Reply #25: I don't know when or where he acquired the shotgun [View All]

[slackmaster]

- it never got into the database because of lax reporting at the time?

That is certainly possible.

- it had expired (it could have been interlocutory/interim or been for a specific time period)?

Could be, but I have heard of similar orders being permanent. In California there are basically two kinds - A temporary one that lasts for 30 days and is very easy to get, and a permanent one that requires serious evidence to obtain but lasts until it is rescinded by the court.

The other two possibilities:

- He owned the gun prior to the RO being issued,

- He bought the gun illegally in a private-party transfer (which would be trivially easy in Tennessee and most other states).