TENNESSEE HAS A GUN VIOLENCE PROBLEM

 

• Memphis, Knoxville, and Nashville have all broken homicide records over the last two years (2016-2017).​

• ​Nashville has seen a 160% increase in homicides between 2013 and 2017.

• Tennessee is 13th in the nation for death by firearm for all intents and 12th for homicide only, according to 2016 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Tennessee is the 4th most dangerous state, according to violent crime data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Uniform Crime Report.

• Tennessee is 4th in the nation for women murdered by men, most often with a gun, according to the Violence Policy Center.

• According to the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, approximately 600 Tennesseans commit suicide with a gun each year - 50 per month. In 2015, the number was 638.  In 2016, the number was 675. Youth (ages 10-24) firearm suicides have increased significantly over the last five years.

• In 2017, Tennessee led the entire nation in shootings involving children with access to unsecured, negligently stored firearms.

• Memphis led the nation in 2017 for shootings involving children with access to unsecured, negligently stored firearms.  Nashville tied for 6th.

• Since January 2015, at least 28 Tennessee children have been fatally shot when they or another child gained access to an unsecured, loaded gun and pulled the trigger.

• In 2014, gun related deaths surpassed motor vehicle deaths in Tennessee.

• In 2015, there were at least 51 unintentional shooting in Tennessee resulting in 13 deaths.  In 2016, there were at least 81 unintentional shootings in Tennessee resulting in 15 deaths. In 2017, there were at least 80 unintentional shootings resulting in 26 deaths.

• Guns and Ammo ranks Tennessee as the 11th best state for gun owners while The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence gives Tennessee gun laws an F.

• According to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, in 2017, 449 gun permits were revoked, the highest number on record.  1,803 were suspended and 2,882 were denied.  Since 2010, 2,284 gun permits have been revoked and 11,391 were suspended.

• In 2013, Tennessee passed an NRA-written law to keep all permit holder information confidential, making it illegal to collect data on permit holders who use firearms to threaten or commit crimes.

• Background checks are not required for all gun purchases in Tennessee.  Purchasing a gun through a private party, outside of a gun show, or via an online gun exchange without a background check is completely legal.  According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, in 2017, nearly 21,000 firearm transactions were denied, the highest number on record.  In 2017, 451 wanted persons were identified by the background check system when they attempted to purchase a firearm.