New Proposed Funding to Address Tennessee’s Background Check Record Backlog Is A Top Safer TN Priority
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 6, 2024) – Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN), a nonpartisan organization dedicated to prioritizing firearm safety and promoting responsible firearm ownership, issued the following statement from policy director Erin Rogus in response to Governor Bill Lee’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2024-2025:
“Voices for a Safer Tennessee thanks the Lee Administration for their commitment to improving the accuracy of our background check system. Governor Lee’s proposed investment in additional Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) personnel focused on addressing the 761,000-background check record backlog and training local agencies on best reporting practices is an important step forward in creating a safer Tennessee.
Last year in Executive Order 100, Governor Lee called for expedited reporting into the Tennessee Instant Checks System and also directed the TBI to report on how the system could be improved. Now, the Administration is acting to address the challenges identified in the TBI’s report, including the concerning 761,000-record backlog that requires additional research and processing.
Addressing the backlog and identifying prohibited firearm purchasers is critical to keeping firearms out of the hands of felons and domestic abusers, and reducing preventable firearm tragedies. Safer TN is committed to working with members of the Tennessee General Assembly to preserve this funding in the final budget.”
About Voices for a Safer Tennessee: Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of Tennessee families, faith leaders, business executives and educators, hunters, gunowners, veterans and military families, who are dedicated to prioritizing pragmatic, evidence-based firearm safety laws and promoting responsible firearm ownership. Our mission is to build safer, healthier communities by reducing preventable firearm tragedies across Tennessee. We are founded by, led by, and funded by Tennesseans, committed to Tennessee solutions, with 25,000 coalition members across all 95 counties and growing. Learn more at safertn.org.
