Effective January 1, 2020, Tennessee handgun carry permit laws change. Obtaining a concealed handgun carry permit becomes much easier. Tennesseans will now be able to obtain a permit online in just a few quick steps, without a field test.
In order to apply, visit one of the two sites that are licensed to issue these online permits. Currently those are Clarksville Guns and Archery Tennessee Carry Permit Online School and Tier One Tactics.
Once on the site of choice, simply sign up, pay the test fee and complete the approximately 90-minute course. Next, visit a full service DMV, where there are options for the length of the permit before expiration: one year, 8 years or lifetime. There is also a fee at the DMV for that permit. Afterwards, there will be a small waiting period before you receive your hard copy of the permit in the mail. As for eligibility for the online version, you must be a Tennessee resident, be 21 years of age, and other requirements such as passing a background check.
The in-person permit course with a field test will now be referred to as enhanced. There are slight differences in the online and enhanced permits. For example, if you hold an enhanced permit, and you teach or work on a school campus, you can carry on campus as long as it is allowed by the school. Also, under certain circumstances, the enhanced permit allows open carry where the online permit does not.
The online course covers the following: firearm safety rules, handgun features, uses and techniques, knowledge and skills for safe handling, safe storage of firearm and ammunition, safe transportation and safe storage methods in vehicles, handgun cleaning safety instruction and current Tennessee law on carrying handguns.
In Tennessee, concealed carry is legal with the correct licensure or permit. Tennessee Handgun Carry Permits require the successful completion of a state-approved handgun safety course that includes both classroom hours and firing range instruction until January 1, 2020, when two levels of TN Handgun Carry Permits become available.
Tennessee is a Castle Doctrine state and has a stand your ground law which means a person who is in a place lawfully and who is not engaged in illegal activity has no duty to retreat before using or threatening to use force that’s likely to cause serious bodily injury or death if the person reasonably believes there’s an imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death; the danger is real or honestly believed to be real at the time; and the belief of danger is founded upon reasonable grounds.