The Tennessee Carry Permit Law In A Nutshell

As a result of the changes in the handgun permit laws from 1994 through 1997, Tennessee issues civilian handgun carry permits that have the following general attributes:

the initial application fee is $115 (cash) and requires the successful completion of a state certified handgun training course prior to making application for the permit;

· the state must respond to the application within 90 days by either issuing the permit
or notifying the applicant of any problems with the application;
· renewal fees are $50 and, like a driver’s license, do not require further training or
qualifications as a condition of renewal;
· the handgun permit is good for four years;
· the handgun permit is good “statewide;”
· the handgun permit is good for any handgun that the permit holder legally owns or possesses; and
· the handgun permit is not a concealed weapon permit.

The Tennessee civilian handgun permit is largely useless because a permit holder remains burdened with a patchwork of restrictions, prohibitions, conditions and traps set by the Tennessee Legislature, local governments, and the federal government. As a result of that patchwork of regulations and restrictions, a permit holder cannot rely upon the handgun permit as a means of enabling him or her to legally have a handgun readily available whenever and wherever it may be needed.

What use can be made of a handgun for self-defense if the permit holder is effectively disarmed by governmental enactment of questionable constitutionality? Resolving this problem is one of the missions of the Tennessee Firearms Association’s members.