NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- All gun sales in the state were put on hold and the entire problems was being blamed on a failing computer system at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Video: TBI Computer Problem Stops Gun Sales

Gun dealers can not legally sell to convicted felons so they have to run names of potential gun buyers through the TBI's computer system, Tennessee Instant Check System.

But all week the TBI's computers have been down, and no dealer in the entire state has legally been able to sell a gun since Monday.

"That's money that's not in my pocket today. It might be next week, but it's not today," said gun shop owner Phillip Arrington.

"About 1:30 Monday morning, TICS ran a backup, saved all the information, then the server crashed," said TBI Spokeswoman Kristen Helm.

This means the equipment and software malfunctioned, but the information itself was not erased.

The data was in the process of being transferred to a new piece of equipment, but that will take time.

This problem couldn't have happened at a worse time for gun shop owners since dove season starts in about two weeks. August is typically a busy time for rifle and shotgun sales.

"There's a lot of hunting shoppers out there right now trying to get ready for season. All I know is the dealers are suffering. The TBI is frustrated and trying to find a solution for it," said Arrington.

Many are asking why the TBI didn’t have a backup system.

"That's a good question, one we can't answer, but we will from now on," said Mumford.

The computer failure also made it impossible for citizens to buy background checks from the TBI all week.

The TBI called Channel 4 just before 5 p.m. Wednesday and said the problem had been resolved and their computer was back up and running.