Tennessee Gun Laws & Firearms Safety Practice Exam

What type of background check system does Tennessee use for firearm purchases from licensed dealers?

1. NICS

2. TICS

3. State-only background check

4. No background check required

The correct answer is: TICS

Tennessee utilizes the Tennessee Instant Check System (TICS) for background checks on firearm purchases from licensed dealers. This system allows for a quick and thorough examination of a buyer's background to ensure they meet the legal requirements to purchase a firearm. While NICS, or the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, also performs background checks, Tennessee has opted to implement its own system, which operates in conjunction with federal requirements but is specifically tailored to the state. Therefore, the correct response reflects that Tennessee has established its own instant check system for this purpose. The other options do not accurately describe the background check process in Tennessee. For instance, a state-only background check would imply that there is only state oversight, while federal systems like NICS operate alongside state systems, which is not the complete picture here. Similarly, the choice mentioning no background check required is misleading, as Tennessee does indeed have a required system for these transactions.