A minority of states – 13 according to Grok – run their own background checks for a gun purchase. Despite the federal government unconstitutionally (Congress has no delegated authority) running a system, some states expand upon this system. Tennessee is one of those states, and the system is – as all gun control always is – abused.
In this recording of a phone call between KeepAndBear.org Founder Shaun Kranish and “Tom” from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s “Tom,” more evidence emerges that Tennessee is infringing on the rights of gun owners on a regular basis. On 5/4/25 Shaun was denied a gun through an FFL due to TBI’s conflated, redundant system. Listen to Tom admit TBI is dealing with “hundreds” of appeals every day. This is affecting hundreds of Tennessee Citizens’ rights daily. This evidence is combined with their own statistics published on their website which show a large number of denials that are appealed and reversed.
KeepAndBear.org has also spoken with gun dealers to find that denials are common, even for minor things like parking tickets and traffic tickets. Despite these things having zero statutory basis for ultimate denial, they result in denial that requires appeal. It is a form of harassment of gun ownership. It is also waste, fraud, and abuse in a time when the country is 40 trillion or more in debt (and perhaps 150+ if unfunded liabilities are included)!
Why does “pro-gun” Tennessee even have its own system? No background checks at purchase are constitutional. The Supreme Court in the Bruen decision clarified that if similar laws didn’t exist at the time of ratification, then there is no historical tradition for the limitation on the right and the law is unconstitutional. Guess what: there were no background checks back then.
All of these laws result in significantly higher prices for firearms – a de-facto tax on a right. They result in rights being delayed, which is an infringement. They result in rights being denied. They result in America failing to live up to its destiny of being a great and free country governed by the Constitution. They result in undermining the government in its entirety: a government that doesn’t follow the highest law of the land isn’t seen as very legitimate any longer.
