Tennessee Gun Laws & Firearms Safety Practice Exam

Under Tennessee law, is a background check required for all firearm sales between private individuals?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Only for sales of handguns

4. Only for sales at gun shows

The correct answer is: No

In Tennessee, private sales of firearms between individuals do not require a background check. This means that if two private individuals are conducting a transaction, they are not obligated under state law to perform a background check on the buyer. This law is designed to facilitate transactions between lawful private parties without the burdens of additional regulatory requirements that apply to licensed dealers. Background checks are mandatory when purchasing guns from licensed dealers, which ensures that individuals with certain prohibitive factors, such as felony convictions or mental health issues, are screened out. However, these restrictions do not extend to private sales, which is why this option is the correct response. Other choices suggesting that background checks are required in certain scenarios reflect regulations that differ from Tennessee law regarding private firearm sales.