise in Tennessee, with the overall rate of firearm deaths for children and adults alike increasing by 52 percent over the last decade.2
Read more about the solution here.
[1] “Firearm-Related Deaths in Tennessee.” The Sycamore Institute, June 26, 2023. SycamoreTN.org
[2] “Firearm-Related Deaths in Tennessee.” The Sycamore Institute, June 26, 2023. SycamoreTN.org
Comprehensive Background Checks
Background checks are not required for private firearm sales in Tennessee – including sales made online and at gun shows.
Federal law does not address firearm sales by unlicensed sellers, and Tennessee has not taken action to regulate private gun sales. This means individuals who would not otherwise be allowed to purchase firearms from licensed dealers can easily buy them from private sellers who aren’t required to run background checks. This includes purchasers with felony convictions, domestic abuse restraining orders, and/or a history of adjudicated mental illness.
Read more about the solution here.
Secure Storage
Unsecured firearms in vehicles lead to unsafe communities — often putting firearms into the wrong hands.
Ten years ago, Tennessee passed a law allowing firearms to be stored in unoccupied vehicles without the ability to enforce a requirement that they be kept out of sight or locked in the vehicle.1 Since the passage of this law, there has been a remarkable increase in firearm thefts from vehicles. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee now leads the nation in the number of firearms stolen from vehicles.2
Access to unsecured firearms increases incidents of gun violence both inside and outside the home, especially those involving children and teens.3 Stolen firearms are often later used in the commission of violent crimes.4 Since the law’s passage, firearm deaths in Tennessee have increased by 43 percent.5 The lack of secure storage laws has made our communities less safe.
Read more about the solution here.
[1] Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1313 (a)(2)(B), (2013)
[2] Everytown for Gun Safety analysis of FBI NIBRS data, 2011-2020. Gun Thefts from Cars: The Largest Source of Stolen Guns | Everytown Research & Policy In 2020, data was collected establishing Memphis as the highest rate of gun thefts from cars in the nation, followed by Chattanooga at second highest, with Jackson ranking 14th, and Nashville 15th.
[3] Unload, Lock, and Separate, Everytown for Gun Safety, last updated 2.22.2023, https://everytownresearch.org/report/unload-lock-and-separate-secure-storage-practices-to-reduce-gun-violence/?_gl=1*vm64n3*_ga*Mjk3MjczMTY1LjE2ODk3MDMzNDQ.*_ga_LT0FWV3EK3*MTY4OTcwMzM0NC4xLjEuMTY4OTcwMzQ1MS4wLjAuMA..
[4] News Room, Metro Nashville Police Department (queried July 28, 2023) https://www.nashville.gov/search?searchStudioQuery=stolen%20gun&isGrid=false&facets=&orderBy=&start=0
[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fatal Injury and Violence Data. https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/fatal/index.html