Of course, that is not how the law is supposed to work, but a provision allowing for "third-party de-possession" makes it possible for offenders to trick the system and never actually give up their weapons.
Tennessee law says felons or other violent offenders have three options for giving up their firearms:
*****
Back when I was going through my divorce in California, my ex filed a bullshit restraining order (which I beat) and I was ordered to surrender my firearms within 24 hours of being served. My only two options were turning them into the local PD or having an FFL store them for me. I turned them in to the cop shop because I didn't want to pay a monthly fee for each and every firearm.
I went to court on the RO about 5 months later and when I went to collect my guns I was informed I needed a letter from California DOJ stating I was entitled to recover them even though I had a judge's order in hand stating the RO was dismissed. That took another 3 weeks.
When I finally went down to get my guns 5 months and 27 days later, I found out from the property officer that they only keep firearms for 6 months before destroying them. I came within 3 days of losing my guns for good, two of them having some serious sentimental value as gifts from my father.
